Dear John Smith,

This next issue of the DeskProto newsletter email focussed on Indexed machining. After releasing a tutorial video on this subject we also received an indexed Gallery project and some more indexed results. A nice coincidence ! Reason enough for a newsletter on this subject.

Indexed machining may not be the easiest CNC process, still DeskProto makes it easy enough to match our motto: "CNC machining for non-machinists". We hope that you will enjoy reading.

New tutorial video: indexed machining DeskProto can be used for indexed machining since version 4. However, the settings to be used (chaining and before-operation commands) may be difficult to find. Thus so far not many users have applied this technique. So we have created a Tutorial video on this subject. The video (28 minutes) explains what indexed machining is, how it compares to continuous rotation, and then shows the complete process to create the wooden corbel shown above: both the DeskProto input and the machining process. Subtitles are available in English and Dutch.

Improvements for DeskProto V7.1 While creating the new video mentioned above, we found that a few manual adjustments were needed after completing the wizard. Unneeded, as these settings could also be made by the wizard. So we improved the wizard ("Two or more sides, automatic rotation"), see the list of improvements above. When you want to start with indexed machining: make sure that you are working with a recent DeskProto build. In DeskProto you can simply check if you are running the latest build, via command "Check for Update" (Help menu). On our website you can find the latest build on the Build history page.

Gallery: creating wooden mermaids The latest Gallery project also shows an indexed machining project. It shows a series of wooden mermaids, created by Heartwood Carving in Eugene, Oregon (USA). The mermaids will be used as interior decoration, wrapped around the front edges of architectural beams in a restaurant. Visit the Gallery page to read about how the toolpaths were created and how the mermaids were machined.

Results achieved by other users More nice results can be found on our social media pages and on the DeskProto user forum. These four parts all have been created with indexed machining (for the table leg continuous rotation has been used as well). The wooden car model was a first indexed test piece by Andy Galbach (USA), who had bought a license only a few days earlier. Follow us on Instagram to see more inspiring results. And: you are very welcome to share your own results!

Try for yourself and download the DeskProto Free edition. It offers CAM functions free of charge; it also offers an option to start the Multi-Axis edition (needed for indexed machining) in trial mode. To get started you can use the tutorials (both video and PDF) and the sample geometries.
This is all possible completely free of charge !

Best Regards,

Lex Lennings.

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