Hi Everyone - Newbie wanting to create model boat hull plugs

[routerdriver]

If you want to do it in the same manner as the illustration you definitely need a five axis machine.If you try to do it with a three axis machine,there will be a point where you can't achieve the depth with a vertical spindle.The bad news is that the software alone for a five axis machine might have to have a custom post processor and will utterly demolish your budget before you even get a machine through the workshop door.Presumably you have some experience in determining pull direction for mouldings and location of split lines and these factors can make life difficult.For a simple hull shape with no undercuts,it is quite possible to break down the plug into bite size chunks that can be cut to shape on a three axis machine and then bonded together.Which means the cost of machine and software can descend into the realms of the dedicated hobbyist.Its also worth keeping in mind that even the slabs that make up each layer can be broken down to fit a smaller machine and then bonded together prior to gluing the stack together.

The whole project raises question after question but be assured that it is definitely do-able.It does need a certain level of facility with 3D modelling to begin with and its well worth trying as many trial versions of both CAD and CAM software as you can get hold of.I would caution that with a hobby level machine and a desire for a detailed surface it can take quite a while to machine the whole of the surface and even then it will require a fair bit of hand finishing.