JUMBOKU-he's back!--new pix 11-04 p.15 - Tiki Carving

H Howland Tiki Socialite Upstate, SC Joined: Jan 30, 2006 Posts: 751	H Howland Posted posted on Tue, Jun 10, 2008 9:46 PM Thanx for all the kind props! Now here's the deal with the 'router' I used. I purchased this machine last September called the CompuCarve. It's basically a home/hobby version of a CNC router. I design the project in the graphics software that comes with the machine, upload the project onto a memory card, insert the card into the machine, insert the wood into the machine and hit the start button. I've debated with myself about posting projects done with the machine because I figured I might catch some grief about using what some may consider a cheat method. Artistic talent is still a requirement to use the software. Then I figured that it's really no different than an artist who makes prints of their original painting to sell to the masses or a sculptor who makes resin casts to reproduce their work to sell. I've heard that Oceanic Arts uses some type of carving machine to reproduce designs on posts, etc. It took me many hours to create the Maori style trim pieces in the graphics program and takes about an hour for the machine to spit out the finished product. I'm tweaking the graphics part of the design to carve quicker--basically making the machine carve shallower so as to save some time. It took about 3 hours for the gope board but it too could be carved shallower to save time. I'm still rounding the bends on the learning curve with the software. BTW--I think every carver should have one of these, especially if you're making a living at carving. I can upload the graphic, insert the wood, and leave the house-or do whatever--go carve something else by hand that the machine can't handle. It has limitations. It can handle wood up to 14" wide and 5" thick but it can only carve 1" deep. I'll have more to show soon. Thanx again for looking and or the nice comps! Here's some pics of the Maori style trim from the software: in the pic below, all the dots are where I had to click to form lines on the gope board below, I carved it into a board then band sawed the shape out. http://www.myspace.com/bhowland The Curse of Howland Island [ Edited by: howland 2008-06-11 07:07 ]

Thanx for all the kind props!

Now here's the deal with the 'router' I used. I purchased this machine last September called the CompuCarve. It's basically a home/hobby version of a CNC router. I design the project in the graphics software that comes with the machine, upload the project onto a memory card, insert the card into the machine, insert the wood into the machine and hit the start button.

I've debated with myself about posting projects done with the machine because I figured I might catch some grief about using what some may consider a cheat method. Artistic talent is still a requirement to use the software. Then I figured that it's really no different than an artist who makes prints of their original painting to sell to the masses or a sculptor who makes resin casts to reproduce their work to sell. I've heard that Oceanic Arts uses some type of carving machine to reproduce designs on posts, etc.

It took me many hours to create the Maori style trim pieces in the graphics program and takes about an hour for the machine to spit out the finished product. I'm tweaking the graphics part of the design to carve quicker--basically making the machine carve shallower so as to save some time. It took about 3 hours for the gope board but it too could be carved shallower to save time. I'm still rounding the bends on the learning curve with the software.

BTW--I think every carver should have one of these, especially if you're making a living at carving. I can upload the graphic, insert the wood, and leave the house-or do whatever--go carve something else by hand that the machine can't handle. It has limitations. It can handle wood up to 14" wide and 5" thick but it can only carve 1" deep. I'll have more to show soon.
Thanx again for looking and or the nice comps!

Here's some pics of the Maori style trim from the software:

in the pic below, all the dots are where I had to click to form lines

on the gope board below, I carved it into a board then band sawed the shape out.

http://www.myspace.com/bhowland

The Curse of Howland Island

[ Edited by: howland 2008-06-11 07:07 ]

Post #386173 by Howland on Tue, Jun 10, 2008 9:46 PM