That was probably the most honest and truthful review of the X-Carve. I am impressed that you, unlike others, didn't do the typical "this is the greatest thing and performs as well as a $3,000 CNC. THANK YOU!!
+YokoandDavid Light X-Carve is a very good idea, but in my opinion, even if the design with direct drive whit belts is for high speed (and low torque as a printer is), the machine can't work at high feed rates. Infact step motors loose steps since they have not enough torque to manage the mill power of a standard router. As video shows, the frame seems not to be rigid enough to mill with woods with uneven, figured or big grain or knots. I think the bit would prefer to follow the grain intead of the correct path.
I have neither of those machines and due to cost most likely never will, but you gave as good of a "true review" as I have ever heard. You explained everything so simple that anyone could understand. You would make a great woodworking instructor.
I like the mallet. I made one from pallet wood on my CNC. Thanks for clearing up a few questions I had around the XCarve. It really is a good price point if starting out.
Interesting review on the X-Carve-never heard of it before but I've been trying to get back into more "hand work". Thank you for explanation of the dead blow hammer, it was great!
I loved that cutaway view of the deadblow mallet. It does look like there's still bouncing occurring, it's just the BBs bouncing inside the head instead of the whole head bouncing off the workpiece.
Good project tips, honest review of X carve, high quality craftsmanship & video production. Jeremy, you are a winner my friend, many thanks & keep them coming. Subscribed.
this was a really helpful review of the x-carve. I'm thinking about getting one (maybe next spring, depending on things), and this has given me some things to think about. given the price, it's still probably the best choice for me-which I'm sure is exactly what their target is. also really liked the deadblow demonstration! the plexi-view was really helpful, and I think I watched that four second slo-mo like ten times... awesome, awesome, awesome. thanks very much!!
To align those layered pieces you can have the machine drill holes for an embedded dowel that goes through the middle layers and slightly into the insides of the outer layers.
I'm curious about the hammer face angle. Have you given any thought to what angle seems best for different uses, striking chisels, tapping parts into submission etc? UHMW or similar could be an interesting material for prototype hammers. Cool project and I'm curious how your new toy pans out. Cheers.
Sprinkle a little fine salt in the glue at the moment of gluing. Just a little bit will suffice. It turns the glue into a sort of sand paper and it helps to prevent the sliding of the parts being joined.
That technique works well, but it is unnecessary if you are joining only two pieces. The clamps hold them in position just fine. With three or more pieces, the center one(s) will try to slip out from between the outer ones and that's where the salt is handy.
Yes, I would be thrilled, just to prove to them that you actually use this crap I am teaching them, even the math crap I am teaching can be used in Everyday life by people not named Sheldon or Leonard.
Just an idea but what if you added peg holes to the cut file and used the appropriate sized wooden dowel to make alignment easier and add more resilience to sheer force to the sides of the head
over time the mallet will wear and explode. I would recommend that you sandwich the mallet with aircraft aluminum to support the plywood. plus the aluminum would enhance the look of the mallet.
Really liked the xcarve review. That's off my purchase list then!! I'd find those issues a serious disappointment. I'll clearly need to keep looking for something more suitable / robust in the uk. Thank you :)
Awesome video, thank you for the explanation on the deadblow mallet and for the thorough X-Carve review. I am definitely still in the market for one. I see you used your own De Walt trimmer/router do you know if the black generic router that they offer is worthwhile or should i rather bite the bullet and get a decent router?
Thank you! I haven't tried the stock spindle but every review I have seen says it is underpowered. And everyone who upgrades seems to think it's well worth it. I would say this-the X-carve is not capable of moving the router fast enough to bog down the Dewalt router, something in the gantry or Y-rails is going to slip or bend or break before the router has any problem. It appears that with the stock spindle you have to reduce feed rate so you don't stall the cutter.
+Jer's Woodshop ...but I think, with a standard router seems the machine's structure is not stiff enough; so you have, in any case, to slow down the feed rate.
Question Jer. How do you import an svg file into the v carve program. I have some svg files I created from a photo but have no idea how to import them into Aspire or v carve. Can you do a video on that? Thanks. Love you work.
In the top left of the drawing tab, under "file operations", the 4th icon from the left. When you mouse over it it says "import vectors from a file". Click that and find the SVG you want to import. BTW, check out the RUclips channel "Vectric Ltd". There you'll find V-carve Pro and Aspire tutorials. That's how I learned the basics.
+ITubeTooInc The Bosch is bigger (2-1/4hp vs 1-1/4hp), and also capable of a larger RPM range (8k-25k vs 16k-25k) so if your machine can handle the Bosch I'd use that! As a side note, the Bosch seriously SUCKS as a handheld router. It's really badly designed as far as ergonomics/controls. However, it's probably the best 2-1/4hp router you can buy for router tables, CNCs, and slot mortisers/pantorouters. On the other hand, the DeWalt is FANTASTIC as a handheld router, if you're ok with the smaller size.
