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'Mass' Cab Production Method?
Santoro:
Ok, well not mass, but I think I can sell 4-5 cabs a year locally. I have a settled on a design and built a prototype. In order to reduce the time spent building, I would like to do something to reduce the time I spend cutting the shape of the sides.
I was was considering making a full-sized template out of masonite and then using a router with a bearing to cut around the template to cut the sides for any future cabs.
Would this work? Will it kill my router? Are there special bits for this type of thing? {edit:I use 3/4" MDF}
Thanks!
Dave
Ed ONeill:
Yes there are bits made for this.
It should work fine as long as you have a decent hp router.
Btw why dont you use the protype as your template?
Just my 2 cents
Ed
whammoed:
It would work. I do something similar to cut out cocktail control panel sides and the tops. The bit is called a "pattern cutting" bit. Only problem seems to be that when cutting thick material like 3/4" to 1" the bearing puts a lot of pressure on your template and may start to wear a groove after a few cuts using it. Not familiar with masonite but I would make sure the template you intend to use on a regular basis is at least 3/8" thick so the bits bearing can travel without hanging off the edge which makes the problem worse. I typically make a pattern out of 1/4" hardboard and then cut another pattern out of thicker plywood from that for production...when it wears out or gets gouged I can make a new pattern from the original.
hyiu:
I don't think that will make your life much easier....
router can cut nice.... but if you use a pattern bit to cut...
it'll be slower... (since it needs to take out more wood than... like a circular saw...) a pattern bit will take out like 1/4 in of wood as it pass by.... therefore generating MUCH MORE DUST... and also.... your bit will get burned quicker....
well... if you have one of those computerized cutter that can be fed a software plan and it'll cut by itself... that's of course good....
but if you don't want to invest too much.... I would say get a "routine" set..... like measurements so that you can setup your guide and saw fast for cutting.....
well.... but my wood working skill is very limited... so take it at your own risk.... :P :P
Santoro:
--- Quote from: Ed ONeill on June 18, 2004, 09:43:55 am ---Btw why dont you use the protype as your template?
--- End quote ---
It is already assembled, Unfortunatley I just though of this recently.
I suppose I could use a router bit with the bearing on the bottom and lay the new piece on top of the cab side to cut a template. Based on the feedback above, maybe I will try to find some 1/2 MDF for a template to avoid wear.
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