Woodpecker Slab Flattener

[tcfengineering]

I think that it would be quite easy to make something like this which was manually operated. A CNC machine is a different story. I have built two from the ground up (a CNC plasma cutter and a CNC router) and there is an awful lot of different skills required such as fabrication, electronics, software, etc... If it was just a router sled, it doesnt need to be very precise on the X and Y axis, just very stable vertically.

 

I have often looked at this kind of product and wondered if we should make one and sell it, but I have always thought that the market for them wouldnt be very big so didnt do anything with it. It would be very easy to design a set of bracketry and laser cut parts so the end user could buy their own 50x50 box section and build it to whatever size they wanted just by bolting stuff together

[trigger_andy]

3 hours ago, tcfengineering said:

I think that it would be quite easy to make something like this which was manually operated. A CNC machine is a different story. I have built two from the ground up (a CNC plasma cutter and a CNC router) and there is an awful lot of different skills required such as fabrication, electronics, software, etc... If it was just a router sled, it doesnt need to be very precise on the X and Y axis, just very stable vertically.

 

I have often looked at this kind of product and wondered if we should make one and sell it, but I have always thought that the market for them wouldnt be very big so didnt do anything with it. It would be very easy to design a set of bracketry and laser cut parts so the end user could buy their own 50x50 box section and build it to whatever size they wanted just by bolting stuff together

You really should look into it. I think there is so much people Alaskan or Bandsaw Milling these day that it would be worth building one for sale. You just have to look on facebay these day to see how much slabs are for sale to give you an indication of the demand. Or ask RobD for a ballpark on how many Mills he's sold, would be a good indicator for demand. 

[harvey b davison]

I also would be very interested in a lightweight bolt together version. Don't do much milling, but being a chippy, one would certainly come in handy from time to time.
I also own 2 mills which I bought from TCF engineering, so I would gladly recommend them and buy a router sled from them.

[Martin du Preez]

Interesting bit of kit. Half the price of the Woodpecker but about half the parts and seems much more rough around the edges as well. Dont see the advantage here? 

I’ll try and find a better video later, it’s far better than what’s seen in that. Seems to glide seamlessly. With that pushing tick one can push it about standing up while it’s set up on the ground

[Johnsond]

Had the chance to spend a day at a mates working on the ideas and fab  for the flatteners. Plasma was great for making the router plates. Pics are in no particular order apologies for that 

[Rough Hewn]

Had the chance to spend a day at a mates working on the ideas and fab  for the flatteners. Plasma was great for making the router plates. Pics are in no particular order apologies for that http://dcn6x9s7fzj11.cloudfront.net/monthly_2019_11/756FAABF-F6B3-4453-86E1-25D1501259CF.thumb.jpeg.9f14293e533957d41dc96b180bbae770.jpeg' alt='756FAABF-F6B3-4453-86E1-25D1501259CF.thumb.jpeg.9f14293e533957d41dc96b180bbae770.jpeg'>

Very interesting project [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

[trigger_andy]

Had the chance to spend a day at a mates working on the ideas and fab  for the flatteners. Plasma was great for making the router plates. Pics are in no particular order apologies for that http://dcn6x9s7fzj11.cloudfront.net/monthly_2019_11/756FAABF-F6B3-4453-86E1-25D1501259CF.thumb.jpeg.9f14293e533957d41dc96b180bbae770.jpeg' alt='756FAABF-F6B3-4453-86E1-25D1501259CF.thumb.jpeg.9f14293e533957d41dc96b180bbae770.jpeg'>

Damn! They’re really coming together! Cracking workmanship there.

[Johnsond]

1 hour ago, trigger_andy said:

 

Damn! They’re really coming together! Cracking workmanship there.

 

 

1 hour ago, trigger_andy said:

 

Damn! They’re really coming together! Cracking workmanship there.

 

Nothing flash Andy  but strong and should do the job. Tried a few options for router base and to be honest either the plastic or Ali cut on the plasma moved well enough on the sled. Guess it’s not like it’s flying up and down all day. 

Plates are cut with a 60mm centre but no router mounting holes as I guess it depends on what machines gonna go on. The 60 mm aperture should accommodate the larger flattening bits no probs. Plan is to use some box section or straight timbers to crate the rails for the sled to run on. Any table or saw horses etc like the ones I see you have will take rails. I don’t have the luxury of being able to leave whatever I build set up so it will be put together when needed and stored if not. 

[trigger_andy]

1 hour ago, Johnsond said:

Nothing flash Andy  but strong and should do the job. Tried a few options for router base and to be honest either the plastic or Ali cut on the plasma moved well enough on the sled. Guess it’s not like it’s flying up and down all day. 

Interesting, I thought the Plastic would slide easier. 

 

1 hour ago, Johnsond said:

Any table or saw horses etc like the ones I see you have will take rails. I don’t have the luxury of being able to leave whatever I build set up so it will be put together when needed and stored if not. 

Same here. Yeh, my Saw Horses are designed to take a 2" x 4" and then a sheet of ply on top to make a worksite table. It was actually another Router Sled project I seen using this exact table in the US, so I ordered a set up. I also dont have the space to keep it permanently erected. 

[topchippyles]

Very easy to make up router jigs of any kind,I use plywood a lot or mdf when making one off stairs,What is it you lads would be looking to router into the slabs ???