So Jer, what CNC would you recommend for accurate wood cutting using stock no bigger than 20"x15"? Have you ever used a DWC (Digital Wood Carver)? Thanks, Glen
+Jer's Woodshop thanks buddy, I'll check them out. I see x-carve gave a lot of these out to youtubers for free in turn for their review. I wish they gave me one, I would love to put it through its paces then mod it.
Jer - I have watched a boat load of X-carve videos and I think yours was one of the best as It was very well done in that you showed well what could be done and where it differs from a more substantial/costly set up. The X-Carve might be what I get me feet wet with stepping into the world of CNC but my expectations have just been managed or set to where they likely need to be. Do you think you will be using the X-carve from time to time? It seems to have a larger work area than your other set up... P.S. if there is ever a Wesley (of princess bride frame) look alike contest enter it.
Thanks. I think the X-carve is a great starter CNC. I think I'll keep it, maybe even sell the old one. It does have about 6" more working area in both X and Y, which is really nice.
Nice Review! I am new to your channel but will subscribe, video's are edited nicely and you give all of the important info needed. (Giving all the info sounds easier than it is,) I have to say: your pro's and con's I kind of expected those to be there. I also made a portal milling machine and it would be unfair to make a 1:1 comparison because of the difference in price. I suspect this to be nice to convert to laser cutting with one of those 1 up to 6 watt laser diodes because of the absence of cutting forces I think it can be more accurate (as long as the acceleration/decelleration is not set to high)
As an addition to my pervious post, to those that want to buy this machine. On the website they advertise with the specs: "accuracy 0.001" (0.02mm) These tests where performed with no load on the setup so allthough the machine might reach that accuracy in theory, the real life results will be a lot less because of flexibility in the frame. (looking at the video I expect more in the range of 0.1mm accuracy or even lower(0.5mm) under higher loads) Still a nice machine for the price!
Yeah, the listed 0.001" I think is technically the resolution, or how far it moves per step on the motors. It would be more appropriate to use the word "precision" instead of "accuracy". Nice idea with converting it to a laser! I might even look into that. Thank you!
Most of the mallets I've made like this have my logo on the head (I've made about a dozen now as gifts and promotional items). I couldn't put the logo on in this video though, as that's not possible with Easel, and I was required to use Easel in the video. And if I'm putting my logo on the head, I can't drill dowel holes (I'd have to flip the parts over to do that). I could have doweled the one in the video, but I was thinking of it the same as the others minus the logo, so I didn't think to do that. That was a long and complicated answer to a simple question! Sorry.
Great video thanks! I agree, Easel is a waste of time. Given that the CNC is ~ $1000 it does have a place providing you bear in mind the cons you highlighted it's great for my needs. I work on a MAC and I am a hobbyist so the cost of a PC and vcarve is hard to justify but Easel is just so poor. It might be free but if it's unusable free doesn't help much. Love the mallet, thanks, it's now on my list of to do's.
Thank you! I also prefer Mac, but haven't found any good software yet. This actually drove me back to using my old CNC since it was already set up with a PC running Vcarve Pro and control software. Hopefully some day I can find a good use for the Xcarve and a way to run it on Mac...
Hi Jer! Wanted to ask you, is it possible to transfer a file , created in sketchup (like this mallet for example) to Vcarve pro for creating a g-code and tool paths for cnc and if yes, how exactly can I do that? The file sketchup creates has extension skp. , do I need to convert that file or vcarve will accept it? Thanks!
In Sketchup, when you have the drawing you want to transfer open, go to file>export and choose a file type. I think you can export a .dxf, which you should be able to open in Vcarve. Good luck!
Hey Jeremy I just found your channel and subscribed. I am wanting to by the x-carve. Well I would rather they give me one or at least a discount but I don't know if that will happen since my RUclips channel is still small. But would you say it is worth buying and how long did that sign take once you can it dialed in good.
+The Ox In The Shop It's definitely NOT worth buying, if you have to pay full price. At $500 I would say go for it, but after trying for some time to use it, it is just frustrating; much to weak for the job. The sign I showed took about 30 minutes to make. With the same router and the same size stepper motors that could be done in about 10 minutes, if the frame was tough enough to not flex all over the place. Sorry to be so negative, but I feel you're much better off to build one yourself than to overpay one that just doesn't measure up.
ok thanks and is there an alternative that would be a good buy. one that is good quality but near or just a little more in price. I do need the 3x3 ft size tho.
+The Ox In The Shop No CNC machine is a "good buy" right now. You can build your own for about 1/4 to 1/3 the price of any similar machines, so I say you'd be crazy to not build your own. Also if you need a 3'x3' cutting area you are going to be paying A LOT! I think the ShopBot, Fireball, and CNC Shark machines are some of the best small-shop machines for the money. Again, I cannot recommend enough that you build your own. You can build a VERY nice machine for $1000, where you will pay $4-5k for a similar manufactured unit. Its just a question of whether you're willing to put the work into it.
The flex is a big deal in finer carving of any kind. I didn't get an Xcarve because it's belt driven and you're not the first one to say that the support hardware has a lot of flex. So for the price, this is a good machine, but if you're planning on really doing something, it's worth the investment to get something better.
good stuff. is it really that inaccurate? could you have made holes in the mallet to insert dowels to keep it aligned? That could have saved you a lot of time in finishing the mallet if it worked.
