inspiration thread

[njhussey]

That's fantastic!! Agree with you Matt mine pales into insignificance in comparison!!!! I think I remember seeing a plane on a roundabout when flying from Heathrow a couple of years ago?

Now if they made larger model jet engines......

[GEOFFREY]

Matt, Neil, thanks for the +ve comments, but my efforts are no better than any others - I think everyones efforts are fantastic. I must admit that when this opportunity arose I was very keen, and am so pleased with the end results. The models are still on display at Heathrow, indeed 6 months after they were errected they were taken down and returned to the paint shop, redecorated in the new ETIHAD livery and re-errected on site. All three models are grouped in a flying position (on pylons) on the roundabout at terminal 4. After leaving the engineering/construction field in 1992 I decided to try to start up a modeling business, but my wife was not too interested, however when I said dollhouses she snapped up the bait!!! CNC machines were unknown to me until I visited a DH builder who had an old Wadkin cnc router. I was captivated. I had to have one!!! I purchased an old PCB drill-router, wasted many hours trying to get it working (I failed) and eventually bit the bullit, bought an AMC4 dedicated controllerand with the help of a friend converted that old machine that I love. A very strong fixed gantry 540mmx450mm 3 axis machine. I have built hundreds of dollhouses, miniatures and models (mainly dollhouse related) since then and even used alphacam to draw up the design for my new house and all the plans required for building regs and planning etc. I would like to add that I am self taught in all things CNC, but I am lucky enough to have a clever friend who has helped - thanks Graham.
Anyway sorry about the long story (hope it may inspire someone) and time to post the next batch of pics. G.[IMG]desktop[/IMG]

[JAZZCNC]

Very very Cool.

Geoffrey do the Cabin windows have lights in them.?

Good job they weren't up here last night because they would have lifted off, Pylons an All, with the winds we have.!!

[GEOFFREY]

Hi Jazz, all will be revealed in the next batch of pictures!!! G.

[Neale]

I would like to lower the tone a bit here... These intricate/large etc models and so on are great, but I tend to find myself a bit discouraged sometimes by seeing beautiful bits of work from others. So, to counter this, and to show something much, much simpler but which goes down well as stocking-filler type gifts at Christmas, here are this year's coffee-table coasters. A set of these separates into individual pieces, but form a conversation-starting jigsaw when assembled. I was originally inspired to make these by the blog I found which described one man's efforts to tile his hall and sitting room with larger versions of the same design. Came out well, too. Mine are in sapele, and show what can be cut with a 3-year-old MDF router that's only just about hanging together still.

Here's mine:

[Clive S]

I have seen that vid of he guy in is hall it looked good, have you drawn the dxf.

[GEOFFREY]

Yes, I remember that post, I think gavtheouch was going to do his caravan floor like that. Neale, I think that work is great, and the idea of scaling it to make table mats, coasters etc. was very clever. Your work looks lovely and does indeed show just what can be achieved even with an mdf build. I have often said that I love all CNC machines and I am still amazed at what work can be produced - I just love the fact that it is possible to have an idea, design, draw, cut build and see the idea come to life. Most of the work that I do involves very small pieces, and I had no intention of ever showing the dreamliner build on here until KC started his post. The last thing that I would want to do is "rain on anyones parade". I would also like to add that I think the aztec calendars that have been made and displayed on this site are far superior to any of my own work. G.

[Neale]

I have seen that vid of he guy in is hall it looked good, have you drawn the dxf.

Yes, I found I had to. There are quite a few variations on the same theme, all based on the original "Reptiles" by Escher, but when you look closely none of them quite work (or, at least, none of the designs I found). So I did my own drawing, based around a hexagonal tessellation. But that's probably as much mathematical theory as anyone wants on this forum, so let's just say it took a while to get it right. Then import into Vectric vCarve to do the CAM stuff.

I agree wholeheartedly with Geoffrey's comments - there is nothing quite so satisfying as taking an idea from first idle thoughts to finished item, and for those of us whose hand skills aren't as well-developed as they might be, CNC routers (and 3D printers, come to that) are a great way to achieve this. I built my current router because I had promised a presentation plaque to my local twinning association, and then had to build the router to be able to make it. So, my inspiring comment for the day - just b****y do it!