• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

woodworking.digital

a digital woodworking blog

  • home
  • blog
  • plans & files
  • events
  • more
    • contact
    • archive page
You are here: Home / Archives for Tim

Tim Celeski

Need a short bio

CAM Software Sale

November 20, 2020 By Tim

I mentioned special pricing on my favorite CAM software on my November 15th workshop. Here’s my followup.

My CAD software of choice is Rhino3D. My favorite CAM software is RhinoCAM. Now, the names might be close but the company offering CAM software is different than the CAD software company. It’s MecSoft, where Rhino3D comes from McNeel.

Now that we got that confusion out of the way, let me explain a few details. If you’re already using Rhino3D, the best way to go with CAM software is to get RhinoCAM because it’s just a plugin for Rhino. Makes setting up machine routines a piece of cake because you do it inside your CAD program. But, if you’re not a Rhino3D user, that’s okay, too. Mecsoft makes a freestanding verison called VisualCAM. Which means you can use whatever CAD program you’re already using and export the file to open up in VisualCAM. Once there, you setup your machine operations just like I do. Works great. So, if you’re using another CAD program (Fusion360, other Autodesk products, TurboCAD, whatever) this is the soluton for you.

The reason I bring all this up, is Mecsoft is having a great sale on their entry level CAM software package called Xpress. Rather that $595, they’re selling it for $299 until December 16th. That’s a great deal. And, it’s a perpetual license so you don’t have to annually subscribe, unless you want upgrades. You can get this in the freestanding version, the Rhino version and a verison that plugs into SolidWorks.

Mecsoft’s Sale

Mecsoft makes CAM packages for machining all kinds of fancy things up to $10k in price, but I can tell you that for Digital Woodworkers the Xpress package gets you where you need to go for $299. You get the 2.5D routines you really need the basics routines for 3D carving. I’ve done a lot of 3D carving and most of the time I use just the basic routines included with the $299 Express package. And, should you get ambitious and want a fancier version, you just pay the difference.

Bonus: The Xpress package includes Mecsoft’s very good Nesting program.

So, who is VisualCAM or RhinoCAM Xpress for? Well, unless you’re already using fancy 3D CAM routines available in say, Aspire, you might want to have a look at VisualCAM. Particularly if you’re using Fusion360, VCarve, TurboCAD, Autodesk products or using the very limited software available for the Shapeoko this is a major CAM improvement . It’s great CAM software with more than excellent support.

Great sale. Go for it. Mecsoft’s Sale.

PS. Tell them I sent you. I’m not a shill. just a fan of their great software.

Filed Under: CAD Software, CAM Software, Computers, Getting Started, Sunday Workshops

November 15th Workshop Replay Available

November 16, 2020 By Tim

On Sunday, November 15th, I held an online workshop on YouTube. Rather than a Zoom chat, this was done as a live streaming YouTube event. The replay is now available on my YouTube Channel: YouTube.com/digitalwoodworking. The topic was a Q&A and I showed a new all-in-one custom CNC spoilboard bed dedicated to positioning, registering and holding flat materials like plywood and MDF. Also, a peek at my new Maker Workstation.

And, I apologize for the poor video quality. Limited bandwidth options where I live makes broadcasts challenging. Next time I’ll try another connection method.

Filed Under: CAD Software, CAM Software, CNC Hardware, Design, Getting Started, Library, Opinion, Projects, Sunday Workshops, Work Holding

October 4th, 2020 Sunday Workshop Follow Up

October 5, 2020 By Tim

During the October 4th, 2020 Sunday Workshop, a couple of folks requested links to the 3D printable models used to make various clamps and other components for the new workbench including the new Rockler porable drill guide I demonstrated. The links are below.

Unlike earlier workshops, the October 4th recording won’t be posted on YouTube. Instead, I’ll create new videos and follow up blog posts on the Maker Workstation details at a future date.

