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CW Bits on Sale

DigitalRoute — 2008-11-19T07:03:01-06:00

Just got notified of a great deal going on at Amazon. They have discounted the Carvewright Accessory bit set by $75.

This is amazing because, in the past, they have never offered these bits for anything other than regular price. What makes this deal even more incredible is that these bits also qualify for free shipping.

Holy Cow!!! $75 bucks off and free shipping - Just in time to make all those Home-Made gifts that everyone loves to get. You can be the hit of this holiday. Click the picture below to grab a set of these for yourself.

CarveWright CW0024 Full Carving Bit Set

Q & A: What are the Best Kinds of Wood to Use?

DigitalRoute — 2008-11-11T06:14:42-06:00

I get a lot of emails from my newsletter subscribers asking for advice and help... I thought that I would start a new segment of this blog (Q&A), where I post some of those questions and the corresponding answers. I'm hoping this information will help everyone, not just the original subscriber.

Question:---------------------------

Gary R writes and asks;
Hello,

I just received my wood carver, so I don't have much experience yet.

My question is what are the best kinds of wood to use? I tried poplar and
it seems not to hold much detail. Kind of splintery.
What do you experts advise?

Thanks,

Gary R.

Answer:------------------

I have to admit that for the most part all I've ever used for my carvings has been oak - either white or red. These seem to hold great detail but I really didn't know the complete answer to this question so I did a bunch of research and the best advice I could muster was from the CW Forum itself. Here's what I found.

Hard materials with tight grains produce the best finishes. In most cases, feathering and chip out will increase as the grain size increases. Also dry materials tend to produce a better quality finish then material with high moisture content. The CarveWright Designer Software has several tools to control chip-out to help when working across all types of wood grain.

Get Thee to a Voteree

DigitalRoute — 2008-11-03T06:25:19-06:00

Only one day left till it's time to vote for our representatives and president - vice president.

I have to admit that I'll be glad when this is over with. I follow everything very closely and I'm starting to suffer from burnout.

We all have different ideas of what needs to be done to get this country back on track and how to solve all the problems that face us as a nation. Right now the economy is the major focus but the other problems are still there and will need to be attended to. It's important to remember this and not vote based on only one criteria.

I encourage EVERYONE to take a few minutes and do some research of your own and read about where all the candidates stand on these matters... And then, PLEASE go out and vote. Everyone needs to be counted.

Tip #8 Released

DigitalRoute — 2008-10-25T07:56:26-05:00

Just issued the next release of my wood carving tip newsletter.

This is tip #8 and the theme of the newsletter is "How to Find Help". I show you how to find help on user forums when you have a problem or question about your wood carving project. It's a little secret that generates huge results and gets you the answers you need.

Of course the only way to start receiving these tips is to sign up for my newsletter. It's fast, easy, and FREE!

Just fill out the form in the sidebar on this page or go to the main page and fill in the form there.

Pushing the Holidays

DigitalRoute — 2008-10-11T06:57:42-05:00

Because of my upcoming move, the family has decided to bump up Christmas this year. This means that I have to get all my presents made a lot sooner than usual. This is going to be an even bigger task given all the additional chores I have to do and all the irons I have in the fire.

Going to keep it simple though and stick with signs. Everyone loves them and even a very personal sign is easy to design and carve out. To make them special, I use some nice woods and put a handsome finish on them.

Planning the Pack

DigitalRoute — 2008-10-16T06:51:44-05:00

Starting to excited about my move to the west coast. Not going to be taking much in the way of personal belongings with the exception of my tools. I began putting the tools aside that I want to take with me. Room is limited so I have to plan accordingly.

I have a living place lined up but there isn't any provision for a workshop so I will have to see what sort of garage or workspace rental I can find once I get to Palm Springs.

Gift Yourself

DigitalRoute — 2008-10-20T06:06:20-05:00

We've been hearing some pretty sour news about the economy lately and just last night there was a segment talking about how retailers were going to be pulling out all the stops this year to spur sales.

