Robatoy wrote: | On Mar 2, 12:05 pm, "Morris Dovey" wrote: | [snipped for brevity] | || I'd use a bit of double-stick tape to hold the tool in position on || my router table and use a 3" length of 1/8" drill rod as a probe to || determine coordinates on the tool profile (1/100" point separation || is usually good enough). || || Once the tool profile has been captured, the points can be || imported to a CAD file and massaged (rotated, mirrored, etc) and || saved as is or pasted along with other tools into the tray drawing. | | Would that be an approach for making the cut-out for an undermount | sink?
This method works well for irregularly-shaped objects. For more regularly-shaped (ellipsoid or rectangular) it's usually easiest to make a few measurements and type in the program.
| Take the sink, and trace it? Is there enough Z to get a sink under, | or could one make a hole in the table and do it that way?
You can have as much Z as you're willing to pay for.
There's no real reason you couldn't make a hole in the table - but by the time you've built and surfaced a table, I'll bet that you won't be eager to chop it up...
There's really no need (I'm guessing) to get your spindle /over/ a sink. Just turn it upside-down and trace whatever contour you're interested in. If that contour is too high for your Z, then turn the sink right side up.
| Many sinks come with paper templates which can be scanned at a blue- | print shop, then digitized from there?
You can. I'd just take a photo and import the JPEG into my CAD package and trace over the image - then delete the JPEG and save my drawing as a DXF (which the ShopBot software can understand)
More and more manufacturers are making DXF files available for the asking. I've got CD's on my desk from DeStaCo (clamps) and Charlotte Pipe and Foundry - with both 2D and 3D drawings. Check with your favorite sink/faucet manufacturers - they may have already done the work.
| The sink-cutouts would be a primary justification for a ShopBot... | NOT the 'toy-value'.
Yeah, sure.
-- Morris Dovey DeSoto Solar DeSoto, Iowa USA
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