+Billy Gray The machine is very inaccurate. I could have used alignment pins, but it would have still required a lot of sanding to make the parts flush.
+Det Du I'd get the 1000mm machine and cut the gantry to 500mm to minimize gantry flex. Then reinforce the Y-rails so they won't flex. Best of both worlds.
Great looking mallet, and nice demonstration of the weights :). I have yet to see a single X-carve project, that was "serious" (videos like "using my x-carve to make a key chain" or "making something to stamp a pattern into something else" is flooding RUclips). For "one off" projects, it seems most could be done much quicker with a bandsaw, and other basic tools, if time used on software is included. Not knocking your video, but making your mallet would have taken you 30 minutes with a jigsaw, file and a drum sander. The machine apparently has to be supervised when running, and test pieces cut, since there is i good chance it will mess up your expensive wood. Batch cutting is out, since a trim router can't handle working for hours, and it is not what it is designed for (it's meant to run for a couple of minutes at a time). So as i see it, it is a machine for making signs, where precision isn't that important? All the serious makers i follow on RUclips, that would actually benefit from a CNC making repetitive tasks all have issues. I realize it's flattering for a small'ish RUclips channel to get a reward in form of a sponsorship, as a prize for the many hours it takes to produce quality content, and free stuff is great (i would gladly accept it as a gift, allthough i would go fo the 50x50 cm version), but why would anybody spend their own money on this?
Thank you! I agree with most of what you said. The machine is great for signs, but otherwise it isn't really that useful. I think the biggest reason you see videos that are not "serious" projects is the software limitation, not the machine's limitation. Inventables requires us to use the Easel software, which, in my opinion, is pretty much worthless. It doesn't really do anything that a bandsaw wouldn't, honestly. I would disagree with one point you made, about the trim router not being meant to run for hours. I have used this same Dewalt router, in my first CNC, to cut for about 3 hours straight. It has no problem with this. I would also go with the smaller machine if I had it to do over. This one is just to big and therefore it's weaknesses are about tripled.
+Jeremy Schmidt Thank you for your response. I'm glad your router is coping - my bosch colt (or the european model of the same) router gets pretty hot after 15 minutes, so it would be toast if i ran it for something like 15 hours cutting out parts for a guitar build or similar. I watched Savvas Papasavva videos on the X-carve, and he couldn't get the CNC to cut a 10x10 cm square. No matter how he tweaked the motors and software. Even after calibration it would be plus or minus 1 mm. A 2% error is an insane amount. I could imagine myself using the CNC to cut a router table top with room for insert and mitre slot, but damn - plus minus 1 mm would make that a BIG nono. In what piece of wood working equipment is plus minus 1 mm cool? Table saw arbor, jointer fence/table, saw blade, drill press chuck, drills, box joint jigs, table saw sled, hand plane?? I'm sorry - for that amount of money, this machine is just an expensive toy. But i'm glad to see hardworking RUclips creators get them as gifts. Even though it is a toy, it's still better than nothing, and in that sense very cool.
I haven't tried cutting a square to see how accurate it is, and I'm not sure I want to know! I still think it has its place, but it's not for me. I'm using my old CNC again. Been thinking about trying to convert this one to a laser cutter, just an idea so I don't know if it'll happen. But yeah, I'm very grateful for Inventables' support!
I haven't seen a single review of the X-Carve where there hasn't been any "advanced" tweaking and alteration needed. It seems for someone who aren't technical or good with computers the X-Carve will be too hard. I think they would need to deliver a 100% ready and working machine if they want to sell to the average joe. But perhaps that's not their target group, I don't know.
Jer's Woodshop That may be, but that in itself is a bit odd. You wouldn't sell a car that doesn't fire on all pistons or has a loose timing belt for example. Some calibration for each system I can understand, but I find so many videos where they have to physically change the machine. I can't afford an X-Carve due to shipping, but even if I could I wouldn't buy one simply because I fear I couldn't get it to work. So if there are others like me they are losing out on customers for a "faulty/bad" product.
You may be better off with a pre-assembled machine in that case. If you bought a car as a kit, with nothing assembled, would you expect it to work flawlessly the first time you put it together?
Jer's Woodshop Fair point about it being a kit, but you can't ship full size X-Carves, or cars for that matter. So it's understandable that you have to assemble it yourself, but having to modify it with new custom parts for example, is weird. It's like assembling Ikea furniture and having to glue it and make parts yourself. Just because you have to assemble it doesn't mean it shouldn't work after being assembled. I assembled my new tablesaw the other day and it worked 100% after assembly, as it should. The problem with it is like I mentioned: it can scares customers away, which it shouldn't.
i can't imagine that you made this as easy as you mentioned in the video unfortunately this is not true the device will keep juggling and will either give you an error movement.