Well Amazon is no exception. As you can see by the graphic below, the BIG sales have already begun. If you are in the need of some great tools, etc, now is the time to buy.

You may be tempted to hold off thinking that the discounts could go even deeper... I'm somewhat tempted to think the same way. BUT, what if a whole bunch of guys decide to buy and the retailer runs out? Chances are they won't be restocking in an effort to hold down inventories.

My advice - if you see something you want or need, and the price is well below market value - BUY IT NOW! You could always give that item as a gift to your favorite woodworker, or maybe gift the favorite recipient you know - YOU!!

Enjoy these deal opportunities.

Being a tool oriented type, great deals from the Home Improvement Store should be of interest to you. Be sure to check out the Tools & Home Improvement Value Center. You can save more than 70% on everything from power tools to plumbing supplies.

Some Great Deals

DigitalRoute — 2008-10-04T06:28:29-05:00

wow - just happened to be snooping around ebay this morning and noticed there were quite a few Carvewright items listed. Looks like someone is going to get a nice deal or two.

Getting in the Groove

DigitalRoute — 2008-09-26T06:24:01-05:00

Cool weather is starting to set in with only a few more projects left to do before fall sets in. I'm looking forward to spending more time in the shop working with my carving tools. This summer was a busy one - had little time to devote to the hobbies.

Being Patient

DigitalRoute — 2008-09-18T08:07:06-05:00

There was a new release of the Apple OS-X operating system software the other day. It's 10.5.5 and while I tend to hold back one release, lately I've been keeping current.

This time around though, I'm going to hold steady and wait a few more days before doing so. There are mixed signals being sent by the user community on if this update fixes or breaks something.

I'll admit that I'm a bit gun-shy from my experience with the upgrade from dotmac to mobile.me. That was a rough path and I don't want to go through another one.

It's not going to hurt to stay put for the time being. But once I do upgrade, I will report how this new version works with the newest release of the CarveWright Design Software. Keep tuned.

VERY Limited Time Offer!!

DigitalRoute — 2008-09-14T15:41:44-05:00

Receive a Free CarveWright SP01 Scanning Probe when you purchase the CarveWright N01 Woodworking System and the CarveWright CW0024 Full Carving Bit Set together.

This deal ends Midnight, Monday September 15th. Here's how it works.

To get this deal, click here and scroll down the page to the
Special Offers and Product Promotions section.

Another Software Video

DigitalRoute — 2008-09-06T06:28:19-05:00

Hello again everyone. I just posted another video tutorial for using the Carvewright design software. This episode teaches you how to customize the tool bars to your own liking. Head over to the Video Tutorials page to watch.

Some New Clamps

DigitalRoute — 2008-08-25T19:35:54-05:00

I happened to run across a video demonstrating some nifty clamping tools. I always seem to run out of hands and these clamps look like a fantastic way to solve a common problem.

Watch the video and then get your own set of Clamp-It Assembly Squares, the
Mini Clamp-It Kit, or a handy-dandy Adjustable Clamp-It Bar.

New Video about Software

DigitalRoute — 2008-08-19T03:54:07-05:00

I began a new series of video tutorials today on how to use the Carvewright Design Software. This is going to be a very comprehensive series. The software is pretty sophisticated so I’m anticipating there will be quite a few videos to this set. Scoot over to the Video Tutorials page to watch the first in this new series.

Fixing A Few Links

DigitalRoute — 2008-08-14T07:16:36-05:00

I want to thank Don and Andes for pointing out a problem with my Tip #6 Newsletter. I also want to apologize to them and to any other subscriber that was unable to click on the links.

The original newsletter contained two links for books I thought were pretty interesting. These books dealt with making mechanical toys.

I believe I have fixed the problem so that future recipients will be able to click thru.

For those of you that had the same trouble, here are those links.