Tools and Components

Rockler Portable Drill Guide with Vise
https://www.rockler.com/rockler-portable-drill-guide-with-vise

Rockler Portable Drill Guide
https://www.rockler.com/rockler-portable-drill-guide

Yost 9″ Front Vise
https://www.amazon.com/Yost-Tools-F9WW-Front-Vise/dp/B01M60Q4NN/workbenchdesi-20

Powertech Bench Dogs
https://www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-71188-Featured-Woodworking-Essential/dp/B07HWKTWZF/workbenchdesi-20

Low Profile Bench Dogs
https://www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-71037-Bench-Dogs-4-Pack/dp/B01NBWC08Y/workbenchdesi-20

BOSCH IXO VI Professional Screwdriver
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X4J9JHC/workbenchdesi-20

3D Printable Models

Note: These models are sized for the Festool MFT system (20mm/96mm) and will not fit .750″ dog holes or the 4″ Maker Workstation grid. However, if you resize X and Y to 95% in your slicer, the dogs will fit .750″ dog holes just fine. Planing stops or corner stops are spaced to 96mm and will not fit the MWS 4″grid.

20mm Bench Dog Set
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4565616

Festool 20mm MFT Cam Clamping System
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2049103

My 3D Models on Thingiverse

The 3D models I share on Thingiverse are focused on visual and word designs. After the Maker Workstation is published in Popular Woodworking, I will share several new models and 3D printable workstation components, fixture components, tools and accessories. Stay tuned.
https://www.thingiverse.com/timcel/designs

3D Printers

Prusa i3 M3S 3D Printer
https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/3d-printers/180-original-prusa-i3-mk3s-kit.html

Prusa Mini 3D Printer
https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/3d-printers/994-original-prusa-mini.html

Creality Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer
https://www.amazon.com/Comgrow-Creality-Printer-Upgrade-Certified/dp/B07GYRQVYV/workbenchdesi-20

Snapmaker Modular 3-in-1 3D Printer
https://snapmaker.com

Filed Under: Design, Getting Started, Learning, Work Holding

Next Sunday Workshop: October 4th, 2020

September 20, 2020 By Tim

Yup. I pushed forward the scheduled September 20th workshop two weeks. The next workshop will be October 4th at 1:00pm PDT.

The reason for the delay? Very busy with several projects. One in particular will be of interest to woodworking.digital followers. I’ve designed a new kind of workbench with a focus on woodworkers more likely to use newer tools such as Festool Dominos, track saws and even small CNCs. The workbench and all the details will appear in an early 2021 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine. In the October workshop, I’ll show some of the process involved in the four year development of the project, the thinking behind it and a quick peek at the new bench. Let’s just say that it’s a very different workbench.

And, if timing is right — meaning it’s been installed at the client’s home before revealing it publicly, I’ll show a commissioned 3D sculpture project collaboration with artist, and siginicant other, Leslie Newman for the last several months .

Filed Under: Uncategorized

August 16th Workshop Follow Up: Design Skills for Woodworkers

August 24, 2020 By Tim

At the August 16th Live Sunday Workshop I gave a presentation dedicated to ways for woodworkers to learn to become better designers. 

I’ve posted the video recording of the workshop on my YouTube channel. Here’s the link if you missed it.. https://youtu.be/kAAFHM8Rhmw

Topic: Design Skills for Woodworkers

Filed Under: Uncategorized

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 11
  • Go to Next Page »
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • CAM Software Sale
  • November 15th Workshop Replay Available
  • October 4th, 2020 Sunday Workshop Follow Up
  • Next Sunday Workshop: October 4th, 2020
  • August 16th Workshop Follow Up: Design Skills for Woodworkers

Categories

  • CAD Software
  • CAM Software
  • CNC Hardware
  • Computers
  • Design
  • Getting Started
  • Laser Cutting
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Milling Techniques
  • Opinion
  • Other Digital Hardware
  • Projects
  • Sunday Workshops
  • Tooling
  • Uncategorized
  • Work Holding

About…

woodworking.digital is all about working with new digitally based woodworking tools. It's a big topic and we'll try to give you a regular peek inside a busy digital woodworker's workshop.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 · indiventures llc | design · LND+TCS