That is not the way to make a mallet!! First you need to take a Saturday to split hard-wood firewood, it will put hair on your chest. Then stack them into a neat cord, let it sit for a year. When winter comes, dad or mom will asks for you to get some wood for the fire, as you pick up that wood there will be one piece that screams out that it has a higher calling. Then and only then will you know that it is time to make a shop mallet with your carving knife and teeth! That is how I did it and my dad and my grand-father. That is how real men do it! We don't use these foo-foo machines to make tools, let alone out of plywood. Let the Chinese do that, we are American. I bet you didn't even get a splinter doing that, did you? Seriously, it was informative and would love to have a CNC machine, though they are a passing fads, just like this facebook thing and posting on youtube. (disclaimer: tongue-in-cheek)
+Kevin Fehr I like that. Sometimes I make things that way, sometimes I use technology to the limit. I guess I'm a confused kid... I do disagree about CNC being a passing fad. They are a highly efficient way of making extremely precise parts, and the only practical way to make decorations like my logo on this mallet.
Jeremy, I was joking, it is the wave of the future , it is the best way to maximize profit, and it can create a conceptualize accurately with less failures. I also teach economics to 12th graders. I show your vids. to all my grades (6-12). You are a great example of taking what you love and turning it into a career. Keep them coming.
Jeremy, I was joking, it is the wave of the future , it is the best way to maximize profit, and it can create a conceptualize accurately with less failures. I also teach economics to 12th graders. I show your vids. to all my grades (6-12). You are a great example of taking what you love and turning it into a career. Keep them coming.
Jeremy, I was joking, it is the wave of the future , it is the best way to maximize profit, and it can create a conceptualize accurately with less failures. I also teach economics to 12th graders. I show your vids. to all my grades (6-12). You are a great example of taking what you love and turning it into a career. Keep them coming.
+xaderek Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. Either way, I'll always sit through a 30 sec or less ad for the people I'm subbed to. At least they get a little ad revenue that way.
Rt Carolina Some of the ads are unreasonably long. I won't sit through a 4-5 minute ad for a video of the same length unless it's something I find really interesting.
That was probably the most honest and truthful review of the X-Carve. I am impressed that you, unlike others, didn't do the typical "this is the greatest thing and performs as well as a $3,000 CNC. THANK YOU!!
Thanks, and your welcome! :)
+YokoandDavid Light X-Carve is a very good idea, but in my opinion, even if the design with direct drive whit belts is for high speed (and low torque as a printer is), the machine can't work at high feed rates.
Infact step motors loose steps since they have not enough torque to manage the mill power of a standard router.
As video shows, the frame seems not to be rigid enough to mill with woods with uneven, figured or big grain or knots. I think the bit would prefer to follow the grain intead of the correct path.
I agree I respect your totally honest review...you didn't even try to sugar coat that review....got yourself another subscriber
+YokoandDavid Light ...
+YokoandDavid Light ..
Great mallet demonstration and an excellent honest review of the X-Carve.
Thank you!
+Just Make It .....
+Just Make It ...
Love the no-nonsense detailed narrations of your videos, and your honest commentaries. Keep up the good work!
+john cooper
Thanks!
I do love Birch ply. Such a versatile material. Made my workbench out of it and a mallet is definitely in the works. Nice job!
I have neither of those machines and due to cost most likely never will, but you gave as good of a "true review" as I have ever heard. You explained everything so simple that anyone could understand. You would make a great woodworking instructor.
Thank you!
Nice. I like how you never cut and paste what everyone else does. You always have your own twist on your projects. Keep it up Jer!
Thank you! I try not to be a copycat. :)
Really nice to hear such an honest review of the X-Carve.
I like the mallet. I made one from pallet wood on my CNC. Thanks for clearing up a few questions I had around the XCarve. It really is a good price point if starting out.
Thanks.
Ya the X-carve is a great beginner to intermediate machine.
Interesting review on the X-Carve-never heard of it before but I've been trying to get back into more "hand work". Thank you for explanation of the dead blow hammer, it was great!
I loved that cutaway view of the deadblow mallet. It does look like there's still bouncing occurring, it's just the BBs bouncing inside the head instead of the whole head bouncing off the workpiece.
+Andy Hilal
Correct.
Yes. newtons third law. if there was no bouncing he'd be winning a nobel prize
Keep up the great work!!!
This is one of the few channels I truly get excited about when I see there's a new episode.
Thanks, glad you like 'em!
New fan here. Very good demo of making the dead blow mallet and an honest review to boot. Thanks. I've just subscribed.
+Tom Hail
Thank you!
Good project tips, honest review of X carve, high quality craftsmanship & video production. Jeremy, you are a winner my friend, many thanks & keep them coming. Subscribed.
Thank you for the kind words!
this was a really helpful review of the x-carve. I'm thinking about getting one (maybe next spring, depending on things), and this has given me some things to think about.
given the price, it's still probably the best choice for me-which I'm sure is exactly what their target is.
also really liked the deadblow demonstration! the plexi-view was really helpful, and I think I watched that four second slo-mo like ten times...
awesome, awesome, awesome. thanks very much!!
Thank you!
you earned a viewer this video is informative and not boring.
Thank you!!
nice explanation about how a mallet works! thanks
Thanks!
Your videos are quite good. I look forward to you getting even better. Keep it up my man.
great video Jer, the explanations are really clear, and the mallet is awesome, I will made one without cnc! thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks Sebastian!
