Page 1 of 1

Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 8:10 am
by MageDK
I am looking to get the plans for the 28' trawler (TW28). I was wondering if the digital plans contained the cutouts for each sheet of plywood in a format that would be easy to export to a format that can be used by a large CNC machine? I'm no computer expert, but I was wondering how difficult it would be to convert those pages on the plans for a CNC shop. Or hopefully, maybe the digital version of the plans includes that already.

Ideally, I would spread out the cost of the plywood sheets over a 5-6 months, send them to a local cnc shop to get cut and start assembling without having to get all the wood at once.

Let me know. thanks!

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 9:01 am
by Jeff
Our designers do not sell their CNC Cut files. They can be translated to meet your needs!! No patterns, just easy to read and follow engineering documents. Jeff

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 9:09 am
by MageDK
ok, thanks.

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 9:21 am
by fallguy1000
MageDK wrote: Mon Jun 20, 2022 8:10 am I am looking to get the plans for the 28' trawler (TW28). I was wondering if the digital plans contained the cutouts for each sheet of plywood in a format that would be easy to export to a format that can be used by a large CNC machine? I'm no computer expert, but I was wondering how difficult it would be to convert those pages on the plans for a CNC shop. Or hopefully, maybe the digital version of the plans includes that already.

Ideally, I would spread out the cost of the plywood sheets over a 5-6 months, send them to a local cnc shop to get cut and start assembling without having to get all the wood at once.

Let me know. thanks!
The greatest cost with the least return os freight. Freight has gotten to be ridiculous.

Unless you can buy marine plywood close to home; you'll want to buy it all to avoid freight.

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 10:55 am
by MageDK
Thanks for the tip. I live in Miami, Fl so I can get marine grade plywood near me. I'm just trying to come up with a timeframe of spacing the wood purchases out as much as possible without impeeding the build too much.

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 12:38 pm
by TomW1
MageDK may I make a suggestion. The nesting on the plans may not allow you or save you any time by doing a piece meal puchase of plywood and having the plans converted to CNC and cut, you may be waitig till you get all the plywood untill you can start assembly. Instead why not save your money over the 5-6 months and buy the CNC Kit. This way you will get the designers CNC cut and extras not in the plans plus the throw away molds. Also before you buy check your local prices against the prices here.

Ft. Pierce is just 2-21/2Hrs north of Miami so a rentall of Uhal or a friends pickup could pick it up the kit if you don't have one.

Well my thoughts worth 2 cents today a penny tomorrow,

Tom

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 3:40 pm
by OneWayTraffic
Getting a local shop to translate and CNC cut the plans will not be easier or cheaper than getting it all done at once by guys that do it every day. Less chance of screwups as well.

Or just buy the wood you need for the hull panels and some frames/molds and cut by hand. I spaced out my purchases that way. It ended up costing me a lot of money as ply prices increased markedly. Cutting by hand isn't that hard, just takes a few days.

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:18 am
by Dougster
You could check on how much $ you'd save buying ply and cutting the panels and fames yourself. It's not hard and is a pleasant part of the build in my experience.

Dougster

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2022 1:18 pm
by Matt Gent
I also support buying from BBC, I regularly do.

Have you priced out the entire bill of materials? I have not for a tw28, but I would guess that the plywood is still a small fraction of the total.

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2022 5:40 am
by MageDK
I have started to price out all the materials for the build. I'm doing some research on the hull and interior components as well. I would love to get the CNC kit for the boat, but it's listed on the site for 17K. I just don't have that money available to spend all at once. I know buying the wood piecemeal will probably cost more, but if I can spread out that cost over a longer period (6mos-1year) then it's affordable.

I may just buy the wood and make the cuts myself. According to the study plans the cuts don't have to be 100% accurate since the TW28 uses the stitch and glue method.

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2022 9:28 am
by Dougster
I've done 4 builds, the biggest being the LB22. I had no carpentry experience and was quite the novice and assure you cutting out the panels is no big deal. Get a nice little circular saw (cuts mild curves better than jig saw) and cut a bit proud of the line, then plane it down to the line. There are good tutorials on laying out the lines and it's a fun task. Honestly, unless you're in some great big hurry to finish, I don't see the need for the CNC kit, but that's me. If you're real worried build the cheap canoe. That'll ease your mind and give you a fun little canoe to play with.

Dougster

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2022 6:46 pm
by BarraMan
Dougster wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 9:28 am I've done 4 builds, the biggest being the LB22. I had no carpentry experience and was quite the novice and assure you cutting out the panels is no big deal. Get a nice little circular saw (cuts mild curves better than jig saw) and cut a bit proud of the line, then plane it down to the line. There are good tutorials on laying out the lines and it's a fun task. Honestly, unless you're in some great big hurry to finish, I don't see the need for the CNC kit, but that's me. If you're real worried build the cheap canoe. That'll ease your mind and give you a fun little canoe to play with.
Dougster
What he said! :D I cut out my 22 footer with a little Makita saw - easy.

