Hey folks, newbie here. Came over here from the Maslow CNC forum. I’m looking to be able to cut out boat parts with accuracy at the edges of a full sheet of plywood. Marine grade plywood is very expensive and difficult to source. I’ve spend about an hour on the site and forum and seen some pretty cool stuff. It appears that a LR2 would be the appropriate V1 product for that application. Is that correct?
It appears that due to the rigid frame construction, there’s no loss of accuracy at the edges of the plywood, in fact at that point you’re closer to the frame, so probably more accuracy.
What are the Z options for an LR2? Could I carve NACA foils with one?
I’ll do some more reading, but any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I also want to do other types of woodworking projects (e.g. inlays, signs, etc.), but the boat parts question is a priority.
The LowRider sounds like a good fit for the plywood shaping; I routinely do my cutting in one of the corners just for ease of setup.
For the z-axis, the higher you go, the more accuracy you could lose. The typical Z height is about 4 inches (Ryan’s LowRider information page says 3-4"). I don’t know how that compares to the thickness of the NACA foils you want to make since the NACA spec appears to have thickness defined as some fraction of the length. At worst, you’d have to carve in layer and then glue the layers together in a stack.
I agree with BT 100%. If you are careful about your finish pass size, I don’t think it would be a problem to get something pretty accurate. I hope you at least try one so we can see how it goes.
Yessir! For me I was trying to make the opposite of the MPCNC. I think it worked, I have both and use them for different things.
I can tell you I purchased a Maslow for work to cut out some open desk designs and it does not perform that well. The Maslow loses all accuracy about 15 inches from each edge of the 4x8 sheet. It does pretty good in the center, but it is not a full sheet machine as advertised.
I only found the LR2 after the Maslow was purchased and assembled and I wish I would have known about it at the time.
Dang, I didn’t think it was that type of deal. I figured it a was not really noticeable slight loss of accuracy, from the chain angle and running a little slower at the edges would make it better. Bummer.
Or make a few sets of flat parts and sell them here and might earn yourself a lowrider kit. I am still waiting on my larger shop plans so still no flat parts from me yet.
Interesting. I’ve been looking at DIY CNC machines for years and always thought it was frustrating that you need a CNC machine to cut out your parts for your CNC machine. Same with 3D printers. If you have a working Maslow that cuts acceptably in the middle of the frame, you could cut out a lot of parts for yourself and others. Add this possible revenue stream with posting your Maslow for sale over there and you should at least be able to put a dent in migrating over to an LR2. Hell, if I was closer to pulling the trigger, I’d buy parts from you. New Maslow builders also need their sled cut.
It’s a geometry issue. I have the same problems with my delta 3d printer, we lose accuracy out at the edges. Couldn’t you just make the maslow bigger? Then the sweet spot would be bigger.
I built the LR2 to cut out my boat parts. I am using 1/2" plywood and its have not problem cutting the first .25" layer at 1mm per minute, but it starts to have issues when going deeper into the contour cuts. Its struggle to cut the rest of the parts out without going haywire or misaligned each time. Any sight stress on the cutting path makes it off target…its get really frustrating trying to figure out what wrong.
Here are my parts, I have to cut each parts out with my router after it goes .25" deep!!!
Where is your thread? Plywood should be no big deal and I suspect something pretty major to be wrong, I cut MDF deeper and 8x faster than you are cutting. We need to get you sorted out.
Interesting PowerKat design. I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing a rendering of what it will look like finished. I hope you get your LR2 dialed in, but cutting out the parts is like 10% of the total build. Where will you be splashing her when she’s done?
I too bought the Maslow before finding V1 but decided I could use the Maslow for larger parts in the center of the sheet and an MPCNC (2’ x 3’) to cut smaller parts with the waste off the Maslow. I think I will probably end up selling the Maslow for close to the original purchase price (probably wishful thinking, but demand is still really high compared to availability) and just build a LR due to the increase in edge to edge accuracy. The main issue at this time is going to be space (I have a small hoarding issue ) but am thinking about possibly mounting the MPCNC below the LR.
Well, I’m officially regretting following this thread! Hahaha…the mini boat link was the clincher for me. I know that hiding in my shop is the full plan kit from Glen L Marine for their Tubby Tug. It’s on my “one day” list (along with the grandfather clock, glider swing and various other larger, more commitment required kind of projects). I think I’ve found just reason to build an LR2…
) but am thinking about possibly mounting the MPCNC below the LR.