Additional Wood/Acrylic pre-processing gear.

[Pete Cyr]

https://www.amazon.com/Genesis-GCS545C- ... SA5T17K7MV

Not sure if Amazon has the same mechandise for sale in AU, but if not there may be other choices.
This is a small track saw hat may serve you better if you are only ging to use occasionally and only for small work.

[Tim Mellor]

Thanks Pete, I have a reasonable saw with a very decent blade in it. I also have a cheap Miter Saw which for framing is actually ok. The CNC Box I showed a few back is really the next project of any sort a lot of the cuts are 4-5' so getting a longer track up front makes sense if I go down that path. I have a fair bit of 18V Makita Cordless so adding the little Circular to the kit is sort of on the radar for a future add on.

A 100" (2x50" bars) Bora Kit with saw and router bases runs to about $170 USD to my door via Amazon US I really haven't compared top local yet.

[Jeffrey Aley]

I purchase most of my material in 4'x8' or 2'x4' and use various saws to cut to rough laser size. My plan is to retire in a few years so I have built a pretty good tool list in my shop. Includes a 10" table saw with 4'x7' saw table, a 10" radial arm saw, 12" chop saw with 2'x8' table, band saw, 2 scroll saws (cuts down on blade type change most of time), 4 trim routers (each with different blades to save time), 1 router table, circular saw used with 4' homemade quick guide and a sabre saw. Then throw in 2 drill press's, 1-6" belt sander, 1-1" belt sander, 2-4" belt sanders, 4 palm sanders (all sanders with different grit), 1-18" drum sander with feed tables, 1-6" joiner, and other stuff. I put in a 4" dust collection system to all of them. My table saw extension table has a 3'x4' sanding table built into the end of it that slides back under the table. I do not have a plainer, YET. I do quite a bit of stuff using tree log slices and spend a lot of time sanding before going to the laser. My acrylic I have cut into 1'x4' when I purchase a full sheet because I found a place in Houston for a very reasonable price. I then cut it down with the table saw, radial arm saw or chop saw. I LIKE tools.
Now I just need more time to use it all more often. I also have stock pilled about 750 boards (not board feet) from 12" in length to 16' from old wood fence boards to 100 year old barn wood, all washed, dried and stacked and waiting to get used. Also, I have all the same type stuff (plasma cutter, torch, etc.) for metal, not to mention things like powder coating and painting. Lots of homemade templates for multiple job pieces.

Very impressive! As you know, "He who dies with the most toys, wins!" I think you're on your way to being a winner.

[Mike Henry]

Very impressive! As you know, "He who dies with the most toys, wins!" I think you're on your way to being a winner.

And their heirs end up with the losers - but that won't be a problem for us after we are gone, will it?

[Tim Mellor]

Use your tools like you stole them The only positive in dying with a lot of toys is you can smile quietly about the PITA you will be causing those left behind when you use them

I already have some existing Aluminium Leg/Trestles to suit this job. Just over 1200 long and 500mm wide. T Track in the slots and made from 25mm MDF (at this stage unless I can source good ply) Insert 350x350mm removable panel with Router. Jigsaw and Circular saw inserts with some jigs/slides etc to make it all work.

Given the occasional use for me compact and stowable and sensible $ are considerations but it still needs to produce a decent result. This and the other bits will slide under my larger CNC router when not in use.

[Mike Henry]

I use an old Hammond Glider sliding table saw to cut up fairly small stock. It was designed for cutting linotype, as I understand it and works pretty well on flat stock that is ~24x36 or less. Aside from that I have the usual circular saw with C-clamps and table for rough cutting of larger stock, but I try to buy stock that will fit in my 400x600 laser. I mostly do fairly small stuff so that hasn't been much of a problem.

[Gene Uselman]

Tim- I have been collecting tools since I was 14 [a long time] and I can't say I have never regretted a choice in tools, but that is part of the experience too. I now have access to anything that I might need to build almost anything. Reminds me... gotta start designing more stuff

[Tim Mellor]

Get out your CAD @Gene

The Router and Saw are "Rough" models to make sure all the bits will fit with clearing rails frames etc. Only the bits that matter are dimensionally accurate. So Footplates, shafts/collets etc along with correct overall dimensions. The shape of the bodies is just a stylized simplified model of what I want to include. These are actually separate designs then brought into the Bench project as an 'insert derive' that way if I change the Saw or Router or add more detail it auto updates in the Bench design.

I use the same process with other Laser based projects and jobs too.

Time to model a Jigsaw then order some material

[Gene Uselman]

If you are not planning to sell them, maybe you would post the Fusion 360 files? I have some f360 laser mockups that I will try to document and post in case they may help the membership or maybe encourage them to learn F360.

[Tim Mellor]

Still tweaking some of the bits on the table including using a smaller track and adding hardwood strip for improved durability. Happy to drop the final file here when I get it done and with a little tweakage of the drawings making it imperial stock compatible shouldn't take much as it is based on 25mm MDF. Even without a tweak hole and hardware changes could easily be made when marking it out for your own tools. I did drop the jigsaw and router model on the fusion 360 thread for a play.

Adding a simple leg structure and lower shelf to the basic idea should be easy. Also planning slides, guides etc and most likely a simple outrigger for larger boards.

Edit now tweaked with Hardwood outer and 19 (3/4") T Slot.