NIce vids Jer, Well done. Very easy watching and good to follow.
Thank you!
cool use of the xcarve. thanks for the honest review as well.
Thank you.
Amazing review that i wanted to see.Real truth of x carve. Your old cnc is 10 times better the x carve😂😂😂😂😂😂
Jeremy veo mucho modernismo en tu taller
Y que cada vez eres más innovador. FELICIDADES
nice explanation with slow motion , cool
Thanks!
That’s so cool. That’s the first thing I’m making
IMPROVIZED! YOU DA JAZZ CAT OF CARPENTRY! I LOVE IT!
Really cool mallet!
Thanks!
finally a video from you again! awesome
:)
+Jakob Nørregaard (WOODBYJAKOB) Agreed!
To align those layered pieces you can have the machine drill holes for an embedded dowel that goes through the middle layers and slightly into the insides of the outer layers.
I thought of doing that, but I was afraid it might weaken it too much. But ya that's a good way to align parts in some applications.
It's also a good idea so that mallet doesn't explode and your left picking up those 8000 BB's by hand
Wow, that explains alot what happen inside the mallet.
nice video Jer, enjoyed it
Thanks!
nice looking mallet,good review
Thank you.
nicely done, eventually, I'm going get one of those x carves
+Greg Evans it's waste of money.
I'm curious about the hammer face angle. Have you given any thought to what angle seems best for different uses, striking chisels, tapping parts into submission etc?
UHMW or similar could be an interesting material for prototype hammers. Cool project and I'm curious how your new toy pans out. Cheers.
I think the face should be pretty much parallel to the handle. The angle I used here isn't quite right.
Great review! like your style! keep up the good work young man!
Thank you!
Great video and up to the point! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks!
Sprinkle a little fine salt in the glue at the moment of gluing. Just a little bit will suffice. It turns the glue into a sort of sand paper and it helps to prevent the sliding of the parts being joined.
That technique works well, but it is unnecessary if you are joining only two pieces. The clamps hold them in position just fine. With three or more pieces, the center one(s) will try to slip out from between the outer ones and that's where the salt is handy.
Thanks Jer, love your videos. You gotta do more!!! lol!
Nice mallet design and good of you to share the file also.
Very good job young man.
Thank you.
Thank you for your honest opinion.
You have one more subscriber.
Thank you!
cool mallet i like too turn deadblow mallets on the lathe
Good, honest review. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Good job bro., keep on bringing out good vids
You're a very pleasant person ... Great Vid .... Thank you!
Thanks!
The cut away view was a great view to show to my physics class
+Kevin Fehr
May I attend? :D
Yes, I would be thrilled, just to prove to them that you actually use this crap I am teaching them, even the math crap I am teaching can be used in Everyday life by people not named Sheldon or Leonard.
+Kevin Fehr
Well, I probably won't actually show up if you're too far away, but just in case you're local, where are you located?
Where about are you from? Amarillo, Texas is near enough to no-place yet Cole enough to all-places.
Close enough to
Just an idea but what if you added peg holes to the cut file and used the appropriate sized wooden dowel to make alignment easier and add more resilience to sheer force to the sides of the head
+lattitude01 I think that would be a good idea.
I could not find the dead blow hammer .svg file. I would like to try this on my X-carve. I like your video.
great review
Thanks
you have a lot of nice toys, eh. Nice demo of how the balls behave - well done
I like the mallet!
Thanks!
over time the mallet will wear and explode. I would recommend that you sandwich the mallet with aircraft aluminum to support the plywood. plus the aluminum would enhance the look of the mallet.
+Rocky Jones
ruclips.net/video/NT8MbxaqK00/видео.html
Really liked the xcarve review. That's off my purchase list then!! I'd find those issues a serious disappointment. I'll clearly need to keep looking for something more suitable / robust in the uk. Thank you :)
Thanks! Glad you found it helpful.
You gave me a good laugh at 3:42 lol
;-)
+Jeremy Schmidt Great video man, you really know your stuff
Thank you!
Awesome video, thank you for the explanation on the deadblow mallet and for the thorough X-Carve review. I am definitely still in the market for one. I see you used your own De Walt trimmer/router do you know if the black generic router that they offer is worthwhile or should i rather bite the bullet and get a decent router?
Thank you!
I haven't tried the stock spindle but every review I have seen says it is underpowered. And everyone who upgrades seems to think it's well worth it. I would say this-the X-carve is not capable of moving the router fast enough to bog down the Dewalt router, something in the gantry or Y-rails is going to slip or bend or break before the router has any problem. It appears that with the stock spindle you have to reduce feed rate so you don't stall the cutter.
+Jer's Woodshop ...but I think, with a standard router seems the machine's structure is not stiff enough; so you have, in any case, to slow down the feed rate.
Thanks Jer, good video, whats up with the sour smiley at 03:25 ? :)
Thanks. Sanding... 😒
a-ha. I wondered...
Question Jer. How do you import an svg file into the v carve program. I have some svg files I created from a photo but have no idea how to import them into Aspire or v carve. Can you do a video on that? Thanks. Love you work.
