Shopsmith Forums

Sorry, been busy getting ready for a swap meet that is in a week and I have another 2 weeks after that.

Yes there are many levels of cutters and they have become more affordable. I did look at the craft type cutters, but I wasn't sure that they would cut what I wanted to cut at a quality level that I wanted.

For cutters there are basically two different types. Stepper type motors and servo type motors. Servo are more money but are quieter and will cutter thicker material. I can go into deeper detail if you guys want, but I am far from an expert.

The material that I am using is about 7 mils thick. My cutter will cut up to 30 mils (they claim, but I don't know that I believe it). I purchased a servo motor and am glad that I did. It is much nicer to be around it because it doesn't make a lot of noise. Yes it cost a bit more money, but this was refurbished and wasn't too bad. They can get a LOT more expensive.

It is pretty cool what can be done with one, and I have a LOT to learn. Fortunately I have a friend that is supplying me with the artwork files. His business is cutting and applying vinyl for signs, goodies, etc. I have also purchased a couple cd's of artwork and played with them a bit. Quality of that artwork is questionable.....

Another consideration is software. You can spend a lot on software to operate one. My software came with the unit included in the price. How good is this software? I don't know. This is the first that I have used this type of software and I won't say that I am finding it easy to figure out. Higher end software may be easier to use? I am not having a problem using it to cut, just to create and manipulate the artwork.

If you guys want to discuss this further, maybe a separate thread would be best? I don't care, side rail any thread of mine as you desire, but it might make it easier to find in the future?

I guess my goal with this equipment/software was 2 sided. One to create stencils for the signs, two to create stencils for painting. I can also create vinyl graphics, but I don't really want to get into the biz of creating $4.00 stickers for ebay. LOL

A CNC would have some benefits, and I see that one has come available in the size that I would want for about twice the price as what I have into this tooling. Should have I gone for that? That is the million dollar question, but cnc wouldn't do the stencils for painting.

reible wrote:I'm playing a little catch up here as I've been out of town. I like how this idea is spreading to include some details. Of course some of it is making sense of the process to see if it would be worth the effort to invest more time in to the area.

I have software and the expertise to make designs and print them. I have made stencils but have to hand cut them. I use stencil materials from the local craft store which work but are on the light side for anything more then painting(guessing here). It is a plastic material for that purpose.

What interests me is how one cuts out a design other then by hand. I have seen a plotter looking device that cuts instead of drawing but they appear to be expensive pieces of machinery. So anyone know of something in the less expense category that would be able to do a good job? Would be nice to have one for a lot of projects so versatility would be important to me.

So how thick does the material have to be to do this light sandblasting. I remember Norm visiting some place to have a project done using this sort of idea but it is too cloudy to remember more then that. I also seem to recall someone here who does glass this way, no?

Anyway I'd like to here more about the process.

Ed

Ed,
Like I stated above, the material that I am using is about 7 mils thick. It is actually more designed for masking and painting. I have found actual sandblasting material too thick to work for small details. That could partially be my inexperience with the tools, but more importantly I wonder if I didn't get some old material that the adhesive was bad on or a different mfg would be better? It didn't stick all that well for small detail. This product was 18 mils. With the product that I am using, you have to be a bit careful not to blow it away and I have found it works best for me not to engrave it to deep anyway. Engraving too deep leads to issues with bleeding but I have used a product that keeps this from happening but it is an additional step. But the edges are a lot cleaner if I don't engrave too deep.

charlese wrote:That metalflake Scorpion looks like the one I used to drive.

That is the original size and color of flake used on the Scorpion Snowmobiles!

My first "customer commissioned" sign. He wanted VERY rustic.