First, fillets are a deal breaker for me, I agree a chisel is probably better to finish. Second, what do you do if it’s 4 separate work pieces and not one sheet. Example I want to use black walnut, it would be a lot of waste doing it the way you show. Third, can it just do the dovetails only. I could cut the outer dimensions on my table saw and mitre saw, would just need the end dovetails. Only had my cnc a few days.
Jeff, your RUclips is an outstanding tutorial. I'm guessing you might do quite alot of "educating" in your life. Greatly appreciated. This method has led me away from the Gadget Box which has many shortfalls. I was manually constructing a frame with square tabs (due to the shortcomings of the Box Gadget). Your tutorial is perfect for what I'm attempting to do. Thanks so much.
This is an older video, so not sure if you are still monitoring... Great video, this works great if you are cutting all of the pieces from one board. What if you already have the box sides cut and want to just cut pins and tails in the ends? EDIT - I figured that part out ←.. Any update on the fillet issue?
Thanks Jeff for the step by step procedure. I would have liked to see what your feeds and speeds were. It seems that part of most videos are left out making you assume that you know what they should be.
This is a great tutorial! The only thing that I would add to it is that the direction of the vectors when you cut them is crucial to whether the dovetails and pins are formed where you want them. If the vector start and end point are incorrect due to the order in which the vectors are cut, the dovetails and particularly the dovetail toolpaths will end up on the wrong side of the line. Of course, this is easily fixed by right-clicking on the desired starting endpoint in node mode and selecting "Make Start Point". The dovetail or pin or toolpath always forms on the left side of the vector as you traverse from start to end.
Hi Daniel. I was getting the same, then changed the order of cutting the vectors. Seems to work when you go in a clockwise direction. When I go anticlockwise, they are outward.
Hi, dear. After cut vectors, I made two dovetails. One dovetail was inward correctly but the other dovetail was made outward with inverted. Again and again..... Why these were happened? Please give me some feedback.
Hi Rod, I've had a bit of a play with the gadget, if you are using metric as I do just ignore the word inch, it works fine for instance if you choose 10 it will automatically be 10mm not inches, the gadget must look to see if you are using metric or imperial.. Hope this helps. Rob
I have done everything exactly as you said however when I created the pins the right end of the side was not positioned correctly. I had to flip horizontally. However that created another problem. the toolpath doesn't recognize those pins
Can't do it. Anytime the bit changes direction, its creates a round corner unless it is an outside cut on the part you want a sharp corner. You can't match the part dimensions of the male and female by using inside on one and outside on the other. It all boils down to the square peg in a round hole when you are cutting with round bits the FACE of a board to make END board joints. People have been trying for decades.
Hey Jeff, I enjoyed your video. Maybe the CNC use could be helped with not using fillets and just cleaning these dovetails up with a hand saw and chisel.
Would it be easier to just fillet the corner rather than cutting the divent into the actual workpiece, then once the pieces are done you can simply pair out the fillet to sharpen up the corners of the workpiece?
Stacy Thanks for the video, I followed you step by step and when I made the pins on the 2 smaller side pieces my pins go outward on one side not like yours that show both pins inward any thoughts why that happened? Any thoughts are appreciated.
I had the same problem. It is caused by the direction of the vector. It always puts the pins on the "left" side. In the vector editing mode, look for the green box end. That's the start. The pins will go left of that. If it is going the wrong direction, right click on it and select "Reverse Direction". Now when you run the pin creator it will create them on the correct side. Unfortunately, you can't "ctl-Z" out of the messed up ones so you have to delete the bad one and start over.
I just came across this video Jeff great job. Would like to know what type of end mill you used on the plywood and at what speed rat you ran it. Als did you ever come up with a way to close up the corners where the filltes are. Jeff Peters
Hi Jeff, thanks for watching. Unfortunately no way to get rid of the fillets without machining vertically. I was able by using 1/8 inch endmill running at 30 IPM with a depth of cut at 1/16th to minimize the gap, but it is going to be there. Using hardwood and a bit of wood filler they are hardly noticeable and the joints fit perfectly. There is a program called joint cam that makes it easy to setup and does a great job with NO GAPS but as I said has to be done vertically. I have a video somewhere on my channel showing that as well. Best of luck to you.
