You described the Laguna as having to use Metric only instead of Imperial measurements. The machine itself does use metric. But using Vetric software, I design my work in Imperial measurements and the software does the work of converting the toolpaths to metric when downloading the toolpath. With Vetric (cad/cam) software and a Laguna IQ you will be happy for a long time. I've had mine for over 4yrs. and it's still one of the best tool investments I've ever made.
I have not added a vertical support jig to my IQ for cutting mortises and tenons. However, making one would be pretty straight forward. With the caveat that it's critical that it needs to be very precise and adjustable. As to cutting dovetails specifically, that introduces added challenges.
Hi Thank you for this excellent review of Laguna IQ which I am interested in buying for 2 reasons 1- To do jointry like dovetails on drawers and mortise and tenon's on doors. I think I can do dovetails since most drawers are 24" or less and I can do it on edge as you mentioned in your video. My question is related to mortise and tenons on doors. Do you do your mortise and tenon's on the bed of cnc as shown in your review video?can you please provide details. Can I also do mortise and tenon's on large interior and exterior doors on IQ machine? 2- In your custom designed cnc, you said you needed 10 " height on z axis for carving? What type of carving requires such height or depth? Thank you and look forward to hearing from you
As with any woodworking process, it's best to think about what's the best possible approach, technique, and the appropriate tools for the task at hand. Yes, you could dovetail drawers on the end of a CNC. But, would that be better or faster than using a dovetail jig? You could do mortises for doors on the tall version of the IQ but how would you hold and move the rails and styles through the bed precisely? Maybe this is a task for a Domino XL. All very doable tasks on an IQ, but there are plenty of solvable challenges to deal with. So, for the two tasks you've outlined, custom jigs would have to be designed and built for each task. These are not the average CNC task. Whether you use an IQ or a larger CNC, the challenges are the same. The question you have to ask is the time to design, build, test and tune all this worth doing it on a CNC or would another approach, jig, tool, and technique be a faster and better solution? Dovetails on a CNC requite a special setup. Mortises and tenons are fine, but large door parts will be a special challenge. You need a lot of ongoing volume or have a need for unique design details to justify the setup time and testing for what you're proposing. You could do all this on a CNC, but sometimes simple solutions like a good dovetail jig or excellent mortise and tenon machine like the Leigh FMT are better. Your mileage may vary...
Hello, Thank you again for the quick and wise response and you have confirmed my doubts. I have used Leigh jigs and I am very happy with the results for both mortise and tenons and dovetails and I can do both of them fast and most likely faster than cnc giving the special setup time that would be required. Tried festool domino but so far the testing results are not as great as traditional mortise and tenon's so I am not big on using domino for making traditional entry doors. A better solution for what I am trying to do is to use aggregate head where the spindle is now parallel to the cnc bed but that requires 10.5 HP spindle and the price moves to around 70k dollars which is more than I am willing to spend. It looks like for now what I have been doing is the best option. Thank you
Yes. For a gantry based CNC you use the clearance underneath as a measurement of what's possible in terms of depth. That said, you need to take in consideration the actually length of the bit you're using as well. That plus the limits of Z axis rails and how the spindle is mounted in its holder. In any case I cut 1-1/2" material frequently.
Thank you. I have an air cooled spindle right now. It works fine and I don't have to worry with all the hassles of the water reservoir, pump, lines, etc. I've wondered if you couldn't just mix a 50/50 antifreeze though. Seems like it's a lot more messing around. I think I'll stick with an air cooled spindle. I wish I could find one made in the US though...
Almost all CAM software will convert files through the appropriate post processor from Imperial to metric, or visa versa. Using a different measurement system than your model become much more challenging when the environment you're working in doesn't agree with your design.
You described the Laguna as having to use Metric only instead of Imperial measurements. The machine itself does use metric. But using Vetric software, I design my work in Imperial measurements and the software does the work of converting the toolpaths to metric when downloading the toolpath. With Vetric (cad/cam) software and a Laguna IQ you will be happy for a long time. I've had mine for over 4yrs. and it's still one of the best tool investments I've ever made.
