X-Carve 1800mm: Making A Batch of Business Signs on a CNC Router

Here we show our process for making a batch of business signs for our friends at Southern Charm Candle Company. We do this by using our 1800mm Xcarve and Vcarve Pro.
The style of these signs includes an antique finish, which represents the style of Southern Charm Candle Company. To achieve this finish, it requires painting the material prior to carving using a gloss type acrylic paint. This allows for the stain to be applied over the whole sign, then wiping the stain off the painted surface. It achieves a "worn" look to the signs, which fits perfectly with their display set ups.
SOFTWARE: www.vectric.com/
We use Vectric's Vcarve Pro to create the toolpaths, using a 60* V-Bit to cut out the design.
Affiliate Links:
1/8" Whiteside Downcut Bit
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Amana Tools 60* V-Bit (Spektra Coated)
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Special Walnut Minwax stain
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Apple Barrel Gloss Acrylic Paint
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Southern Charm Candle Company Social Media Links
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/ southerncharmcandle
Please Note
Since filming this video a proper dust collection system has been installed. We are aware of the dangers of using MDF as a substrate and have taken the proper actions to help reduce these concerns.
MDF = Good...MDF Dust = Bad. Don’t be like me...wear proper PPE!

[@pskemster]

Without a doubt! The most satisfying job I have ever seen! Beautiful work and having a good time doing it! Perfect!

[@idrewwood]

Patrick Kem thanks! It’s still fun to watch the machine do what it does!

[@mycowboyways915]

Very Cool ! Thank You for sharing your work with us !

[@idrewwood]

Thank you!

[@billvankuren3173]

Good job. Very nice sign.

[@idrewwood]

Thanks

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Very nice job

[@forster46]

Interested in your finishing process. What did you have on the surface of the MDF before carving? And what did you use to fill in the lettering black that wiped off so easily in the end? I like the method.

[@idrewwood]

forster46 its a pretty simple method. I paint the board with Acrylic Gloss paint, then wiped a dark stain over it. In most cases, I do a final wipe using a rag with mineral spirits, but on these we leave them as is.

[@shelby50411]

so the stain does not ruin the white semigloss?

[@idrewwood]

der ddd I fixed my above comment to say *gloss*, not semi-gloss.

[@stevechandler2630]

Great artwork BTW:)

[@abramex8157]

Nice work !

[@idrewwood]

Thanks!

[@ecomarinebd]

Thanks for the great video. Like to know how much is the machine cost, idea only. And what ink was that. Thanks. Best.

[@idrewwood]

Sohel Mahboob $2-3k depending on options selected. These were painted white and stained with dark stain.

[@ecomarinebd]

@@idrewwood Thanks very much for your kind prompt reply. Now comes the hard question, I am procrastinating for long to do it myself. Importing from China may not be possible for me as I lost money several times by giving them advance for smaller things. From USA, it might be costly to import. But I really want to do it, I am 52 and can't go to office longer....Besides, this will earn me a decent income apart from being creative. This is going on for couple of years. How to jump start? Need your advice. Thanks again.

[@tonyacollins365]

Just beautiful

[@jeffstercnc2271]

Awesome work

[@shelby50411]

Big big news...new xcarve to match shapeoko pro...square linear rails and more

[@johnmacleod2487]

Liked the signs and the video. Thinking about getting CNC, been watching videos (so exactly 0 actual experience), but wouldn't it be easier/quicker to do the router table work on the CNC too?

[@idrewwood]

John MacLeod I used tabs in this video. When you cut through a piece, there are option on how to secure the piece after it’s been fully cut through. Many use tabs, which keeps the piece connected to the waste in certain areas. When i use tabs, I run it across the router tables to clean up those areas. I started using double sided wood tape, which allows me to not use tabs, for this exact reason.

[@johnmacleod2487]

@@idrewwood Ah, ok, thanks. Thought about it some more after asking, realized when rounding the border on the top, if you did that on the CNC, half the mill would be plowing through the waste wood too?