Hi all This is my first time, using dovetail gadget. I never had Z 0.000 under the part, but I think It has to be done that way, to get the gadget to work, now I want to post a file with 3 ø6mm holes for fixturing the part, then the gcode looks like this and runs at G1 all the way from +Z9 to -Z7.00mm Yes I know how to do :) , I just save alle files in the same folder with same Z zerro for all programs, It never fails/error for me, in 20 years with my Z zorro points. If I want to have exact milling at lower point, I just zerro my machine at the machineplane and type negative for the sheet thickness, for example Z- 8.7 for at sheet there is 8.7mm , then the mill goes exactly to the machinebed, and no more. To have zero-points at the bottum of the matt is danger, What is your opinion? Pls. explain the sense in having Z zero at the bottom. Thanks for the Gadget anyway Regards JJ.
Kia'aina Wong Hi and thanks for watching. I DID do a follow up. It's called I DID IT !! and is on my channel. I DID have to create a vertical vise but no more gaps. Thanks again for watching.
I suggest a downcut bit, it wont fray the edges, and I run 1/8th inch bit 3 passes on 3/4, I would rather run the 1/8 inch bit then run a 1/16" bit, or a good file then those holes in the corners
hi, I use usbcnc planet board, so what kind of gcode that I have to select from aspire? I tried some gcode (usbcnc.nc, gcode(mm).tap, axyz(mm).nc, but when I simulate by Cimco edit, it runs wrong. tks u
LATIF motion I think I understand the question....Yes, mirror.
10 лет назад+1
The obvious way to hide the little fillet holes made by the non-zero radius of the cutter is to make the cut in the dovetail part a bit shallower than the depth of the material. That way, the fillets are visible only from the inside of the box. It's not a traditional dovetail joint, though, and the dovetails will be hidden.
Help me: I created all of dovetail pin follow your instruction, but when I go to next step: I can not creat dovetail toolpath in short side, could you explain me how to do this step? tks u so much.
+Pham KS Make sure the vectors are independent lines NOT connected. Watch the second video on this page: gadgets.vectric.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8 if that still doesn't help you, email me your file to jefonitoo@gmail.com and I will have a look for you.
Knowing nothing about the full capabilities of a CNC other than what I'm deducing, the only method I see to close the gaps caused by the fillets is to not use fillets at all. Instead of using sharp corners, round the corners off at the same radius as your bit, and let the CNC cut the receiver tails without digging out the corners leaving a rounded corner. The resulting dovetails won't be traditionally sharp cornered, but the rounded corners will fit perfectly, and might actually look quite nice. Just a newbie's thoughts. :-)
mike gager They are basically the same program except, V Carve Pro does not have the 3d modeling functionality Aspire has or the ability to create lithopanes. But as for doing this V Carve Pro will do it just as Aspire would...exactly the same.
I am having problems downloading the gadgets? I download the exe file and then run it; but I just get a blank when it says load the gadget and it completes OK but NO gadget? HELP!
I cut them directly in the endgrain thenit is a prfect fit no round corners etc. That is the advantage of the shapeoko it can mill in front of the machine bed. so also in longe boards they just hang down, clamped against the front of the bed. draw them in Fusion 360 and made a toolpath directly from it imported into Carbide motion en away we go, just made 6 complete drawers todeay with dovetail all around. kind regards Hans
Too bad you can't make these curved finger joints instead of dovetails. With the top of the pins rounded over and the female side just a rounded indention, they would fit together immaculately.
I noticed that your part configuration on your workpiece was different than the configuration in the software. Did you make that change or did the software do that? Thanks for sharing!
More of a continuity issue. I first do the project, machine it, then cine back and film the software portion. I guess the simple answer is I didn't film the software tutorial in the Dane orientation as I originally machined it. Hope that makes sense. Whichever way you lay it out in the software is the way it will machine it. Good eyes!!! Thanks for watching.
I found it to be a pain to use if you don't get it correct first time you have to start again A jig is still faster to set up and use it would only be good if you have to lots of dovetails
Oddly enough, I just got finished cutting some dove tail joints today on a blanket chest using my Leigh 24 jig. Definitely easier, I just like the challenge of the CNC process. Anyway, thanks a lot for watching and the feedback. Much appreciated.
