A Tea Table Post

[4DThinker]

Expensive walnut showed up today.  Only a day later  than initially promised.  I was a bit surprised what showed up though.  Thought I was ordering enough 16"+ wide panels to make four table tops. Box it came in was only 9ish" wide, so I knew something was up. 

Order was for one 16 x 33 bookmatched panel, and two 17 x 22 beautifully figured burl slice panels.   Turns out that the bookmatched panel came in two pieces 8" wide, and there was only one of the 17" wide panels but it was also split into two 8.5" wide boards.  So only enough for three 16" diameter walnut table tops.   I may just make two and use the extra waste from the panels to make the legs from.  

Sent an email to the wood source with suggestions on how to make their sales site more clear about what they were actually offering.

4D 

[4DThinker]

Wood source replied with apologies, and a $50 off coupon for my next visit.   Nice enough, although I'll likely never shop that site again.  It was chosen because I wanted panels already 16" wide and their site claimed they had many that were.  Apparently not. 

4D

[Grandpadave52]

40 minutes ago, 4DThinker said:

their site claimed they had many that were

They do...you just didn't order the right wood species they carry them in

[4DThinker]

Their mistake was that the boards I ordered were described as being 16" and 17" wide.  So given that I don't trust what they claim the board widths to be.  

Been playing with what to do with one of the walnut table tops.  This is a CNC cut French Ogee profile on the tops edge and a 1/4" radius roundover on the bottom edge.   The boards are 31/32" thick. 

The walnut is much darker and grain is more highly figured than what my software shows.  Alternately I could use the CNC to taper off the back face to make the edge look thinner.   Have to see how this looks in composition with the base details/masses. 

4D 

[4DThinker]

Playing with a texture generator and the V-carve toolpath.   One option for adding detail to the side of the legs.  Also the profile design of the legs for the 9 sided table top oak version. 

Shape is a reflection of the French ogee edge of the table top.  Pattern is randomly generated with a few variables such as frequency and length.  Pattern would be cut on both sides of each leg, although a unique version could be used on each 120 degree view between the legs. I can also cut the pattern on the post between where the legs attach to imply it spans from leg to leg.   So far just an idea to ogle at to see if I like it as much over a few days.  

4D

Edited June 3, 2023 by 4DThinker

[KevTN]

That is really cool texturing! 

[4DThinker]

In Aspire it is a fun feature to play with, although I haven't actually used it more than maybe once before.  Started with an offset line from the perimeter vector of the legs.  The texture was then limited to the interior of that offset vector.  Then I clipped away the perimeter of that area between every other intersection of the texture vectors.    One thing I wish Aspire could show would be XYZ indexed cuts on rotary jobs.  I want to facet the upper section of the post design.  If that was a straight vertical section I could do that, but I want it to taper down as it goes up which is the tough part. 

4D

[KevTN]

I can see where that would be VERY challenging and WAY beyond my current skill set. Maybe in the Aspire forum? They have some people doing some crazy stuff like that in there

[4DThinker]

Not a big challenge.  More just getting familiar with all the drawing features that Aspire includes.  With such good drawing/drafting features I've quit using other CAD programs.  You can export what you've drawn to a PDF or DXF or AI or SVG or EPS file.  

I started with just recessing the inner offset vector with a VCarve cut but it didn't look like enough.  Added the texture vectors and looked at just profiling on-the-line them with a v-bit.  Also didn't look like much.  There is another texture option on the toolpath menu that has different features to play with so that may be my next adventure. 

4D 

[4DThinker]

This is a texture created using a toolpath texture feature.   1/4" ball nose used.  Fairly randomized dips and spacing and offset. etc..

Many variables to play with.  It doesn't leave vectors in the drawing, but just generates g-code toolpaths, although it has an option to use existing vectors you've drawn, such as those that the texture drawing option might generate.  More of a tactile texture than the previous leg set above. 

4D

[4DThinker]

I've been playing with the modelling tools in Aspire, something that I haven't used much given how useful their Moulding and Fluting toolpaths are for simpler 3D shapes.  The pedestal details I want for the walnut taller table have been the challenge.  This is an image saved of modelling all the post above where the legs attach.  

I can save it out as an .STL file, then import it into a rotary job where it would be unwrapped to lay flat.  Then  I can add the moulding toolpath for the leg section which is a simpler extruded shape, followed by indexed dovetail cuts as I did with the original oak table post.  I tried adding a fluting groove on the tapering facets, but couldn't figure that out.   I'll conclude with noting that 9 sides are a complicating factor when modelling. 

4D

Edited June 14, 2023 by 4DThinker

[4DThinker]

Rotary job toolpaths result image.  Hoping it would be a little cleaner when actually cut.  3D model jobs are finicky to cut while moulding toolpaths are always predictable and a function of the bit and step offset used. 

4D

[4DThinker]

Learning a bit more each day I play.  Decided to see if I could model this within the rotary job setup.  Answer is yes, but not all the obvious how to do it.  Cleaner result by skipping the need to model, export to STL, then import.  

The grooves were added with simple profile on-the-line vectors mapped to the 3D surface. The walnut I have for these is very dark African walnut so in reality I'm not sure anyone will notice all the detail under the shadow of the table top.  Makes me wonder what it would take to bury a battery pack in the post to power a ring of LEDs under the top to shine down on the post and legs. Maybe a battery pack from one of my power tools so it could be slipped out and recharged,  If I'd thought of this 40 years ago when I glued up the walnut that will become this post I would have left a pathway for wires in the center.  Maybe on the next one I make. 

4D

[4DThinker]

After seeing smoke coming out of my ears while brushing my teeth this morning I final figure out how to actually model this table post to is could be cut.  The model above looked great, but when I tried to make toolpath for it the model warped into an Aldo Salvadori abstract painting.  With patience and help from the pros on Vectric's forum I discovered the key secrets necessary to prevent system crashes and brain overload.

The actual wood I use won't be so distractingly figured.  Fairly straight African walnut that is a rich dark brown and should go well with the walnut I bought to make the top and legs from. 

[4DThinker]

I keep playing with the post details, and this is my latest.  Shortened and made thick the fluted 9-sided section.  Also been playing with adding a little detail to the upper cylinder section.  Looked at adding textures, randomized grooves, crisscross pattern, etc..  When I look at the rendering from a likely view points all the detail would be hidden under the top, so went back to simple echos of the grooves in the tapered section. 

Until I free up the project already mounted on my radial axis I come back to this design to see if I like it each day.  Once it is cut I want to be happy with it every time I see it.   Still pondering if the section on the base between where the legs will mount to could look better with some detail added. 

4D