May we please see an example of a jig on the end of the IQ used the cut dovetails with the overtravel?
I have not added a vertical support jig to my IQ for cutting mortises and tenons. However, making one would be pretty straight forward. With the caveat that it's critical that it needs to be very precise and adjustable. As to cutting dovetails specifically, that introduces added challenges.
At about 1:40 I mentioned that 1" is 254mm. That's not right by a factor of 10. 25.4 mm is 1".Sorry about that.
Very nice machine!
Hi
Thank you for this excellent review of Laguna IQ which I am interested in buying for 2 reasons
1- To do jointry like dovetails on drawers and mortise and tenon's on doors. I think I can do dovetails since most drawers are 24" or less and I can do it on edge as you mentioned in your video. My question is related to mortise and tenons on doors. Do you do your mortise and tenon's on the bed of cnc as shown in your review video?can you please provide details. Can I also do mortise and tenon's on large interior and exterior doors on IQ machine?
2- In your custom designed cnc, you said you needed 10 " height on z axis for carving? What type of carving requires such height or depth?
Thank you and look forward to hearing from you
As with any woodworking process, it's best to think about what's the best possible approach, technique, and the appropriate tools for the task at hand. Yes, you could dovetail drawers on the end of a CNC. But, would that be better or faster than using a dovetail jig? You could do mortises for doors on the tall version of the IQ but how would you hold and move the rails and styles through the bed precisely? Maybe this is a task for a Domino XL. All very doable tasks on an IQ, but there are plenty of solvable challenges to deal with.
So, for the two tasks you've outlined, custom jigs would have to be designed and built for each task. These are not the average CNC task. Whether you use an IQ or a larger CNC, the challenges are the same.
The question you have to ask is the time to design, build, test and tune all this worth doing it on a CNC or would another approach, jig, tool, and technique be a faster and better solution? Dovetails on a CNC requite a special setup. Mortises and tenons are fine, but large door parts will be a special challenge. You need a lot of ongoing volume or have a need for unique design details to justify the setup time and testing for what you're proposing. You could do all this on a CNC, but sometimes simple solutions like a good dovetail jig or excellent mortise and tenon machine like the Leigh FMT are better. Your mileage may vary...
Hello,
Thank you again for the quick and wise response and you have confirmed my doubts. I have used Leigh jigs and I am very happy with the results for both mortise and tenons and dovetails and I can do both of them fast and most likely faster than cnc giving the special setup time that would be required. Tried festool domino but so far the testing results are not as great as traditional mortise and tenon's so I am not big on using domino for making traditional entry doors.
A better solution for what I am trying to do is to use aggregate head where the spindle is now parallel to the cnc bed but that requires 10.5 HP spindle and the price moves to around 70k dollars which is more than I am willing to spend.
It looks like for now what I have been doing is the best option.
Thank you
Can you cut 1 1/2" stock with this?
Yes. For a gantry based CNC you use the clearance underneath as a measurement of what's possible in terms of depth. That said, you need to take in consideration the actually length of the bit you're using as well. That plus the limits of Z axis rails and how the spindle is mounted in its holder. In any case I cut 1-1/2" material frequently.
Do they offer an air cooled spindle? My shop is not heated all the time and the water would freeze...
The only offer a water cooled spindle. Your problem is not uncommon, so a of people mix in a little antifreeze in the water tank for spindle cooling.
Thank you. I have an air cooled spindle right now. It works fine and I don't have to worry with all the hassles of the water reservoir, pump, lines, etc. I've wondered if you couldn't just mix a 50/50 antifreeze though. Seems like it's a lot more messing around. I think I'll stick with an air cooled spindle. I wish I could find one made in the US though...
Almost all CAM software will convert files through the appropriate post processor from Imperial to metric, or visa versa. Using a different measurement system than your model become much more challenging when the environment you're working in doesn't agree with your design.
What software comes with the machine?
retiredsearge none
Why was this "Part 2"? It said nothing more than you already said at least 3 times in "Part 1". Argh!
Lol "254mm"