Finally finished part 2 of my Pentaflake Tabletop build video. I’m looking for work, so if you’re interested in me making something like this for you, contact me via the email address in the sidebar.
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Pentaflake Tabletop
I’m still working on the video, but I wanted to get something up on HipNerd.com about finishing this project, since I already posted to social media about it.
I had more trouble with the Maslow, but finally got a good cut.
Pentaflake pattern being cut into plywood by Maslow CNC.
The bit was dull from the tests I ran previously, so I changed bits halfway through, then re-ran the program to clean up the hairy stuff from the dull bit. Finally, something worked in my favor, and it cleaned up well.
Before and after changing bits.
I sanded the insides of the cutouts by cutting up a sanding sponge, folding it over and zip-tying it to a dowel, then putting the dowel in my drill.
I cut the tabletop into a circle using a router on a jig.
Cutting the circle using a router on a jig.
I painted a coat of clear epoxy resin into the cutouts to seal, then poured the the colored epoxy using condiment dispensers.
Tabletop with Seal Coat and Colored Epoxy
I sanded off the excess epoxy with 80 grit sandpaper, working in sections.
Sanding in progress
I sanded everything smooth, working my way to a final 400 grit hand sanding. I put some edge banding on to hide the plywood edge. Then, I put on three coats of varnish.
Sanded and Varnished
I’m really happy with the way this came out, and looking forward to some more projects with my Maslow.
Maslow CNC First Project: Pentaflake Tabletop, Test #5 (I Think?)
For test #5 (there’s been so many tests, I think this was #5) of the Pentaflake Tabletop, I modified the clip on the router with a big bushing with plenty of surface area for epoxying, and used some epoxy putty made for gluing metal to metal (JB Weld SteelStik). End result: a really solid bushing, which keeps the clip perpendicular to the z-axis screw.
Added a bushing to the clip on the router’s z-axis control to eliminate slop.
I modified the g-code (see Hand Editing G-Code for Better Machining), and I added a bungee over the top of the router to keep constant sideways pressure on it.
The test was a success.
Pentaflake Tabletop Test #5
The cuts are clean, no burning. And, the depth is exactly the same across the whole piece.
Maslow CNC First Project: Pentaflake Tabletop
For my first project with the Maslow, I decided to revisit a very old project, a pentaflake tabletop.
Maslow CNC First Project: Backyard Tabletop
Unfortunately, I have run into some technical issues, which i must troubleshoot. You can find all the gory details here: https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/first-project-issues-z-axis-edge-burning-bit-dulling/6809
Maslow CNC Pt. 1
I built a Maslow CNC. This video is part one of the build process—the electronics and assembling the frame. The Maslow is a relatively inexpensive, open source CNC kit. The kit comes with the electronics and specialty hardware, and you provide the lumber, router, and a computer (and a dust control system is a good idea, too). It’s a hanging router, much like a hanging plotter, and is capable of cutting an entire sheet of 4X8 plywood (with some margins). It can also cut thin aluminum, pretty much any material that the router you equip it with is able to cut. I’m very excited about the creative possibilities that this machine will open up for me.