Spring RTS Engine

kb18951452 wrote:
What should i do next?

paint the texture on it, stain the rest, and slap some glass on top

manolo_ wrote:do u have to much free time? or should ur cnc mill be tested?

I work at a Cabinetshop during the day, so i get to Double Dip. Meaning, i go set my machine to run (is a Large area connected to the cabinetshop, "Thanks Boss") and then jump back in my office to model cabinets.

Should it be tested? Not unless i wanted to know for sure, and on paper, that is needs improvement. I have tons of free time with my machine. It CAN be run 24 hours a day, but i only use it about 4 time a week, for about 10 hours at a time.

Concerning what i am asking, i was wondering, what map? The square shaped maps arnt real good for a coffe table (unless i did 2 right beside one another) but they would go well as an end table.

So I've been considering buying a CNC mill with a buddy to help him work on his house. What's a good cheap "Prosumer" level mill that can do wood and maybe some light metals? What's a good software package to run with one? Can you use a simple CAD tool like Google Sketchup?

In all honesty, have you considered making terrain or small table objects for wargamers?

smoth wrote:In all honesty, have you considered making terrain or small table objects for wargamers?

I guess that 20cm difference between min/max height is quite more expensive than 2cm... imagine the block of wood needed (and how much of it would be wasted.) Pieces (ie. individual hills) could work, though.

well most wargaming terrain boards are not that deep. Unless you get into all the modular stuff that I used to have

Lemme try and answer a few questions at once.

As far as a CNC mill? How big of an area are you wanting to work with? I hear sears sells a little one, but i dont know about it working with metal.

Some people take a manual mill (for metal working) and put motors on the handles, so it can be used manual or by CNC. This might be a solution, but your severely limited on how big of a project you can work on.

If you looking for a large machine, or for working with a large area, i suggest you check out http://www.joescnc.com and take a look at his designs. I built my machine based largely on information from one of his early machines. I'm currently building a modded version of one of his machines. One of his machin designs is free, and with a little thinking, you can build a CNC machine with a tablesaw and a couple hundred in online electronics ordering. JoeCNC designed a rock solid machine, and though his previous designs are all free, his latest machine plans are $100, totally worth it if your really interested in building a large format CNC, because for about $2000-$3000 you can build a 15-22k machine.

Software to run it comes in a couple of parts. You need to make parts, either 2d shapes, or 3d models. Sketchup (Free) is great for 2d models, but you need the "Pro" version to get 3d models easily (because its possible to get the 3d file, just not exactly straitforward)to the machine. Vectric.com makes several products for producing gCode (The actual code that the machine "reads") based on shapes or models. The nice thing about sketchup is that you can just select models that other people have created, and feed them to the machine. (Hello new-Bat-Mobile Pine Wood Derby)

MACH3 (Artsoft) is the other software you need. Where Sketchup is a CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) MACH3 is a CAM (Computer Aided Machining) This is the stuff that does the 'reading' and Actually controlls the machine.

About the 20cm question.......

There is no limit to thickness because with the software from vectrics, you can "slice" a model into parts for certain thicknesses of material. Meaning, if i wanted Tabula, and wanted it thicker that 1" i can "slice" it and tell my machine i will be using 3/4" material, and if i want 6" tall "cliff" in tabula, it will break it into 4 parts, that get glued one atop another. (see vectric.com)

I didnt do this with these tables because i didnt have the money for the software, but i recently landed a big job (part of the reason i didnt get this think done a while back) and i have the money for it now. I'm in the middle of building my new machine, so it might be a bit before i get the new software. The machine is important to me to get finished, because it will greatly effect my quality.

Never the less,

for the 4th time now it has been suggested that i make D&D style campain maps. I have some ideas on how to get it done, but don't know about the Return on Investment.

Would a player want a 3D campaign map?

ask around your nearest Games Workshop store or any model store, even a relatively small (12"x12") terrain piece for displaying a single model would probably get a decent price.

1. Follow links
- http://cgi.ebay.de/28mm-Terrain-Awesome ... dZViewItem
- http://cgi.ebay.de/28mm-Terrain-Gothic- ... dZViewItem
- http://www.netterrain.de/zenphoto/scenery/table/modul/
- http://www.uttt.com.au/tiles/tile6.html
2. Create terrain
3. ???
4. PROFIT

Wood CNC box enclosed in a table with a removable glass top?

Yea, thats what i am planning

If i could get the 3d Files for units, i believe one of my machining buddies can convert the file over for cutting on my machine. Might be fun to have a little commander, or a pee wee or even the might Flea.

the files are no problem. but getting the textures into a form that the machine can read and apply? idk

but, if you do manage to get it working...

I can imagine smoth with his full-size wooden gundam mobile suit XD In reality, I can't imagine that at all. If i could it'd be creepy >_> Sorry carrepairer :p

It would require getting the model in one of the following:

Rhino, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Silo, MOI etc.
STL, 3D DXF, OBJ, 3Ds, VRML

PM'd

you have nice hands =p

Lets just say, I'd love to have one :)
It'd be kinda awesome if you got a coffeetable showing tabula or dsd. Certainly a win

I want one too, but milled from aluminum. Anodized in some nice colors Tropical would be awesome. And you could then add water...

OK,

I got my new REALLY LONG Bits in from my supplier. Meaning i can do much much much deeper cuts. The Tabula i did before was using a 1" bit, and i just got a new 3" bit. I think its time i tried something a bit "Bigger".

A Friend this evening suggested i go get a 20" wide 40" long solid Mahogany Board and use it for the Coffee Table. I think i'll be headed to the Hardwood Supplier on monday.

Look back for more posts.

Sefidel wrote:There's a time and place, and the spring forums are never that place -Moderation

I lolled