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2022 9:58 pm
by TomW1
From what you said I agree with Dougster. First step would be build your molds out of cheap plywood, that will take you a while for the TW28. Then buy the bottom peices or what you can of it and cut and glue and get started on the bottom. As I said above I still don't understand the logic of not saving the 6 months for the 17K for the kit instead of doing it peice meal and pearhaps making mistakes in cutting and alignment. Neither Dougster or Barraman bought there panels peice meal. At the minimun get the whole bottom hull as you need to align all the panels to each other and transom. Then do the sides next as they need to be to aligned to the bottom and transom. You can't do part of one or the other. But follow the plans.

The TW28 will cost you a lot to build the hull is just the beginning of it.

Well good luck to you.

Tom

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 12:50 am
by Matt Gent
TomW1 wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 9:58 pm As I said above I still don't understand the logic of not saving the 6 months for the 17K for the kit instead of doing it peice meal and pearhaps making mistakes in cutting and alignment.
Because it's one of the more rewarding jobs in building the entire boat.

Did you cut your own or buy CNC?

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 7:45 am
by cape man
Can't wait to see the answer to that question... 8)

Cutting the pieces with a skill saw is easier than you think. My biggest challenge was in making sure where to measure from (some dimensions are from the edge of the wood, others from the edge of the piece) and finding the right piece of long wood to use as a batten to mark the curves. Learning how to do a plunge cut is also a skill I learned, followed by a jig saw for the corners of the hatch opening and lids.

The stitch and glue method is quite forgiving as well, allowing you to leave gaps that don't have to be precise, which allows you to adjust the pieces before the epoxy goes down.

If money is a factor just buy the wood and cut it yourself. The CNC kits are a luxury for many of us. The boat is the cheap part. Power, trailer, electronics, hardware, etc. is where you will spend the most.

Pull the trigger and go! Welcome to the boat builders' virus!

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 8:40 am
by MageDK
You guys are convincing me of the errors in my thinking. I think I will still spread the wood purchase over a few months, but I will try cutting and fitting them by hand. I was originally thinking that the cuts had to be precise and accurate, but the more i read about the glue and stitch approach the more I see that accuracy is less important.

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 11:42 am
by cape man
You guys are convincing me of the errors in my thinking.
There are no errors in thinking, and no such thing as a stupid question here. You might get an occassional stupid answer, but others will almost always chime in to get you back on track. :lol:

Watching a TW28 build in Miami will be awesome, and there have been several built (especially in Europe) so you can learn from previous builds. It is a very neat boat for sure, and if I was looking for a cruiser/sleep aboard it would be top of my list. The numbers for power and fuel consumption are impressive for anything that big.

Buying the wood a bit at a time is actually not a bad idea if you don't have a great place to store it. As said earlier, it would be good to get enough wood, epoxy, and glass for the sides, bottom, transom, stringers, and bulkheads as those all are needed early on to make the basic hull. By then hopefully you have another round of cash to get the wood for decks, cabin (assuming you will build one), gunwales, etc.

BBC is only 2.5 hours north of you so you can probably save some bucks by going there to pick up the wood and supplies. Plus you will get to meet two of the greatest guys I know if both Reid and Jeff are there.

By the way...Jeff and Reid...sorry to have apparently help talk him out of a CNC kit. :roll:

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 11:49 am
by MageDK
cape man wrote: Mon Jun 27, 2022 11:42 am
You guys are convincing me of the errors in my thinking.
There are no errors in thinking, and no such thing as a stupid question here. You might get an occassional stupid answer, but others will almost always chime in to get you back on track. :lol:

Watching a TW28 build in Miami will be awesome, and there have been several built (especially in Europe) so you can learn from previous builds. It is a very neat boat for sure, and if I was looking for a cruiser/sleep aboard it would be top of my list. The numbers for power and fuel consumption are impressive for anything that big.

Buying the wood a bit at a time is actually not a bad idea if you don't have a great place to store it. As said earlier, it would be good to get enough wood, epoxy, and glass for the sides, bottom, transom, stringers, and bulkheads as those all are needed early on to make the basic hull. By then hopefully you have another round of cash to get the wood for decks, cabin (assuming you will build one), gunwales, etc.

BBC is only 2.5 hours north of you so you can probably save some bucks by going there to pick up the wood and supplies. Plus you will get to meet two of the greatest guys I know if both Reid and Jeff are there.

By the way...Jeff and Reid...sorry to have apparently help talk him out of a CNC kit. :roll:
lol, don't worry the CNC kit was never really an option for me unless they had some law away plan I didn't know about lol.
thanks

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 9:09 pm
by Matt Gent
I think it's worth your while to price out the entire build before you start. I'm usually time-limited on projects, but with a TW28 you're looking at a hefty total rigged out and finished. Would hate to have that much effort and not be able to finish it due to budget restrictions. It will at least be time-phased.

Just the Ancor connectors are a big chunk of $$!

Re: Do the digital plans included files for CNC machines, or can some of the pages be easily converted to a CNC format?

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2022 10:17 am
by MageDK
Matt Gent wrote: Mon Jun 27, 2022 9:09 pm I think it's worth your while to price out the entire build before you start. I'm usually time-limited on projects, but with a TW28 you're looking at a hefty total rigged out and finished. Would hate to have that much effort and not be able to finish it due to budget restrictions. It will at least be time-phased.

Just the Ancor connectors are a big chunk of $$!
thanks. I am working on that right now. researching all the materials and even pricing out the engine, tanks, gelly, head, etc. Just to kind of get a ballpark figure.