The first is called AutoMata and Mechanical Toys
_Be sure to look at the inside flap and back cover for examples of some of the neat toys this book will teach you how to make.

The second is called Making Mechanical Marvels in Wood
_Toys here are more complex and showcase some very interesting mechanical attributes.

NOTE: Since putting the newsletter together, I found a new book on making mechanical models out of wood.

It’s called Making Wooden Mechanical Models
_This is a book for the serious model maker. I salivate when I look at these pages hoping that one day I will be able to complete a couple of the projects shown here. This is a VERY interesting text!!

A Brush With Comedy

DigitalRoute — 2008-08-10T13:31:10-05:00

My GOOD friend and pal Rusty decided to surprise me with a comedy response to my latest video. He’s got a great sense of humor as you will soon see. I’ve included his video here for you to watch. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

BTW, If you’re in need of web cam video equipment or a good set of USB computer speakers, please be sure to visit his websites. Tell him Matt sent you.
• Mac Compatible Web Cams
• USB Computer Speakers

Summer Challenges

DigitalRoute — 2008-08-03T20:41:14-05:00

I got to wondering today if there are any other guys having the same challenge that I’m having...

I don’t know how many times ideas for using the Carvewright have crossed my mind. This is the first summer since I purchased my machine, and finding time to use It doesn’t come easy.

There are so many tasks vying for my time. Stuff like mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, cleaning the gutters, going to the beach, having a picnic - who can find time to carve (tic).

Big Blunder

DigitalRoute — 2008-07-25T20:41:40-05:00

I made a huge mistake and made someone look bad at the same time.

Michael Tyler from CarveBuddy.com put together a posting on the Carvewright forum stating that I had put together some nice videos showing how to use the Carvewright machine.

I truly appreciate this nice gesture and it sent about 2 dozen people to my site. Unfortunately, last week I updated the website software and in the process screwed the video page up big time.

Mike’s recommendations carry a lot of weight and my site being broken was not a good thing to have happen. I got the problem fixed but now I have to figure out a way to make it up to Mike.

Site Changes

DigitalRoute — 2008-07-20T15:54:14-05:00

Started reworking the Store page(s) to create categories.

Also added an AUCTION page for those of you looking for a bargain on pre-owned carvewright machines, woodworking tools, and wood carving accesories.

Some pages are still under construction so please be patient.

New Kid on the Block

DigitalRoute — 2008-07-13T13:04:01-05:00

Introduced my nephew to the Carvewright. He's been building decorative boxes since he was a sophomore in high school. He'd never seen one of these contraptions before and was amazed at what it could do. Now he wants a machine of his own.

Told him now is the time to buy - they’re on sale and he could use the savings from both the machine and the free shipping to apply towards getting that accesory bit set. He rubbed his chin and I could tell he was thinking it over real serious like,

Cooling It With My CarveWright

DigitalRoute — 2008-07-09T12:53:18-05:00

Too hot to work outside today so I took to the cool basement and worked on an even cooler wood carving project.

More Cart Thoughts

DigitalRoute — 2008-07-04T08:37:18-05:00

I couldn't stop thinking of that rolling cart. Every time I use the machine I want it more and more.

Dust Collection

DigitalRoute — 2008-06-30T08:42:29-05:00

Spent some time on the CarveWright forum looking for some answers to a few questions I have about dust collection.

Grab a Great Savings Deal

DigitalRoute — 2008-06-24T06:59:46-05:00

I put together an extra video describing the great deal now being offered by my major affiliate sponsor.

To take advantage of this super program, watch the video and then click on the saving link.
CarveWright Best Deal EVER!!

Whether you are looking for your first machine, or another additional machine for your shop, this deal can't be beat anywhere else on the internet.

Get in on the savings and start a new adventure in wood carving by clicking here.

Another New Video

DigitalRoute — 2008-06-19T17:56:47-05:00

Made a new video to followup on the last. Titled: How to Clean Your CarveWright
Visit the video page to view it.

