Posted by SainSmart on
Written by Rinus Onos
Woodworking project

Building a Family Heirloom

For most of us, the year 2020 was interesting, to say the least. Amidst the sadness brought by the pandemic, there was a bright spot: the news that our son and daughter-in-law were expecting. Our first grandson was on the way.

How does one use this great news to create something a boy would one day look up to, with the potential to last for many years? I am an aspiring woodworker, an amateur at best, always seeking a good challenge and learning through trial and error (I admit, at times, a lot of error).

I scoured the internet for potential projects and found something that would challenge me as a retired paramedic and hobby woodworker—something that would make a statement and keep me busy for many months. A wood model of a Caterpillar D9L high track bulldozer caught my eye, with drawings widely available online.

Caterpillar D9L model

After several months of building the basic parts for the bulldozer, I realized my skills were somewhat limited in manually producing some of the more detailed parts. I needed a small, versatile CNC to up my game. After some research, I ordered the SainSmart 3018 ProVer. This turned out to be one of my better investments.

The 3018 came well-packaged with clear instructions. Although it took me longer than the suggested time to assemble, it ultimately provided the precision required to produce a respectable project.

Genmitsu CNC Router 3018 ProVer

I appreciated being able to produce items like a wooden cab door frame, and with minimal changes, I was able to cut the plexiglass insert with high precision. It was a bit of a trial and error process, but the end product was well worth it.

The Caterpillar required many detailed parts, and the CNC was a godsend. The cab, interior details, blade lifts and tilts, rear ripper, and many other small parts formed a great, detailed build.

Completing the Caterpillar was so enjoyable that I decided to add a truck, jeep, and lowboy combination.

Repeating my internet search provided me with a good set of guidelines and drawings. An impressive-looking Peterbilt truck, an 8-wheeled jeep, and a 12-wheeled drop-down trailer were just what I was looking for. The combination of drawings, my imagination, Fusion 360, and the Prover 3018 worked like a charm.

Once again, the CNC fulfilled the need for many large and small, detailed parts.

Right around Christmas, SainSmart introduced a new aluminum spindle holder upgrade. Two of these were made available through a Facebook forum contest, and I was one of the lucky recipients. This meant I had to upgrade my spindle to the larger 64 mm version.

With the increased spindle size and power came more speed, precision, and an overall significantly more useful machine.

Another advantage of the 3018 is its adaptability. If you feel that certain parts require improvement, it’s often possible to make those adjustments.

Since my spindle upgrade involved a large and heavier 500w unit, I was concerned about potential X-axis deflection. To limit this, I used a 20/20 square profile that runs along the X-axis. This simple, cost-effective solution reduced chatter and improved precision. I will try to include a picture showing this modification.

After many months, I completed the project by finishing some parts with laser details, providing the project with a much-needed final touch.

Attached are several pictures showing the details of each individual component. Overall, the truck/trailer is a bit over 5 feet long and turned out great.

Completed truck and trailer model

Detailed view of model components

Close-up of model details

Throughout the entire process, the 3018 ProVer has been a great, tough little machine. It has been used for many hours to cut hardwoods like maple, walnut, and even aluminum.

In my next blog, I will delve deeper into cutting aluminum and provide a write-up on my upcoming project: a home-built CNC dual Y spindle CNC machine with approximate dimensions of 600x600mm.

Enjoy the pictures, and hopefully, they will inspire others to embark on similar projects.

Learn More: Genmitsu 3018-PROVer CNC Router & Upgrade Parts & Accessories

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