Surfacing Materials Manually on my Avid 4848 Pro CNC Router with Mach4

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In this video, I’ll demonstrate and discuss the processes I used to manually surface one side of a Douglas Fir slab in Mach4 using my Avid 4848 Pro CNC Router.
First I’ll discuss why you would choose to surface materials on the CNC versus using a planer/thicknesser. I’ll discuss why we would manually drive the surfacing bit over the material versus creating a surfacing toolpath in Vectric Aspire or VCarve.
On the CNC router, I’ll show you how I mounted and indexed my work material on my spoilboard, and some of the things to watch out for along the way. Then I’ll demonstrate setting Z zero, using MDI commands, and Incremental Jogging to set my depth of cut when removing material in Mach4.
Finally, I’ll wrap up by sharing some of the lessons I learned during this process, and give you a brief preview of what I’ll be demonstrating in the next video in this mini-series.
As usual, if you have any comments or questions about anything I covered in this video, please join me for the Live Q&A, or put ‘em in the comment section below.
On Sunday, January 8th, I’ll be hosting a LIVE Q&A session, where you can ask your questions pertaining to anything I’ve covered in this video. That Q&A starts at 3 pm Eastern time, Noon Pacific time. Hope to see you there!
Here’s a link to the Live Q&A: • Live Q&A #173 - Surfac...
Link to Tools and Supplies used in making this project:
Amana Tool RC-2255 3 Flute 2" Diameter Spoilboard Surfacing Bit: amzn.to/3U1Xlpb
Link to the Material Surfacing playlist: • Surfacing Materials
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Link to the Vectric for the Absolute Beginner Playlist: • Vectric for the Absolu...
Link to the 3D Modeling for the Absolute Beginner playlist: • 3D Carving for Beginners
Link to the V-Carving for the Absolute Beginner playlist: • V-Carving for the Abso...
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www.vectric.com/
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This video is for informational and entertainment purposes only.
#Aspire #VCarve #Vectric #Tutorial

[@caldeobald1250]

Informative video. I'll just add another reason for surfacing/thicknessing with the CNC: pieces that are too small to run through the planer safely or which, because of their small size would suffer badly from snipe if run through the planer. In this way you can make use of all those 8/4 cutoffs for small projects like kids' wooden toys, ... Thanks again for all you do.

[@rickfrench786]

Outstanding video, Mark! I picked up a BUNCH more about Mach 4 watching thaT than I had in almost two years of (casually) running my CNC.

[@darrellsaturnbigfoot]

Informative video as usual 👍 for a highly figured spieces or say birdseye, simply spray a little water on the surface then plane. Illuminates nearly all tear out 😊

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

Thanks! I heard about that a few years ago and have had mixed success with it. On some species (maple and walnut, for example) it works very well. On softwoods like redwood, the results were mixed. I bounce back and forth between the planer and the CNC depending on the size of the piece, what species it is, how much figure it has in it, and how much of it I need to surface. If I have a single 7 inch long piece of redwood burl, I use the CNC. If I have 200 feet of just about anything that'll fit, I use the planer.

[@blah_z]

Beautifully done. Ya made us wait for it but so worth it!

[@andrewperry8389]

Shoot! You are so smart it would only take you 30 seconds to draw the surfacing file. Great video as always 👍

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

As I said in the video, that'll be coming up in the next video. The purpose of this video was to show how it's done manually, and to introduce Incremental Jogging and MDI commands. Thanks for the comment!

[@CrossCutCreations]

Great video Mark! I'm hoping to eventually upgrade my CNC to something larger that will accomplish similar tasks for smaller to medium-ish sized slabs (among other things).

[@MrHammy40]

Nice bit!!! However I would just draw the rectangle bigger than the workpiece and let the machine do the work. Rectangle and toolpath would take seconds to create and seconds to modify if you needed to change the depth for another pass. To each his own. Keep up the good work sir!

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

As I said in the video, that'll be coming up in the next video. The purpose of this video was to show how it's done manually, and to introduce Incremental Jogging and MDI commands. Thanks for the comment!

[@woodworkingDad64]

I need this video right now! Thank you!!

[@gofish313]

I've been doing this on my Shark for a long time with twisted and warped wood after drying out without a kiln process. save a lot of box elder from the fireplace!

[@borg3575]

At around 7:20 you mentioned holding the work piece down at the corners with screws. That would not work when you are surfacing. You would be pulling the work piece down flat. After surfacing and unbolting, you would still have a cupped board.

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

You're absolutely right - the same with the composite nails. Both can still be done if you fasten through the shims. I thought I had mentioned that in the video, but discovered that I had left it out when I was editing. By then it was too late to add that in, because the slab had already been flattened. I planned on talking about it during the Live Q&A this afternoon. Good catch!

[@borg3575]

@@MarkLindsayCNC I was pretty sure that it was just a dialog mistake. The way you did it worked fine. Will be using the tape/CA method today to make a radio back panel. I learn a lot about Vectric from your channel.

[@CraigLafferty]

Some viewers might think your machine needs tramming but i know it is! You might explain witness marks vs ridges in untrammed machines.

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

I'll talk about it during the Live Q&A this afternoon. Thanks!

[@sherrypeterson8180]

Love the video thank you

[@dangoras9152]

Mark can that work with gcode sender or ugs for us that don't use mach 4 ... Good information... Keep it up brother

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

I really don't know, Dan, but they should be able to do it. I've never used anything but Mach3 and Mach4. You might check the UGS or GCode Sender support community for answers.

[@rickfrench786]

One question struck me while watching: Why do you (we) tend to work with the grain running along the y-axis, where we have to reach, and we can’t see as well? The machine is square! Why not work along the x-axis? The motors and gearing (on the Avid) are the same, so it really isn’t about machine strength. Wouldn’t it be easier? If the machine was a 4896 and the slab was longer, it would have to be run along the y, but…..?

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

Thanks Rick! I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, it's mainly for video purposes. By running it along the Y, the viewer can see the progress more easily than if I run along the X. The dust shoe would basically cover the material until the last few passes if I ran it along the X, and that's no good for the viewer. And I always run dust collection while surfacing. That's not open for negotiation - lol.