CNC Improves Creativity CNC Improves Creativity
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StreamlineStreamline Your ApplicaApplicationstions CNC Improves Creativity And Increases Sales by 50 % By Keith Josey Owner Josey Custom Cues Savannah, Georgia A Techno computer numeric controlled (CNC) router has increased sales at Josey Custom Cues by 50 percent by making it possible to create inlays in any design a customer wants. Previously, when inlays and pockets were created using manual methods, inlay designs were limited to relatively simple shapes. Now, Josey can draw any shape in the software that controls the CNC router, and the machine reproduces that shape in the wood, cutting to a far higher level of accuracy than is possible with manual methods. The Techno CNC machine has freed both Josey and his Keith Josey, Josey Custom Cues, and his Techno-isel 3-Axis System. customers from creative limits and they can let their imaginations run secure construction. Josey prefers a diamonds. This cue is priced at $3,100. wild. This new freedom in the design forward balanced cue with a solid stiff Josey's least expensive cue sells for of inlays on the cues has attracted new hit and each Josey cue is crafted to $200 while some of the more elaborate customers and has increased sales ensure superior playability. But it is ones are priced at more than $10,000. significantly in only one year. the appearance of the cues that really Depending on the intricacy of the Keith Josey was inspired to start makes them stand out. Rare, design, it could take several hours to Josey Custom Cues after taking one beautifully patterned woods gleam put all the inlays into a cue. Before of his own cues to a shop for repair under a painstakingly applied, mirror- he even starts that process, however, and being displeased with the results. like finish. Inlays, using precious Josey goes through a number of Josey had learned the art of custom material such as mother of pearl, preliminary steps. First he must find woodworking from his father, and exotic woods, turquoise, and the wood. He looks for highly enjoyed playing pool with his father malachite, further decorate each Josey figured woods and buys them from and brothers when he was growing cue in intricate one-of-a-kind designs. all over the world. Next he turns his up. In 1992, he combined the two One Josey cue, which was featured on shafts on a lathe six times over a avocations into a business that now the cover of The American Cueist six-month period, dipping them in a draws customers from all over the magazine, features a birdseye maple wood stabilizer after each turning to world. Some of the leading front with three long ebony points and season the wood so it won't warp. professional pool players, including three short ebony points with ebony Next comes the process of splicing 1999 Viking Tour winner Shawn diamonds. It also has six mother-of- the front to the handle, and gluing Putnam, use Josey cues. Teruki pearl shields. Ebony, micarta and silver the two pieces together. Josey then Kobayashi of Okayama, Japan, dash rings run throughout cue. The lets the cue sit for a few more another tour professional, also plays wrap is bocote wood with six ivory months to give the wood a chance to with a Josey cue. diamonds and six turquoise diamonds move and breathe. He turns it again, With the exception of the tips, inlaid inside two black phenolic rings. then adds the ringwork, the bumpers, and screws, Josey makes The butt sleeve is ebony with sixteen precision metals or wood rings that every component of his cues in his ivory points and eight turquoise go around the cue. After that, he one-man shop. All ferrules, collars, diamond inlays. The buttcap is black turns the cue one final time. and butt caps thread on for more phenolic with eight mother-of-pearl Phone: (516) 328-3970 Fax: (516) 358-2576 www.techno-isel.com 80 StreamlineStreamline Your ApplicaApplicationstions Producing Inlays By Hand complex contours with little shapes of the pieces are already in The next steps in making a cue programming effort. One of the things Mastercam since they were used to involve carving the pockets for the Josey liked about this system was that program the cutting of the pockets. inlays and cutting the inlays all the components--software, Josey has equipped the Techno table themselves. In the past, Josey controller, router, and table--came with a vacuum device that holds the performed these steps manually using from one vendor. Another plus was inlay material. After the machine cuts an Exacto knife and a Dremel tool. A that this was a turnkey system, the inlays, Josey cleans out the pockets, Dremel has a number of different suitable for people such as Josey with and assembles the inlays into the cue. cutting tools, making it possible to cut no computer experience. Also, Josey has prepared a brochure that diamonds and other simple shapes. If Techno's booth featured a pool cue shows many of his popular inlay Josey didn't have a Dremel tool for a with inlay work that had been designs. Sometimes customers ask for certain shape, he worked freehand produced by a Techno customer also variations on these designs. Since the using the Exacto knife. Both methods manufacturing pool cues. This shapes have already been drawn in were time consuming, and they limited convinced Josey that this system was Mastercam, Josey just modifies the inlays to fairly simple shapes. Later right for his needs. He purchased a computer model to match the Josey started using a small pantograph three-axis Techno router with a 21- customer's idea and he is ready to cut machine to trace more complex the inlay. The main advantage shapes onto the wood and then to cutting pockets and inlay cut them out by hand. This pieces on the router, however, is approach gave him a somewhat that Josey can make inlays of broader range of inlay shapes any design that he or his that he could produce, but it customers can envision. The still limited him in terms of only requirement is drawing the designs. If a customer wanted design in Mastercam. No matter an inlay in a certain pattern that how complex a design is, once Josey didn't have, for example, it has been drawn in the he either had to turn down the software, the router can cut it job or hire somebody to make with a level of accuracy that the pattern for him. Another satisfies even Josey. The drawback to the pantograph he Techno machine features a was using was that, although it positioning accuracy of 0.1 inch by 39-inch cutting area. The cost was fairly accurate, it was still not up mm in 300 mm. Its use of anti- of the entire system was to the standards of Josey, who strives backlash ball screws ensures play-free approximately $22,000. for perfection on every cue. motion and makes it possible to At a woodworking trade show, New Inlay Process produce extremely accurate inlay Now, when it comes time to cut the Josey investigated CNC routers that cavities in the wooden parts as well as pockets for inlays, the inlay designs could cut wood according to patterns the inlays themselves. are drawn in Mastercam. The stored in a computer. Although there Josey is currently working on a software automatically creates the were quite a few such routers on new cue for Tommy Kennedy, a display, the Techno Series III PC- router toolpaths that will cut these professional player, who will shapes. After attaching the cue to the driven CNC wood router from showcase the abilities of his new machine, he gives the command to Techno-Isel appealed to him for technology. This cue, like all pool start cutting and the machine takes several reasons. This machine is cues made by Josey Custom Cues, over. One of the benefits of this designed for production routing and will be both highly functional and a system is that it can run unattended, drilling on a wide variety of materials work of art. Now that Josey has cutting all the pockets on a cue before including wood, plastic, MDF, solid added a CNC router to his stopping. It does this by means of an surfacing materials, and nonferrous operation, the cue-making process is indexing system that cuts the first set metals. The price includes the still a labor of love by a master of inlays, then indexes and cuts the Mastercam CNC programming craftsman. But now the range of second set of inlays, and so on until software, which was originally design possibilities has expanded to the job is complete. Once the pockets designed for metalworking but is also include inlays that were previously have been cut, Josey cuts the inlay well suited for woodworking because impossible to create by hand. pieces on the router as well. The of its ability to generate the most Phone: (516) 328-3970 Fax: (516) 358-2576 www.techno-isel.com 81 .