Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamHeard
It causes too much binding? I think that's a design issue and not a material issue.
We've run multiple shooters (both this season and last), along with many other systems out of plywood.
Wood is good.
We primarily use 6mm baltic birch ply that we get local in 5x5 sheets and we usually router it. We have used some 12mm for thicker items.
It's a great material, VERY STIFF. This stiffness if often very useful. Cutting it at .25" depth 300 ipm is nice too!
|
I'm sure if you took your time in planning and designing to build with wood, it would be fine. But whenever we use it, it ends off being off just enough to where it isn't running at the efficiency that it should. Then you have to re-drill holes, and it becomes a pain. Where as with aluminum extrusion such as 80-20, if you are off by a bit, you loosen the bolts on the sliders, move it to where it needs to be, and you're done. Now,
with the competition not, we waterjet all parts that require that amount of precision. If something is off there, then its most likely a CAD problem, not a machining problem.
Again, I'm not saying that wood is bad, especially in the right application, its quite good. We just don't have the time and precision to use it.
BTW, we don't have access to a router in house. Any machining we do on wood is with a cordless drill and a chop saw.