Techno Isel question

Reading this stuff about CNC reminds me of just how far I have to go! Still need to to about another 1000 tips first....

Chris
 
Thomas Wayne said:
That statement just demonstrates a complete lack of understanding about what custom cuemaking really entails.

I've never "bought" a CNC machine in my life - always built my own from scratch, and built for others as well. Starting in the 80's, I am entirely self-taught in programming, and began with drafting everything by hand, calculating all arcs and tangent points and then writing the code line-by-line in word processor. CAD came much later.

And because I hand-chisel virtually ALL my sharp-pointed inlays - instead of just leaving rounded ends like I see a lot around these parts - I'll bet there's more "hand-made" aspect to my work than 99% of all the pantograph users on this forum.

CNC is just another tool in the shop - nothing more, nothing less. It's primarily used for making inlay work more precise and less physically demanding, but it still only accounts for maybe 5% of the entire making of a cue.

TW
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CNC may just be another tool but it has been the most influential technology on the cue industry. This technoledgy changed the way cues were designed. It was the best thing that ever happened to the cue manufacturers. At one time inlay was just a method of accenting a cue with some embelishment. This would increase the value of the cue but it was also quite labour intensive so the price reflected the time invested. When CNC became the norm those embelishments became the entire design of the cue. Instead of having a full splice or half splice cue as your platform the platform changed. You could build a simple blank and use the machine to do "ALL" of the decore. Points could be produced using alot less material and more repeatable. Yes there is still alot of hand work envolved fitting inlays and assembling the cue but once a design goes into production you can repeat that same designs much cheaper and the embelishments on the cue become way more profitable. As for the custom guy I think the plus to CNC was the ability to execute complicated designs (esp the four axis stuff) which could not have been possible before. The production aspect doesnt apply as much because the little guy can't get away with making a hundred of the same design. Although it does save alot of time doing repeatable tasks, which is why CNC's were created. Thats my take on it. As a side note I use CNC all day at my day job but building cues I use an old Gorton pantograph...Not because it's better but because I have not had the time to build my own CNC lol. (I am also not ignorant of the fact that you were a pioneer in the four axis stuff.)
 
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Canadian cue said:
CNC may just be another tool but it has been the most influential technology on the cue industry. This technoledgy changed the way cues were designed. It was the best thing that ever happened to the cue manufacturers. At one time inlay was just a method of accenting a cue with some embelishment. This would increase the value of the cue but it was also quite labour intensive so the price reflected the time invested. When CNC became the norm those embelishments became the entire design of the cue. Instead of having a full splice or half splice cue as your platform the platform changed. You could build a simple blank and use the machine to do "ALL" of the decore. Points could be produced using alot less material and more repeatable. Yes there is still alot of hand work envolved fitting inlays and assembling the cue but once a design goes into production you can repeat that same designs much cheaper and the embelishments on the cue become way more profitable. As for the custom guy I think the plus to CNC was the ability to execute complicated designs (esp the four axis stuff) which could not have been possible before. The production aspect doesnt apply as much because the little guy can't get away with making a hundred of the same design. Although it does save alot of time doing repeatable tasks, which is why CNC's were created. Thats my take on it. As a side note I use CNC all day at my day job but building cues I use an old Gorton pantograph...Not because it's better but because I have not had the time to build my own CNC lol. (I am also not ignorant of the fact that you were a pioneer in the four axis stuff.)
Click to expand...

I don't use CNC for "production" - never have. In fact, only a handful of times have I ever repeated a design. What I do use CNC for is to bring to fruition the designs and ideas that are in my head. With CNC I design first on paper, then on the screen, and by the time I get to the tool I know that what I've conceived will manifest itself in the reality of the work.

If I want a 0.005" Ebony pin line around an Ivory inlay, I know my tools can produce it. THAT'S why I embrace CNC - it lets me hold in my hands what I've seen in my mind.

TW

 
Thomas Wayne said:
I don't use CNC for "production" - never have. In fact, only a handful of times have I ever repeated a design. What I do use CNC for is to bring to fruition the designs and ideas that are in my head. With CNC I design first on paper, then on the screen, and by the time I get to the tool I know that what I've conceived will manifest itself in the reality of the work.

If I want a 0.005" Ebony pin line around an Ivory inlay, I know my tools can produce it. THAT'S why I embrace CNC - it lets me hold in my hands what I've seen in my mind.

TW
Click to expand...

That it the best explanation I have ever heard.
 
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