Fuzzual
Sr Member
Keen eyed Fuzz!! You missed the Battle Droid parts in the box next to the GONK feet though.
DOH!!! love it!
Oblivion Inspired Office Build
- Thread starter hdtheater
- Start date
DOH!!! love it!
With the site update, I forgot to update my thread with the latest progress.
I was able to cut all the flat panels including the desktop and bezel for around the screen that will go on the vertical section of the desk. With the exception of the desktop, these are all 1/4" thick panels of MDF that are used to skin the desk. The desktop is made from 1/2". I wanted a little thicker surface for that panel. Make it feel a little more solid.
Since these will all be painted separately and secured to the desk frame after ward, the panels you see in place are just using gravity to hold them in place. You will just have to use your imagination until I get to that point.
I am starting to work on the trim that will go around the edges of the desk. It poses its own challenge of being 1 1/2" radius quarter rounds. The challenge is that the diameter of the bit is 3" and my router table won't handle a bit that big. My plan is to carve the radius on the CNC and then sand smooth. I could get a new router table, but I would want to build my own and don't want to stop working on the desk to design and build it.
-Eric
I was able to cut all the flat panels including the desktop and bezel for around the screen that will go on the vertical section of the desk. With the exception of the desktop, these are all 1/4" thick panels of MDF that are used to skin the desk. The desktop is made from 1/2". I wanted a little thicker surface for that panel. Make it feel a little more solid.
Since these will all be painted separately and secured to the desk frame after ward, the panels you see in place are just using gravity to hold them in place. You will just have to use your imagination until I get to that point.
I am starting to work on the trim that will go around the edges of the desk. It poses its own challenge of being 1 1/2" radius quarter rounds. The challenge is that the diameter of the bit is 3" and my router table won't handle a bit that big. My plan is to carve the radius on the CNC and then sand smooth. I could get a new router table, but I would want to build my own and don't want to stop working on the desk to design and build it.
-Eric
Been steadily making the trim pieces over the last week. I have yet to commit to making too many of these at once and just been doing one at a time and making sure it fits the way it is supposed to. So far things are going alright. Once all the pieces are in place, I will need to sand smooth to get it just right.
I did hit a snag yesterday and burned up my router motor right when I just about finished a piece. I was able to save what I had made, but I had to order a new router and it won't arrive until Wednesday.
Until next time!
-Eric
I did hit a snag yesterday and burned up my router motor right when I just about finished a piece. I was able to save what I had made, but I had to order a new router and it won't arrive until Wednesday.
Until next time!
-Eric
Captain April
Sr Member
As a display designer I often over think how to build a prop, never thinking that the simplest way is best. Routing the radius from a chunk of MDF is how they probably did it for the movie. Great job.
I would have liked to use a solid piece of wood, but that would have driven the cost up plus I think I would have needed a traditional router table setup to do it. I think I might wipe some resin over the open fibers to help seal it and reduce the potential of it cracking later.
On a side note, I remember those black lacquer water beds in the 80's. They were two layers of 3/4" MDF laminated together.
-Eric
Captain April
Sr Member
Are you planning on a lacquer finish?
Yes. Going for high gloss for the white areas and a matte finish for the black and grey.
It's been a while since I updated, but nothing visually significant has happened since my last post.
I have been churning out quarter round trim pieces from the slabs of MDF I have in the shop. These are mostly bits and pieces that were big enough to make a part out of. Turning what could have been trash into something of value. Yay environment!
Since I am making these all on my CNC, I have ran into issues where the individual pieces are all not quite the same thickness. Some have come out thicker and others thinner. Its the variations across the bed of my CNC, the thickness of the panels being slightly different, thickness of the glue between panels, etc...
I have been trying to avoid making these with a regular round over bit, but I don't think making them with the CNC will provide as consistent of an outcome as I need. I broke down and bought a 1.5" radius round over bit and am going to rig up a router table that will accommodate what I need. I am going to finish cutting all the pieces I need and then run them each across the bit to get them all to the same size. I may end up redoing some pieces, but it will look better in the long run. Look at the size of that thing! It's UUGE!
I also installed some Formica on the desktop!
Lastly, I ordered some more MDF to make the side panels and the last of the quarter round I will need.
-Eric
I have been churning out quarter round trim pieces from the slabs of MDF I have in the shop. These are mostly bits and pieces that were big enough to make a part out of. Turning what could have been trash into something of value. Yay environment!
Since I am making these all on my CNC, I have ran into issues where the individual pieces are all not quite the same thickness. Some have come out thicker and others thinner. Its the variations across the bed of my CNC, the thickness of the panels being slightly different, thickness of the glue between panels, etc...
I have been trying to avoid making these with a regular round over bit, but I don't think making them with the CNC will provide as consistent of an outcome as I need. I broke down and bought a 1.5" radius round over bit and am going to rig up a router table that will accommodate what I need. I am going to finish cutting all the pieces I need and then run them each across the bit to get them all to the same size. I may end up redoing some pieces, but it will look better in the long run. Look at the size of that thing! It's UUGE!
I also installed some Formica on the desktop!
Lastly, I ordered some more MDF to make the side panels and the last of the quarter round I will need.
-Eric
So jealous, that desk is going to be awesome!
I appreciate that.You might not feel like this is much but this is all steps in the right direction, keep up the great work
This project has definitely crossed the threshold of "just wanting it done". I know I am close. Once the trim pieces are all cut and ready for finishing, it will come together pretty quick I think.
Well, it is raining in North Texas and I am all out of MDF to work on the desk. I decided to spend some time working on how I think I am going to use the router bit to clean up the quarter round trim that will go around the edge of the desk.
As I stated before, the bit is too big to fit on my current router table. My idea for a workaround has been to use the router mounted in the CNC with a smooth base and a makeshift fence and run the pieces across it. I set it up to get a feel of what I was in for.
I started getting a little nervous when I saw the bit installed in the router and then I got really nervous when I turned it on. A 1/4" spiral bit in the CNC is one thing, but a 3" diameter bit hanging out of the router is something else. This configuration looks like a real good way to lose some fingers. It's at crotch level too, which makes it even more of a reason not to go through with this idea.
I am sure the right way (safe way) of doing this is to use a different tool or one with a lot more features than mine has.
I am going to keep doing research. If you have come across this, feel free to post and share your solution.
-Eric
As I stated before, the bit is too big to fit on my current router table. My idea for a workaround has been to use the router mounted in the CNC with a smooth base and a makeshift fence and run the pieces across it. I set it up to get a feel of what I was in for.
I started getting a little nervous when I saw the bit installed in the router and then I got really nervous when I turned it on. A 1/4" spiral bit in the CNC is one thing, but a 3" diameter bit hanging out of the router is something else. This configuration looks like a real good way to lose some fingers. It's at crotch level too, which makes it even more of a reason not to go through with this idea.
I am sure the right way (safe way) of doing this is to use a different tool or one with a lot more features than mine has.
I am going to keep doing research. If you have come across this, feel free to post and share your solution.
-Eric
moviebuff5
Sr Member
I was nervous just looking at that picture. Glad to hear you are looking for another way. I would say a Router Table and push sticks would be a lot safer. Some featherboards to help with alignment and prevent kickback would probably be good as well.
barry99705
New Member
That and is usually not a good idea to use bits with bearings on them in a cnc router. Bad g-code and **** gets exciting really quick!
