Cutting weight pocket
- Thread starter Mustang1
- Start date
You will have to make a jig to hold the car..go find the bulldog video and you can see how its done on there
Ditto that comment. Bulldogs video is really good and shows a lot. But it is hard to find. Do a search for “Pinewood Derby Fenders” and you’ll find it. His channel is “Stone Coat Countertops”.
It’s like a 45 minute vid but worth every minute to watch.
Hope that helps.
Got me all excited about fenders and couldn’t help looking for it... let’s see if this pastes from my phone properly...
It’s like a 45 minute vid but worth every minute to watch.
Hope that helps.
Got me all excited about fenders and couldn’t help looking for it... let’s see if this pastes from my phone properly...
Heck, for a few bucks more than a palm router, buy one of the benchtop CNC variants on Aliexpress. This is a 3018. It'll cut the weight pockets and the rest of the car for you with a little programming!
Heck, for a few bucks more than a palm router, buy one of the benchtop CNC variants on Aliexpress. This is a 3018. It'll cut the weight pockets and the rest of the car for you with a little programming!
where do i get one of those
I suggest the DeWalt palm router. I have it and the Bosch Colt (old version). The DeWalt blows away the Bosch, particularly in depth adjustment. You may want the plunge base too, as plunging with a fixed base can get hairy even for an experienced woodworker.
I believe this is the seller I ordered mine from-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/CNC...f1-4ddb-89f5-da80e22c2239&transAbTest=ae803_3
I bought the one with the 5500mw laser just to mess with it, the unit without any laser is much cheaper, $105 + shipping. Has a bit of a learning curve, the instructions leave a bit to the imagination! lol
Heck, after using that lil thing, I was inspired to collect parts for a bigger one! Lol
Does that come with every thing you need to make it operational? From the box to cutting out bodies? No hidden cost?
Well, it runs on GRBL so you need some sort of computer to send the gcode. I use my laptop with the power saving functions shut off. (If the computer goes to sleep during a cut, the machine stops.) You'll need to make fixtures to locate the body blanks, cutting bits, and I would highly recommend adding limit switches and a Z touch off plate. They allow you to set work planes and home the thing WHEN (not IF) it crashes. I uploaded files for the limit switch mounts I designed to Thingiverse ( https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2844871 ). It does come unassembled, and the instructions are in Chinglish, so it helps if you're mechanically inclined. In order to use GRBL, you'll need to learn how to program the sucker, I use Fusion 360 and it's able to create the models and do the CAM to create the code. I found it to be a fun challenge, but I could see where others may find it frustrating. I use Fusion for my 3D printer models also so that helped. The CAM end of things was harder to figure out, I made several dry runs with no cutting bit in place until I was confident that I wasn't going to crash the thing immediately. Other than that, it's a piece of cake! LOL
If you look for "3018 Woodpecker CNC" on youtube there should be a few videos of this model.
I work my day job as a cnc machinist so g code is like a second language for me...thank you for the reply...im definatly going to look into this one
Thanks for the replies actually have an old dremel saw Bulldogs video on making a 7 gram body and said wow all I really need is the workstation and router bit...$55 later I’m in business. Thanks Bulldog!
If you're already used to running "real" CNC machines, you may be disappointed with the power these little ones have. lol
myself I have one of those 3 holed 3/8" jigs that drills weight holes. I use a 3/8" forester bit and this jig to make rows of holes behind and in front of the rear axle. Once that is done I use my dremel with a small and a micro sized router bit and clean out my rectangled shaped weight pocket holes. If you have a steady enough hand you can make some decent weight pockets and really doesn't take that long.