Great video. At last a way of doing dovetails. I would leave out the corner sections and cut them by hand with a chisel. Leave a few chisel marks and tell family I did them by hand ha, ha. They don't know......
Daymon Wilcox Not at all. Using these particular bits for THRU dove tails yes you get the fillets.However, it works GREAT on half blind dove tails AND there is a special bit that eliminates the fillet holes on THRU dove tails. I hope to have that video out soon. Would love your feedback after it's produced. Thanks for watching and commenting.
+Jesus IsGod. He probably bought a chisel. And btw, Jesus is the son of God, not God himself. For Jesus to be God, he would have to have fathered himself by going back in time to meat (I know, that's bad as it is intentional) his mother. This is highly improbable as DeLoreans weren't invented 'til the late 70's and weren't marketed 'til the early 80's and most definitely were not available in Jerusalem around 9 months BC. Your beliefs are flawed.
+Richard Williams Editing is FINALLY done. Its a bit of a long video and I should have it up by this weekend January 3, 2016. Just wanted to cover all the bases. Thanks for watching.
Yes. Thank you for the info. I was also wondering which sw people are using for preparing YT videos. So Camtasia. What I am searching for is some upgrade of this cursor: a dot or s. similar to see the point of click. Thx!
Excellent idea. I hadn't thought of that. I guess I could cut the joints without the fillets then chisel the corners. Thanks for the input. Gonna try that. Oh and thanks for watching.
I think it would be more satisfying to do these by hand Having a machine do these takes all of the craftsmanship out of the job If you are well practiced with these joints then it is probably faster by hand
Great tutorial! What about not adding the fillets and then just cleaning those inside corners up with just a tiny bit of sharp chisel work?
First, fillets are a deal breaker for me, I agree a chisel is probably better to finish.
Second, what do you do if it’s 4 separate work pieces and not one sheet. Example I want to use black walnut, it would be a lot of waste doing it the way you show.
Third, can it just do the dovetails only. I could cut the outer dimensions on my table saw and mitre saw, would just need the end dovetails.
Only had my cnc a few days.
Jeff, your RUclips is an outstanding tutorial. I'm guessing you might do quite alot of "educating" in your life. Greatly appreciated. This method has led me away from the Gadget Box which has many shortfalls. I was manually constructing a frame with square tabs (due to the shortcomings of the Box Gadget). Your tutorial is perfect for what I'm attempting to do. Thanks so much.
This is an older video, so not sure if you are still monitoring... Great video, this works great if you are cutting all of the pieces from one board. What if you already have the box sides cut and want to just cut pins and tails in the ends? EDIT - I figured that part out ←.. Any update on the fillet issue?
Thanks Jeff for the step by step procedure. I would have liked to see what your feeds and speeds were. It seems that part of most videos are left out making you assume that you know what they should be.
This is a great tutorial! The only thing that I would add to it is that the direction of the vectors when you cut them is crucial to whether the dovetails and pins are formed where you want them. If the vector start and end point are incorrect due to the order in which the vectors are cut, the dovetails and particularly the dovetail toolpaths will end up on the wrong side of the line. Of course, this is easily fixed by right-clicking on the desired starting endpoint in node mode and selecting "Make Start Point". The dovetail or pin or toolpath always forms on the left side of the vector as you traverse from start to end.
Greettings !!!
I am having problems when doing the dovetail toolpath of the pins I get outwards inverted,What do you think is happening?
Hi Daniel. I was getting the same, then changed the order of cutting the vectors. Seems to work when you go in a clockwise direction. When I go anticlockwise, they are outward.
I personally think I wouldn't put in the filets but use a chisel to make it a snug fit. Thanks for the instructional video.
Yes thinking the same thing
Question, could you not just make the radius inside the dovetail? Essentially making a rounded dovetail instead of sharp corners
MANY MANY ways to do it. I was just showing one of them. Thanks for watching.
Hi, dear.
After cut vectors, I made two dovetails.
One dovetail was inward correctly but
the other dovetail was made outward with inverted. Again and again.....
Why these were happened?
Please give me some feedback.
forum.vectric.com/viewtopic.php?t=25865
I'm getting an error saying No MarkerLayer Found when applying the Dovetail Toolpath Creator
Do you run this with vectric software, or do you need a gcode sender?