[@idrewwood]

John MacLeod i can usually get it right on. I measure my material thickness with calipers and use that info in my CAD program when setting my toolpaths. Sometimes I’m right on, without going too deep. But I usually leave a little room, because it’s quick and easy at the router tables

[@johnmacleod2487]

@@idrewwood I have a big drop router too big for CNC, but no table for it yet. Was hoping/lookingforexcuses to not build router table, just have the CNC with smaller router. Table would be handy to have too though I guess. Thanks again

[@idrewwood]

John MacLeod you bet. The router table comes in handy for so many other projects

[@cd3845]

very cool! what size bit did you use for the small lettering?

[@idrewwood]

A 60* vbit

[@nutzy05]

I like this project a lot! just curious though, if you raise your plunge depth just a touch on the script writing on the top and bottom, would it pick up some more detail from the writing? To me it seems like its a bit too deep.

[@idrewwood]

nutzy05 thanks! it is possible that it might, but it would be minuscule. With it all being carved with a v-bit, the CAD program calculates the true depth of the carve based on the true size of the bit. It compares the size of the bit to the size of the detail in the text and cuts based off that. In other words, if I set it to cut .5” or .125” it will only cut the maximum the design allows.

[@jonh142881]

@@idrewwood use the "flat bottom depth setting" to prevent that excess depth

[@idrewwood]

@@jonh142881 this was set with a flat bottom depth. Rarely do I not set it. Typically mine is set at .06. This may have been at .125

[@DeplorableAir]

What are you running as far as depth of cut and feed rate? Did you have to slow it down at all after increasing the length?

[@idrewwood]

I usually run at .125” depth at 70ipm...it depends on the amount of find detail I’m carving and the material. If it’s really fine, I’ll slow it down to make sure there’s little deflection.

[@shelby50411]

Big big news...xcarve has a new redesigned drastically improved and more capable model / version coming in dec 2020...supposedly this model will remedy the many many issues/downfalls that the current and orig xcarve has/ had

[@idrewwood]

Yep, still wondering how it will compare to the other machines one the market now.

[@taciolps]

What is the measurement of the X-axis aluminum structural profile?

[@idrewwood]

This particular machine was 1800MM x 1000mm

[@benrudman3917]

What bit size and cut settings did you use? It looks like it carved pretty quickly.

[@idrewwood]

ben rudman I used a 60 degree v-bit at 100ipm

[@briangagnon4625]

Awesome job! What kind of material did you use for the signs?

[@idrewwood]

Brian Gagnon thanks! these were made from mdf.

[@maryantohansen1966]

May i ask about : x carve vs workbee vs shapeoko where most good? And the reason?

[@idrewwood]

I honestly don’t know much about the other two. I wish I could help you there

[@curtbrooks7495]

Nice work did you use the software that comes with the machine

[@idrewwood]

No, I programmed these in VCarvePro

[@miguellimon8197]

Very nice. What kind of router is that?

[@idrewwood]

This was done with an Xcarve CNC by Inventables

[@miguellimon8197]

@@idrewwood Tnaks for the info. But what router is mounted?

[@idrewwood]

The Dewalt 611, which comes with it.

[@shelby50411]

how t u wiping off the black...doesnt it darken the white background?

[@idrewwood]

der ddd it does darken the white, which is what we want it to do, to give it an antiqued appearance. With the paint being gloss, it wipes of a lot easier than other sheens. When we really want to the white to shine, we will use mineral spirits to get off the majority of the stain, only leaving the cut area the color we want.

[@trevorbohannan]

What method are you using to hold down your workpiece?

[@idrewwood]

trevorbohannan I use screws on the corners to hold the material in place

[@jefferynichols2549]

When did Xcarve start making beds this big?