In the top left of the drawing tab, under "file operations", the 4th icon from the left. When you mouse over it it says "import vectors from a file". Click that and find the SVG you want to import.
BTW, check out the RUclips channel "Vectric Ltd". There you'll find V-carve Pro and Aspire tutorials. That's how I learned the basics.
Thank you Buddy.
Thanks for the X-Carve review. Which spindle is better, the DeWalt on the X-Carve or the Bosch on your other machine?
+ITubeTooInc
The Bosch is bigger (2-1/4hp vs 1-1/4hp), and also capable of a larger RPM range (8k-25k vs 16k-25k) so if your machine can handle the Bosch I'd use that!
As a side note, the Bosch seriously SUCKS as a handheld router. It's really badly designed as far as ergonomics/controls. However, it's probably the best 2-1/4hp router you can buy for router tables, CNCs, and slot mortisers/pantorouters. On the other hand, the DeWalt is FANTASTIC as a handheld router, if you're ok with the smaller size.
So Jer, what CNC would you recommend for accurate wood cutting using stock no bigger than 20"x15"? Have you ever used a DWC (Digital Wood Carver)? Thanks, Glen
I've never used a DWC. I have used a CNC Shark, which I like quite a lot. Also check out the Fireball machines. They look pretty good to me.
+Jer's Woodshop thanks buddy, I'll check them out. I see x-carve gave a lot of these out to youtubers for free in turn for their review. I wish they gave me one, I would love to put it through its paces then mod it.
Jer - I have watched a boat load of X-carve videos and I think yours was one of the best as It was very well done in that you showed well what could be done and where it differs from a more substantial/costly set up. The X-Carve might be what I get me feet wet with stepping into the world of CNC but my expectations have just been managed or set to where they likely need to be. Do you think you will be using the X-carve from time to time? It seems to have a larger work area than your other set up... P.S. if there is ever a Wesley (of princess bride frame) look alike contest enter it.
Thanks. I think the X-carve is a great starter CNC. I think I'll keep it, maybe even sell the old one. It does have about 6" more working area in both X and Y, which is really nice.
Nice Review! I am new to your channel but will subscribe, video's are edited nicely and you give all of the important info needed. (Giving all the info sounds easier than it is,)
I have to say: your pro's and con's I kind of expected those to be there. I also made a portal milling machine and it would be unfair to make a 1:1 comparison because of the difference in price. I suspect this to be nice to convert to laser cutting with one of those 1 up to 6 watt laser diodes because of the absence of cutting forces I think it can be more accurate (as long as the acceleration/decelleration is not set to high)
As an addition to my pervious post, to those that want to buy this machine. On the website they advertise with the specs: "accuracy 0.001" (0.02mm) These tests where performed with no load on the setup so allthough the machine might reach that accuracy in theory, the real life results will be a lot less because of flexibility in the frame. (looking at the video I expect more in the range of 0.1mm accuracy or even lower(0.5mm) under higher loads)
Still a nice machine for the price!
Yeah, the listed 0.001" I think is technically the resolution, or how far it moves per step on the motors. It would be more appropriate to use the word "precision" instead of "accuracy". Nice idea with converting it to a laser! I might even look into that. Thank you!
why didn't you drill some holes while still on the cnc to align the pieces with dowels?
Most of the mallets I've made like this have my logo on the head (I've made about a dozen now as gifts and promotional items). I couldn't put the logo on in this video though, as that's not possible with Easel, and I was required to use Easel in the video. And if I'm putting my logo on the head, I can't drill dowel holes (I'd have to flip the parts over to do that). I could have doweled the one in the video, but I was thinking of it the same as the others minus the logo, so I didn't think to do that.
That was a long and complicated answer to a simple question! Sorry.
thanks for clarification!
Nice mallet.
Thanks.
Great video thanks! I agree, Easel is a waste of time. Given that the CNC is ~ $1000 it does have a place providing you bear in mind the cons you highlighted it's great for my needs. I work on a MAC and I am a hobbyist so the cost of a PC and vcarve is hard to justify but Easel is just so poor. It might be free but if it's unusable free doesn't help much. Love the mallet, thanks, it's now on my list of to do's.
Thank you! I also prefer Mac, but haven't found any good software yet. This actually drove me back to using my old CNC since it was already set up with a PC running Vcarve Pro and control software.
Hopefully some day I can find a good use for the Xcarve and a way to run it on Mac...
Autodesk allows you to use Fusion 360 as a hobbyist for free. It runs on the Mac and has full CAM capabilities.
Hi Jer! Wanted to ask you, is it possible to transfer a file , created in sketchup (like this mallet for example) to Vcarve pro for creating a g-code and tool paths for cnc and if yes, how exactly can I do that? The file sketchup creates has extension skp. , do I need to convert that file or vcarve will accept it? Thanks!
In Sketchup, when you have the drawing you want to transfer open, go to file>export and choose a file type. I think you can export a .dxf, which you should be able to open in Vcarve. Good luck!
Thanks Jer!