Hi Rod, I've had a bit of a play with the gadget, if you are using metric as I do just ignore the word inch, it works fine for instance if you choose 10 it will automatically be 10mm not inches, the gadget must look to see if you are using metric or imperial.. Hope this helps. Rob
I have done everything exactly as you said however when I created the pins the right end of the side was not positioned correctly. I had to flip horizontally. However that created another problem. the toolpath doesn't recognize those pins
Great vid, didn’t catch the name though. Wonder who that guy is?
You can't just take the corner off the pins? And leave the little round on the inside of the tails?
I think that would work yes making sure that what you take off the pins is the sane radius used on the inner... Great point.
Can't do it. Anytime the bit changes direction, its creates a round corner unless it is an outside cut on the part you want a sharp corner. You can't match the part dimensions of the male and female by using inside on one and outside on the other. It all boils down to the square peg in a round hole when you are cutting with round bits the FACE of a board to make END board joints. People have been trying for decades.
I've been following along trying to recreate what you've done but the pin ends keep coming out on the outside of the rectangles instead of inside.
Hey Jeff, I enjoyed your video. Maybe the CNC use could be helped with not using fillets and just cleaning these dovetails up with a hand saw and chisel.
Glenn54 Actually a great idea. Thank you.
If you wanted to make half blind dovetails would you just make the tails and pins shorter than the depth of the wood?
Jay Paul I tried that and yes it turned out pretty good.
Would it be easier to just fillet the corner rather than cutting the divent into the actual workpiece, then once the pieces are done you can simply pair out the fillet to sharpen up the corners of the workpiece?
Yes indeed. I did exactly that and worked great. Just haven't posted video yet. Thanks for watching. Great comment.
That's awesome, I'm glad you got it all figured out. The CNC dovetails are extremely impressive. Thanks for providing such great content.
What does this look like without the fillet, and a corresponding radius pin ?
GREAT VIDEO! Was seriously EXACTLY what I was looking for!
Stacy
Thanks for the video, I followed you step by step and when I made the pins on the 2 smaller side pieces my pins go outward on one side not like yours that show both pins inward any thoughts why that happened? Any thoughts are appreciated.
You can send file to jefonitoo@gmail.com and I will look if you'd like. Without seeing it I really have no idea. Thanks for watching.
I had the same problem. It is caused by the direction of the vector. It always puts the pins on the "left" side. In the vector editing mode, look for the green box end. That's the start. The pins will go left of that. If it is going the wrong direction, right click on it and select "Reverse Direction". Now when you run the pin creator it will create them on the correct side. Unfortunately, you can't "ctl-Z" out of the messed up ones so you have to delete the bad one and start over.
I just came across this video Jeff great job. Would like to know what type of end mill you used on the plywood and at what speed rat you ran it. Als did you ever come up with a way to close up the corners where the filltes are.
Jeff Peters
Hi Jeff, thanks for watching. Unfortunately no way to get rid of the fillets without machining vertically. I was able by using 1/8 inch endmill running at 30 IPM with a depth of cut at 1/16th to minimize the gap, but it is going to be there. Using hardwood and a bit of wood filler they are hardly noticeable and the joints fit perfectly. There is a program called joint cam that makes it easy to setup and does a great job with NO GAPS but as I said has to be done vertically. I have a video somewhere on my channel showing that as well. Best of luck to you.
Hi all
This is my first time, using dovetail gadget.
I never had Z 0.000 under the part, but I think It has to be done that way, to get the gadget to work, now I want to post a file with 3 ø6mm holes for fixturing the part, then the gcode looks like this and runs at G1 all the way from +Z9 to -Z7.00mm
Yes I know how to do :) , I just save alle files in the same folder with same Z zerro for all programs, It never fails/error for me, in 20 years with my Z zorro points.
If I want to have exact milling at lower point, I just zerro my machine at the machineplane and type negative for the sheet thickness, for example Z- 8.7 for at sheet there is 8.7mm , then the mill goes exactly to the machinebed, and no more.
To have zero-points at the bottum of the matt is danger, What is your opinion?
Pls. explain the sense in having Z zero at the bottom.
Thanks for the Gadget anyway
Regards JJ.
