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Laser made segments

Bluemax

PRO Member
I haven't posted in a while because I've been busy on other things. I have recently made 2 vases with open segments made on my Muse laser. I found that the creation of a segment design to cut only takes about 2 minutes which allows you to make as many of that size as you want. The cutting is also fairly quick. The real advantage is in the prep work on the segment ( minimal sanding on glueing surface ) and the much easier turning (no sharp edges). I have a picture and more detail I can go into if anyone is interested in this approach.
 
The wood club I belong to has a CNC router. Some have cut segment rings with it. Took some time to cut not counting the program set up time.

I would be interested in seeing your photos or better yet a video of the laser doing the cutting. What software are you using for programing the cutting? Our club is running Vcarve Pro.
 
I also have a cnc router but haven't tried making the segments with it. On the laser - I design using vectric desktop. It is a simple layout with a a vertical line and a 10" circle. You have 2 lines going up to at the angle you want to use for the segments. ( depends on how open and number of segments.) .You then snip off everything but the 2 angle lines. That becomes the form for your segments. When you need to design the segments simply put dia. you want for outside and inside of segment and snip away what you don't want. ( those diameters are listed in seg pro and I add about .05 on the o.d. and .03 on the i.d. for turning). Then duplicate out what ever number of segments you want to cut. I flip them to reduce waste. Save as a svg file and transfer to laser. The downside is my laser will only cut about .250 thick material. Also you have a black edge that is not machined. I don't think this detracts from the finish product but some people might feel differently. You don't have to worry about burrs since the laser burns rather than cuts.
 

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Having read my description of the vectric layout people might be confused (I'm better at doing then describing ) so if someone wants to try this I'll post the vectric layout. Also the vase in the picture was completely done with the laser segments except for the top layer. I have made a closed segment layer with laser segments but I wasn't sure on how strong the joint would be. I have a Ox cnc router but it is a lot quicker with the laser because of the setup and almost no sanding.
 
Will be interesting when you try out your CNC and compare it to the laser. I know the few that have used the CNC at the club for cutting segments liked the results.
 
I haven't posted in a while because I've been busy on other things. I have recently made 2 vases with open segments made on my Muse laser. I found that the creation of a segment design to cut only takes about 2 minutes which allows you to make as many of that size as you want. The cutting is also fairly quick. The real advantage is in the prep work on the segment ( minimal sanding on glueing surface ) and the much easier turning (no sharp edges). I have a picture and more detail I can go into if anyone is interested in this approach.


I would love to know the best way to make segments. I made a sled but cant afford the wedgies they are selling and havnt found templates. I'm a novice at best.
If you have any suggestions I would appreciate it.
 
I would love to know the best way to make segments. I made a sled but cant afford the wedgies they are selling and havnt found templates. I'm a novice at best.
If you have any suggestions I would appreciate it.
[/QUOTE]
 
I would love to know the best way to make segments. I made a sled but cant afford the wedgies they are selling and havnt found templates. I'm a novice at best.
If you have any suggestions I would appreciate it.

That is a pretty loaded question. lol. Depending who you talk to you will get different answers. A lot has to do with the equipment you have access to.
- I has used an Incra Miter Express sled with a good miter gauge. I got pretty good results with it on the table saw.
- I take it your "sled" is a segeasy sled. Title: Segmentology
You can use a digital angle protractor and get good results with the seg easy sled. Title: Wixey WR418 18-Inch Digital Protractor - Construction Protractors - Amazon.com.
If you go the protractor route look for one with 18" length.
- I have just started to experiment using a CNC to cut segments. It takes longer to cut than on the table saw, but the segments are coming out spot on. Not sure the usefulness when doing 12 or 16 segment rings, but it seems worth while for 36 and up.

Good luck on whatever you decide to use.
 
On cheap templates. For the 6 ,8, and 12 segment rings you can use mechanical drawing triangles, 30-60 degree, and 45 degree. very accurate.
 
That is a pretty loaded question. lol. Depending who you talk to you will get different answers. A lot has to do with the equipment you have access to.
- I has used an Incra Miter Express sled with a good miter gauge. I got pretty good results with it on the table saw.
- I take it your "sled" is a segeasy sled. Title: Segmentology
You can use a digital angle protractor and get good results with the seg easy sled. Title: Wixey WR418 18-Inch Digital Protractor - Construction Protractors - Amazon.com.
If you go the protractor route look for one with 18" length.
- I have just started to experiment using a CNC to cut segments. It takes longer to cut than on the table saw, but the segments are coming out spot on. Not sure the usefulness when doing 12 or 16 segment rings, but it seems worth while for 36 and up.

Good luck on whatever you decide to use.
Thank you for such a quick responce ,I will use your advice .
Thanks again
 
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