Hey Jeremy
I just found your channel and subscribed. I am wanting to by the x-carve. Well I would rather they give me one or at least a discount but I don't know if that will happen since my RUclips channel is still small. But would you say it is worth buying and how long did that sign take once you can it dialed in good.
+The Ox In The Shop
It's definitely NOT worth buying, if you have to pay full price. At $500 I would say go for it, but after trying for some time to use it, it is just frustrating; much to weak for the job. The sign I showed took about 30 minutes to make. With the same router and the same size stepper motors that could be done in about 10 minutes, if the frame was tough enough to not flex all over the place.
Sorry to be so negative, but I feel you're much better off to build one yourself than to overpay one that just doesn't measure up.
ok thanks and is there an alternative that would be a good buy. one that is good quality but near or just a little more in price. I do need the 3x3 ft size tho.
+The Ox In The Shop
No CNC machine is a "good buy" right now. You can build your own for about 1/4 to 1/3 the price of any similar machines, so I say you'd be crazy to not build your own. Also if you need a 3'x3' cutting area you are going to be paying A LOT! I think the ShopBot, Fireball, and CNC Shark machines are some of the best small-shop machines for the money.
Again, I cannot recommend enough that you build your own. You can build a VERY nice machine for $1000, where you will pay $4-5k for a similar manufactured unit. Its just a question of whether you're willing to put the work into it.
Hey. Please share vector from the hammer. Thank you.
Link in the description!
The flex is a big deal in finer carving of any kind. I didn't get an Xcarve because it's belt driven and you're not the first one to say that the support hardware has a lot of flex. So for the price, this is a good machine, but if you're planning on really doing something, it's worth the investment to get something better.
Well said
what model of edge belt sander do you use?
+Alpha Anderson
Ridgid. It's a kinda crappy tool...
good stuff. is it really that inaccurate? could you have made holes in the mallet to insert dowels to keep it aligned? That could have saved you a lot of time in finishing the mallet if it worked.
+Billy Gray
The machine is very inaccurate. I could have used alignment pins, but it would have still required a lot of sanding to make the parts flush.
+Det Du
I'd get the 1000mm machine and cut the gantry to 500mm to minimize gantry flex. Then reinforce the Y-rails so they won't flex. Best of both worlds.
+Det Du
The gantry is the on that holds the router. You understood correctly.
does it sound like a maracas?
You're an impressive kid.
Great looking mallet, and nice demonstration of the weights :).
I have yet to see a single X-carve project, that was "serious" (videos like "using my x-carve to make a key chain" or "making something to stamp a pattern into something else" is flooding RUclips). For "one off" projects, it seems most could be done much quicker with a bandsaw, and other basic tools, if time used on software is included. Not knocking your video, but making your mallet would have taken you 30 minutes with a jigsaw, file and a drum sander. The machine apparently has to be supervised when running, and test pieces cut, since there is i good chance it will mess up your expensive wood.
Batch cutting is out, since a trim router can't handle working for hours, and it is not what it is designed for (it's meant to run for a couple of minutes at a time).
So as i see it, it is a machine for making signs, where precision isn't that important?
All the serious makers i follow on RUclips, that would actually benefit from a CNC making repetitive tasks all have issues.
I realize it's flattering for a small'ish RUclips channel to get a reward in form of a sponsorship, as a prize for the many hours it takes to produce quality content, and free stuff is great (i would gladly accept it as a gift, allthough i would go fo the 50x50 cm version), but why would anybody spend their own money on this?
Thank you!
I agree with most of what you said. The machine is great for signs, but otherwise it isn't really that useful. I think the biggest reason you see videos that are not "serious" projects is the software limitation, not the machine's limitation. Inventables requires us to use the Easel software, which, in my opinion, is pretty much worthless. It doesn't really do anything that a bandsaw wouldn't, honestly.
I would disagree with one point you made, about the trim router not being meant to run for hours. I have used this same Dewalt router, in my first CNC, to cut for about 3 hours straight. It has no problem with this.
I would also go with the smaller machine if I had it to do over. This one is just to big and therefore it's weaknesses are about tripled.
+Jeremy Schmidt Thank you for your response.
I'm glad your router is coping - my bosch colt (or the european model of the same) router gets pretty hot after 15 minutes, so it would be toast if i ran it for something like 15 hours cutting out parts for a guitar build or similar.
I watched Savvas Papasavva videos on the X-carve, and he couldn't get the CNC to cut a 10x10 cm square. No matter how he tweaked the motors and software. Even after calibration it would be plus or minus 1 mm. A 2% error is an insane amount.
I could imagine myself using the CNC to cut a router table top with room for insert and mitre slot, but damn - plus minus 1 mm would make that a BIG nono.
In what piece of wood working equipment is plus minus 1 mm cool? Table saw arbor, jointer fence/table, saw blade, drill press chuck, drills, box joint jigs, table saw sled, hand plane??
I'm sorry - for that amount of money, this machine is just an expensive toy. But i'm glad to see hardworking RUclips creators get them as gifts. Even though it is a toy, it's still better than nothing, and in that sense very cool.