Aloha Jeff, great video. Are you working on a follow up video yet to get the pins and tails to fit without the filet in the corners.
Kia'aina Wong Hi and thanks for watching. I DID do a follow up. It's called I DID IT !! and is on my channel. I DID have to create a vertical vise but no more gaps. Thanks again for watching.
Can it do half blinds?
I suggest a downcut bit, it wont fray the edges, and I run 1/8th inch bit 3 passes on 3/4, I would rather run the 1/8 inch bit then run a 1/16" bit, or a good file then those holes in the corners
hi, I use usbcnc planet board, so what kind of gcode that I have to select from aspire?
I tried some gcode (usbcnc.nc, gcode(mm).tap, axyz(mm).nc, but when I simulate by Cimco edit, it runs wrong.
tks u
+Pham KS Try anything wit .txt. MACH3 arcs inch or mm. I am unfamiliar with usbcnc planet board.
+Work Against The Grain ok, tks u, I will try
Drawing / Pins; topwiev: the outside line (of the square 0.75x075) is too much? probably needed for TP?
Kamrca _ yes just so I allow plenty of clearance if I understand question correctly. Thank you for watching.
A clear and concise explanation - thank you!
Could you set the work piece on another waste board for height and use a regular dove tail bit?
Jeff Crawford Yes sir you could. I actually made a vertical jig you can see in the "I DID IT" video.
hi great work i test it but why some times the pins or dovetail appear in flipped direction so i must to use mirror to flip it
LATIF motion I think I understand the question....Yes, mirror.
The obvious way to hide the little fillet holes made by the non-zero radius of the cutter is to make the cut in the dovetail part a bit shallower than the depth of the material. That way, the fillets are visible only from the inside of the box. It's not a traditional dovetail joint, though, and the dovetails will be hidden.
I'll try that. Thank you very much for the tip.Kind of a half blind joint for drawers maybe.
Work Against The Grain Yes, exactly. And thank you for the great videos!
Don't think so. the problem is the tampered fit of the full side. It won't seat all the way with a partial taper.
Help me: I created all of dovetail pin follow your instruction, but when I go to next step: I can not creat dovetail toolpath in short side, could you explain me how to do this step?
tks u so much.
+Pham KS Make sure the vectors are independent lines NOT connected. Watch the second video on this page: gadgets.vectric.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8 if that still doesn't help you, email me your file to jefonitoo@gmail.com and I will have a look for you.
+Work Against The Grain I already sent file to your email. Pls check your email, tks u so much
Where did you find a 1/8" bit that is long enough to cut 3/4" plywood?
From ToolsToday .com Thanks for watching. Just search 1/8 inch end mill.
i use mine all the time to cut out 21mm ply. mine came from china/aliexpress. cheap and work really well
Knowing nothing about the full capabilities of a CNC other than what I'm deducing, the only method I see to close the gaps caused by the fillets is to not use fillets at all. Instead of using sharp corners, round the corners off at the same radius as your bit, and let the CNC cut the receiver tails without digging out the corners leaving a rounded corner. The resulting dovetails won't be traditionally sharp cornered, but the rounded corners will fit perfectly, and might actually look quite nice. Just a newbie's thoughts. :-)
Jeff thank you a lot for that video. Very useful information.
how much difference is there with Vcarve Pro and Aspire for doing this? i cant afford aspire but might be able to swing vacarve pro
mike gager They are basically the same program except, V Carve Pro does not have the 3d modeling functionality Aspire has or the ability to create lithopanes. But as for doing this V Carve Pro will do it just as Aspire would...exactly the same.
Work Against The Grain thanks!
I am having problems downloading the gadgets? I download the exe file and then run it; but I just get a blank when it says load the gadget and it completes OK but NO gadget? HELP!
Larry, unfortunately I'm not sure how to help. I would suggest calling vectric support or post to the forum. I'm really sorry you're having an issue.
Try this link gadgets.vectric.com/V9/dovetail.html
If you are wearing headphones, turn volume down prior to 13:30
I cut them directly in the endgrain thenit is a prfect fit no round corners etc. That is the advantage of the shapeoko it can mill in front of the machine bed.
so also in longe boards they just hang down, clamped against the front of the bed. draw them in Fusion 360 and made a toolpath directly from it imported into Carbide motion en away we go, just made 6 complete drawers todeay with dovetail all around.
kind regards Hans
I work in metric due to all our material is in metric due know if they have a metric version because i have not found one yet
Rod Jackson Yes, VECTRIC software utilizes both inches and metric AND the machine understands both inches and metric.
