Dear RB:
Thanks for sending some pictures of the pieces. It makes it a lot easier to advise you,
and they are quite charming. I can see why they would sell well, and I'm sure they would
do so in other countries, as well.
This is not a completely trivial problem, but I think it can be solved in a good way.
However, it's going to require some experimentation, I'd say.
I see several areas that will have to be paid attention to: The materials you are using
are quite abrasive and will require special care to make tools and machinery last (I'm
sure you're well aware of that). Also, part of the charm of the product is the way changes
in the base material have been incorporated to make surface features on the sculpted
object. That should be retained. The differences from unit to unit in small details are
also important to keep as that translates into handcrafting in the mind of the buyer,
increasing the value of the product. The shapes are complex and smooth and would not be
easy to describe artistically if you start by defining them only using CAD. That means you
would probably want to scan the objects to create the files.
I'd suggest you first look at an integrated scanning and machining solution from Roland
DGA as a start. This is a good sized Japanese company and probably has local
representation in Costa Rica. Their US web site is at:
http://www.rolanddga.com/
Another company that makes both scanners and milling machines is Xystum S.r.l. (Italy).
http://www.xystum.it
You can contact Filippo Racciu, the owner directly at fracciu@xystum.it
More information about CNC can be found on our site at this page:
http://home.att.net/~castleisland/co10_lks.htm
Some problems to watch out for:
-
The resolution of the scanners may not be quite good enough for your small objects.
-
Some millers might not be powerful enough to deal with the hard materials.
-
To make a completely finished product, it will be necessary to reposition the work or
flip it over.
-
Each piece of base material will be different and may have to be shaped heavily before
you can begin carving a final shape at all. You will need to find ways of holding the
material.
-
It may not be easily possible to gang several pieces to be milled at the same time.
-
It may require several tool changes to get to a final product.
I'd suggest you mention my name and our web site when you contact these people.
Considering all of the above, this may mean that CNC will be mainly useful for roughing
out pieces. However, that may save quite a bit of labor and may be sufficient to give you
the required production boost.
At any rate, that's where to start the search and learn more. Please keep us informed
of how you get on with the project and I send best regards from snowy Boston.
Ed Grenda
Castle Island Co.
The Worldwide Guide to Rapid Prototyping