I haven't tried cutting a square to see how accurate it is, and I'm not sure I want to know! I still think it has its place, but it's not for me. I'm using my old CNC again. Been thinking about trying to convert this one to a laser cutter, just an idea so I don't know if it'll happen.
But yeah, I'm very grateful for Inventables' support!
what song is this?
👍
Good wood working
You have the most Canadian accent I have ever heard.
+SamuelNes
Well that is very interesting...
I haven't seen a single review of the X-Carve where there hasn't been any "advanced" tweaking and alteration needed. It seems for someone who aren't technical or good with computers the X-Carve will be too hard.
I think they would need to deliver a 100% ready and working machine if they want to sell to the average joe. But perhaps that's not their target group, I don't know.
I think this is true to some extent with all CNC machines. You need to know at least a little about computers and how CNCs work in order to use them.
Jer's Woodshop That may be, but that in itself is a bit odd. You wouldn't sell a car that doesn't fire on all pistons or has a loose timing belt for example.
Some calibration for each system I can understand, but I find so many videos where they have to physically change the machine.
I can't afford an X-Carve due to shipping, but even if I could I wouldn't buy one simply because I fear I couldn't get it to work. So if there are others like me they are losing out on customers for a "faulty/bad" product.
You may be better off with a pre-assembled machine in that case. If you bought a car as a kit, with nothing assembled, would you expect it to work flawlessly the first time you put it together?
Jer's Woodshop Fair point about it being a kit, but you can't ship full size X-Carves, or cars for that matter. So it's understandable that you have to assemble it yourself, but having to modify it with new custom parts for example, is weird. It's like assembling Ikea furniture and having to glue it and make parts yourself.
Just because you have to assemble it doesn't mean it shouldn't work after being assembled. I assembled my new tablesaw the other day and it worked 100% after assembly, as it should.
The problem with it is like I mentioned: it can scares customers away, which it shouldn't.
what's a millet / mellet?
wooden hammer lol
+ 97SEMTEX As stated clearly in the title its called a mallet. Are you even too lazy to read THAT before asking a stupid question???
Chris Is he was joking about The mispronunciation.
thanks for video :-)
Thanks for watching!
i can't imagine that you made this as easy as you mentioned in the video
unfortunately this is not true the device will keep juggling and will either give you an error movement.
nice!
bonjour je vais faire l'achat de la machine vaut elle le coup ?
merci
That is not the way to make a mallet!! First you need to take a Saturday to split hard-wood firewood, it will put hair on your chest. Then stack them into a neat cord, let it sit for a year. When winter comes, dad or mom will asks for you to get some wood for the fire, as you pick up that wood there will be one piece that screams out that it has a higher calling. Then and only then will you know that it is time to make a shop mallet with your carving knife and teeth!
That is how I did it and my dad and my grand-father. That is how real men do it! We don't use these foo-foo machines to make tools, let alone out of plywood. Let the Chinese do that, we are American. I bet you didn't even get a splinter doing that, did you?
Seriously, it was informative and would love to have a CNC machine, though they are a passing fads, just like this facebook thing and posting on youtube.
(disclaimer: tongue-in-cheek)
+Kevin Fehr
I like that. Sometimes I make things that way, sometimes I use technology to the limit. I guess I'm a confused kid...
I do disagree about CNC being a passing fad. They are a highly efficient way of making extremely precise parts, and the only practical way to make decorations like my logo on this mallet.
Jeremy, I was joking, it is the wave of the future , it is the best way to maximize profit, and it can create a conceptualize accurately with less failures. I also teach economics to 12th graders. I show your vids. to all my grades (6-12). You are a great example of taking what you love and turning it into a career. Keep them coming.
Jeremy, I was joking, it is the wave of the future , it is the best way to maximize profit, and it can create a conceptualize accurately with less failures. I also teach economics to 12th graders. I show your vids. to all my grades (6-12). You are a great example of taking what you love and turning it into a career. Keep them coming.
Jeremy, I was joking, it is the wave of the future , it is the best way to maximize profit, and it can create a conceptualize accurately with less failures. I also teach economics to 12th graders. I show your vids. to all my grades (6-12). You are a great example of taking what you love and turning it into a career. Keep them coming.
JUST SUB BRAH ! ALOHA
wax on poly
اعجنى
dude it's time to shave ;)
+Gediminas Jurgaitis
Considering the age of this video I'd say you're a little late...
no offence, just kidding dude. Your projects are real treasure!
+Gediminas Jurgaitis
I know, all good ;-)
Thanks!
Their web site is so misleading. Borders on false advertising...
skip ad button ?
+xaderek Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. Either way, I'll always sit through a 30 sec or less ad for the people I'm subbed to. At least they get a little ad revenue that way.
+rochat They get paid better or the long adds...
Rt Carolina Some of the ads are unreasonably long. I won't sit through a 4-5 minute ad for a video of the same length unless it's something I find really interesting.
+rochat my point was about kind of sponsored content :)
rochat I hear that.
x-carve = no skill
I agree, mostly. It still takes a tiny bit of a different kind of skill to run a CNC.
Frankly, X-carve is children's toy =(
+Igor Somov Pretty expensive children's toy isn't it?
Inventables sucks
Why?