Carving a frog on a leaf - CNC router technique with vertical tabs

By Dennis Van Hoof, from Top o' Arts (topoarts.com).

This video shows the process of carving a frog from a branch and epoxy resin with the Shapeoko, using a technique with vertical, instead of the conventional horizontal tabs, to secure the stock in place. Those vertical tabs were then used to accurately position the frog on a leaf, that was also carved with the Shapeoko from a tree trunk slice with an average diameter of 500 mm.

Software used:
Meshmixer to modify the frog and leaf, and create the tabs and platform
Vectric VCarve to generate the tool paths
UGS Platform to send the Gcode to the CNC

Materials used:
Slice of a tree trunk with an average diameter of 500 mm and thickness of 230 mm
Bifurcated branch
Epoxy resin (from the Epoxy Resin Store)
Green, blue, purple and red Mica powders
MDF board
Duct tape (from 3M #2979)
Surfacing bit: WhiteSide #6210
Roughing bit: Amana Tool end mill #46577
Finishing bits: Amana Tool tapered ball nose #46286 and #46281

Referenced video of the metal frame and modifications to the Shapeoko: "3-sided rotary CNC routing with the Shapeoko - carving a Koi fish"
   • 3-sided rotary CNC routing with the Shapeo...