The Framers Forum

I’ve had a CNC for a couple of years but this is the first attempt at carving text into a frame. The text will be coloured when finished.

That looks really impressive

Have you thought much about how you would go about promoting and marketing such capabilities? I suspect that these capabilities are probably quite marketable, but there's probably quite a lot to think about first. I've got no idea how you would go about aiming to price this sort of work. It would be quite helpful to know if there's a going rate for doing this sort of thing.

Some applications for this sort of work such as house signs, might well be the wrong end of the market, as there are lots of cheap kits to do this stuff and maybe there's some very unhelpful competition from various amateur's who are only doing it for a little pocket money. s what's the quality end of the market application for this sort of thing where there some really decent money to be made? I betting that there going to be some really good things to do with this, the people will happily pay good money for.

I've only had a few job where customers have had photos of deceased pets framed, I not really talking about lots of such jobs, but they all wanted the pets name added to the frames, or on the mount. I did not charge very much for doing this, but I could have definitely charged more than I did. I was a bit surprised how much customers expect to pay to commemorate the passing of a favourite pet. I think you might be on to something and perhaps I will be surprisingly good for you. Lets hope so.

This is for my Daughter.

Love the font.

I like what you have done. Can you please give us some more information about the machine and any pros and cons e.g. handling widths of mouldings. Thanks Cliff

The machine is a Woorkbee CNC from Ooznest.

The software is Vectric Aspire.

There is no limit on sizing. The maximum machine bed size is 1.5x1.5m but I have a 1mx1m machine. The machine bed is open ended so this means any length of moulding could be accommodated. Also there is no limit on the width of moulding. Material Thickness would be limited to about 60mm by various factors but no practical limit for picture frame moulding.

www.vectric.com

www.ooznest.co.uk

Start googling CAD/CAM software and CNC woodworking.

I can imagine the potential for removing the router, and fitting something like a stepper motor connected to a linear actuator, fitted with say, a blade at a raunchy angle, such as 45 degrees... Or a straight blade for shipping boxes, a creasing wheel, and even a penholder for decorating window mounts.

Sliding into new toy territory for me.

My vote is for gold leaf in the lettering.

A CNC is just that. A bit like a CMC but for wood and metal.

It can cut mount board if I use the drag knife, but not at a 45 degree angle. It can do many other things as well. I have a laser engraver attachment and I’ve used it for mount decoration but is main strengths are wood and aluminium.

Here is a picture of a small version.

Thank you for the information and links.

Would the CNC cut a carved detail on to a wooden strip that can then be glued to a frame? I'm thinking of where strips of 'shot' or 'lambs tongue' could be supplied and attached to a frame.

I presume also that you would be able to carve a reverse mould for casting compo ornaments.

How would the CNC be programed to copy an existing ornament?

Would the CNC cut a carved detail on to a wooden strip that can then be glued to a frame? I'm thinking of where strips of 'shot' or 'lambs tongue' could be supplied and attached to a frame.

Yes, I'm going to be trying this soon. The carving is quite time consuming so I'm not sure how viable it would be vs buying in compo

I presume also that you would be able to carve a reverse mould for casting compo ornaments.

Yes ive dome this, it was the fist thing i did when i got the machine. I juts a few tests and it looked promising.

How would the CNC be programmed to copy an existing ornament?

Good 3d modeling skills are required, in theory yes, but not easy.

That's interesting. Do you mean that someone has to model the detail first, into the machine or is there any way that the machine can scan an existing detail?

Hi, it need to be modelled, 3D scanning works up to a point
But it take shuts as long to clean up
The model than it does to create it from
Sxrath.

There are a number of
Models you can purchase and I got one or two. When I get a spare couple of hours I’ll cut some.

I’ve also got access to various models via my software provider.
I’m post some of those To see if any takes
Your fancy.

Thanks for the replies. The sort of process I'd be interested in is where the CNC could scan an existing decoration off an antique frame and then reproduce a reverse carving so as to cast compo from it.

It really has to be off a Handmade carving, as a computer facsimile would look too perfect and artificial.

Maybe that's beyond the current machine capability?

Yes not possible
At the moment.

That is a great job