Because the environmental benefits are compelling:
Question: Has anyone in the community attempted to cut Bamboo Plywood on the Maslow?
What was the result?
From watching videos of other CNC machines cutting Bamboo Ply on YouTube,
e.g: youtube id: fmJIO7VM0B8 featuring an “X-Carve” CNC machine …
it appears to be possible to cut Bamboo Ply without too much “splintering”
which was an issue in this other video: youtube id: o1rgTDo7DIU (can’t link to it directly as I’m a “new user” on the forum…)
The Maslow is just a CNC controller of the moment of a router. If it can be routed by hand the Maslow can route it too. I have not done any bamboo yet. I have smaller pieces of it for the Shapeoko CNC so I will say it can be done. I have been looking at larger pieces of Bamboo at Ikea.
try not focus on the price on ambientbp[.]com, that was only intended as an example.
I agree that they are over-charging for the Bamboo Ply because it’s “fashionable”,
but the actual material cost direct from the supplier is much more reasonable
(and quite close to “normal” wood ply)
But before I spend $900 on Bamboo Plywood I want to know if the Maslow
(in it’s default configuration with the Ridgid R22002 router …)
Can cut it without “splintering” …
Given that it’s not on the “FAQ” page FAQ — Maslow …
I thought opening the question as a forum topic was the best way to get an answer …
Hopefully someone in the wider Maslow community has already tried it …
otherwise I might have to be the “Test Dummy”
OK again this has been done on other desktop CNC machines so it is reasonable to think the Maslow can.
How it performs for you will depend on the same things as all CNC (speed n feed)
what tool you use - single flute, dual flute, compression bit, speed of the router you use, weight of your sled, angle of your frame.
Depending on where you are you might find enough interest for a group buy. Plywood (at least that made in the US) is sold in standard quantities, often a 4 foot high stack. Besides lowering shipping/sheet you might get a standard unit discount too.
I have worked with bamboo, but not with a Maslow- only with a drill, a table saw and a jig saw. To minimize/ eliminate splintering, I put blue painter’s tape on the “down” side of the material- i.e, where the drill bit or saw blade is exiting the workpiece. Depending on how intricate your design, this could be an expensive and time-consuming thing. Not sure if this helps you. I would be interested in your solution as I plan to work with bamboo when I receive my Maslow.