Too bad you can't make these curved finger joints instead of dovetails. With the top of the pins rounded over and the female side just a rounded indention, they would fit together immaculately.
Beautiful job.
I think solid wood would show the dovetails and their fit much better. Vectric should have automated much of the cut and join tasks.
I noticed that your part configuration on your workpiece was different than the configuration in the software. Did you make that change or did the software do that? Thanks for sharing!
More of a continuity issue. I first do the project, machine it, then cine back and film the software portion. I guess the simple answer is I didn't film the software tutorial in the Dane orientation as I originally machined it. Hope that makes sense. Whichever way you lay it out in the software is the way it will machine it. Good eyes!!! Thanks for watching.
+Work Against The Grain same orientation NOT Dane orientation
May I have a new download link please?
www.workagainstthegrain.com/index.html#jeff
Hi Jeff Great video thanks
excellent tutorial. thanks,
Tight corners? Just use a bench clamp, a mallet and a sharp chisel. I know it's not doing the whole job on the rig but you don't have to!
I found it to be a pain to use if you don't get it correct first time you have to start again
A jig is still faster to set up and use it would only be good if you have to lots of dovetails
Oddly enough, I just got finished cutting some dove tail joints today on a blanket chest using my Leigh 24 jig. Definitely easier, I just like the challenge of the CNC process. Anyway, thanks a lot for watching and the feedback. Much appreciated.
vectric just need to come up with a shape that works better
Great video. At last a way of doing dovetails. I would leave out the corner sections and cut them by hand with a chisel. Leave a few chisel marks and tell family I did them by hand ha, ha. They don't know......
little fillet holes..so this machine is pointless for dovetails....?
Daymon Wilcox Not at all. Using these particular bits for THRU dove tails yes you get the fillets.However, it works GREAT on half blind dove tails AND there is a special bit that eliminates the fillet holes on THRU dove tails. I hope to have that video out soon. Would love your feedback after it's produced. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Did you ever get the dove tails to fit without T-Bone Fillets?
I did. video up should be in two weeks. thank you.
+Work Against The Grain Great Video... I just found this ... thanks. I am looking forward to the next video that fixes the Fillet problem/issue..
+Jesus IsGod. He probably bought a chisel. And btw, Jesus is the son of God, not God himself. For Jesus to be God, he would have to have fathered himself by going back in time to meat (I know, that's bad as it is intentional) his mother. This is highly improbable as DeLoreans weren't invented 'til the late 70's and weren't marketed 'til the early 80's and most definitely were not available in Jerusalem around 9 months BC.
Your beliefs are flawed.
+Work Against The Grain Hi have you had a chance to get this filmed yet, a demo on half blinds would be great
+Richard Williams Editing is FINALLY done. Its a bit of a long video and I should have it up by this weekend January 3, 2016. Just wanted to cover all the bases. Thanks for watching.
Radius the outside corner of the tail .0625”
May I ask which mouse cursor do you use?
If you are referring to the yellow highlighted mouse it is built in to the Camtasia software I use for screen recording.
Yes. Thank you for the info. I was also wondering which sw people are using for preparing YT videos. So Camtasia. What I am searching for is some upgrade of this cursor: a dot or s. similar to see the point of click. Thx!
Let it make round corners then clean them up with a chisel
There is no way to get rid of the radius of the corners with a router, the best way is to use a chisel.
Excellent idea. I hadn't thought of that. I guess I could cut the joints without the fillets then chisel the corners. Thanks for the input. Gonna try that. Oh and thanks for watching.
GREAT VIDEO!!
The fillets really ruined it for me. The whole point of dovetails is to have that handmade beauty.
Thank you very much!
Good stuff. But that program is out of reach
MY NAME IS JEF
Great video...thanks!
think you mr. jef
12 Passes?
think you jef
I think it would be more satisfying to do these by hand
Having a machine do these takes all of the craftsmanship out of the job
If you are well practiced with these joints then it is probably faster by hand