[@idrewwood]

Jeffery Nichols they don’t. When I originally ordered my xcarve, the wasteboard has a small piece of damage. So they sent me another. I cut it down to fit the 1800mm

[@VerseMarineSC]

I am new to the X carve but I was curious how to take it from 1000mm to 1800mm?

[@idrewwood]

Hey! I did a video going over what was used to expand my machine. Sadly, the 1800mm makerslides are no longer available. I’ve hear some people use two 1000mm makerslides butted you to each other

[@VerseMarineSC]

@@idrewwood Would them butted together have any kind of effect when they crossed over welds/slides?

[@idrewwood]

Verse Marine I suppose there could be a drop there. It might take some very careful adjustments

[@SeanAnderson]

Search Facebook for the X-Carve Users Group - loads of tips and tricks there on how to MOD your X-Carve

[@nickmaag6341]

How long did this carve take?

[@idrewwood]

Nick Maag it didn’t take very long, maybe an hour or less. It’s been a while since I made these.

[@bobbyboy1962]

What would charge a customer for something like this, just ballpark. Great work by the way, Bob

[@idrewwood]

BobbyBoy1962 thanks! This all depends on the quantity needed and what the customer budgets. In this case, these are done in batches of 8 at a time for $45 a piece

[@idrewwood]

This also includes the easels these are mounted on

[@bobbyboy1962]

@@idrewwood thank you, seems kinda low, but appreciate the info

[@idrewwood]

BobbyBoy1962 it is low for these...but that’s because I have a long standing relationship with the business owner. He’s a good friend of mine. These are for his start up.

[@Deals-reviews-DIY]

Great work, what bit did you use?

[@idrewwood]

Deals - Reviews & DIY Thanks! This was cut with a 60* v-bit for the detail and a .25” down cut but for the profile.

[@Deals-reviews-DIY]

Did you expend your X-carve it looks lot longer. You lost the updated KIT?

[@idrewwood]

Deals - Reviews & DIY I did expand it. I upgraded the size to 1800MM x 1000MM, along with the x-axis risers, motors and z-axis

[@Deals-reviews-DIY]

Can you make small video of all the components you upgraded and list the links to buy the material. I know I can find online, but nice to hear from someone who have tested it.

[@idrewwood]

Deals - Reviews & DIY I can do that. Give me some time and I’ll get a video done.

[@stevechandler2630]

Mate, you should ALWAYS cut anti-clock ways when using a Router,,, there are loads of youtube Vlogs on how to use a router safely.. just noticed it and thought I should let you know and save you from making a BIG MISTAKE, like I did a few months ago,,,, it nearly ended up really badly,,

[@joerogers1355]

Think he was. On router table since bit is upside down from hand held router position, push work into bit from right is CCW

[@stevenmarston8923]

@@joerogers1355 True

[@rosierose1122]

Hello. What size bit is this?

[@idrewwood]

60* vbit and .25” endmill

[@inesassolin7111]

Maravilhosa!!!!

[@duke8389]

How long did this take in real time?

[@idrewwood]

Duke I can’t remember exactly. It took maybe 45 minutes to an hour to cut everything.

[@duke8389]

Would you rather have a 3d printer or the xcarve?

[@idrewwood]

Duke for what I do, I prefer the xcarve. 3D printers are really cool though. Each serve their purposes though

[@duke8389]

Thank you for your help

[@Silent-G]

Is this on MDF?

[@idrewwood]

Yes, these were done on MDF.

[@tratzum]

Is the MDF? Why?

[@idrewwood]

Customer wanted low cost signs, and with their logo having the fine detail it has, MDF cuts really well.

[@coolmoodee]

Not bad

[@idrewwood]

Thanks!

[@TonyStark-er8vu]

200$ DWP 611 Why not 1.5 kw spindel&?

[@idrewwood]

Tony Stark the DWP comes with the machine when purchased. Just haven’t needed a spindle yet, to justify the extra cost