I’m trying to optimize workflows for rounding a piece of stock. Are there pros/cons for cutting off corners using a table saw vs doing it all with toolpaths? In both cases there’s an extra step involved but of course less accuracy with a table saw and more bit wear (and time) on the rotary. Post rounding operation in either case, both will require a roughing pass then finishing. Any thoughts or recommended workflows? Thanks.
My typical trick (taken from my woodturning days) is to use the table saw to make the square blanks into octagons. Then I model the octagons in CAD and rough the cylinders from that - although typically my jobs are less “cylinders” and more “art”.
I’ve found it’s faster that way overall, especially as I can be trimming most of the blanks while the first one is in the cnc.
Sometimes its useful just to make them fit and reduce roughing time:
But can be ignored if your bit is long enough and you need a low-stepover finishing pass anyways:
My only tip would be that I like to score the cut locations into the face during 3-axis cuts to “idiot proof” it and make sure I don’t take too much off with the bandsaw.
I have found that the time saved on the machine does not typically justify the time it takes to cut the corners off on another saw. Typically we are not limited by machine time but we are limited by employee time. Makes more sense to let the machine do the work while everyone does something else.