Don't Forget Dad - Even if It's Late

DigitalRoute — 2008-06-14T10:34:59-05:00

Click on the banner to give Dad a gift card - that way he can get what he wants and that makes you look like a hero!!

Flood Watch

DigitalRoute — 2008-06-12T20:24:42-05:00

The weather channel is predicting even more rains for the area. All the stations have declared a flood watch for the entire southern part of the state.

As a safety precaution, I decided to bring all my good tools up out of the basement and place them out of harms way.

How to Move your Carvewright

DigitalRoute — 2008-06-08T08:13:20-05:00

Been trying out different locations in my shop for placing the CarveWright. Think I will invest in a rolling cart cause I like the mobility factor. A cart will make it very easy to move this machine around the shop.

Built a Cool Cleaning Tool

DigitalRoute — 2008-06-02T10:04:14-05:00

Built myself a cleaning brush to use when I clean the board edge sensor under the carving head. I took a couple of horsehair brushes and a squirt of glue to make a brush that has a 90º head.

Memorial Day Weekend

DigitalRoute — 2008-05-26T13:49:25-05:00

I have to say that with all the nice weather lately, it's a bit hard to get down into the basement workshop and do some carving.

We've waited all winter for nice days like these and even though I love to create with my new tool, the outdoors is getting the lion's share of my free time.

Usually the memorial day weekend is a rainy one and I had thought I might be able to find a few minutes to get back to the CW. Ha, just like all the other great plans of man, cosmic energy decided differently. Not that I'm complaining cause I'm not. Just that the idea of making some great carved project will have to wait for another day.

I hope you had a great Memorial Day!

Another Authority Rebuffed

DigitalRoute — 2008-05-19T18:51:58-05:00

It's time to rebuff this self proclaimed authority and say MY piece. I've since had a number of days to cool down a bit and I want to address this latest letter I got from an over aggressive zealot.

Not that I feel I need to justify my decision, but maybe you have come to a similar fork in the road and you're trying to decide which route to take Maybe a friend has passed on the same message this guy pushed in my face and you are wondering if you should invest in a Carvewright or if you should buy or build a custom machine.

THE most important reason I chose a CarveWright was because of what the machine could do!! This is a remarkable tool. It can do a tremendous amount of carving right out of the box. Why would I want to build a machine from scratch and go through all those challenges? I want to carve wood - not see how much testosterone I could exude.

My second reason was the fact that there is an Apple Macintosh interface available. I'll admit that I'm a Mac enthusiast, but having a computer choice is more than just beneficial. There may come a time that I have to move to a PC platform - my investment is protected. The same holds true for someone on a PC. Maybe you'll get sick of dealing with Vista or want to use the same machine your offspring use. You know, get some computer help from the kids.. Your machine investment is protected and "Future Proofed". I think that this dual platform support also says volumes about the Carvewright people as well. I want to support and encourage companies that serve all types of users.

Reason number three is EASE OF USE. Yes, this machine has a bit of a learning curve, but what powerful tool doesn't? I set-up and programmed the real cnc machines for years and I have to tell you, when I got home from work, the last thing I wanted to do was more work. I like the integrated software. Why would I want to buy a third party software package and be at the mercy of yet another software company. These guys come and go or get bought out all the time. As long as there is a CarveWright, I'm gonna have a software package that caters exclusively to my needs.

Let's not forget the Carvewright/Compucarve community either. I spend lots of time on the various forums reading what guys have to say and taking in all the great ideas and listening to the chatter about our beloved machines. Some good, some bad, but a COMMUNITY just the same. You're not going to find that with a "one of a kind" or custom machine. You're going to be out in the cold and feel all alone. Yup, there's cnc forums but that custom machine is absolutely unique and there's comfort in numbers. I want to bond with my fellow carvers - not run around like a chicken trying to figure out how to do something or where I can find repair parts.

And of course, all these reasons lead me to something that only CarveWright can bring to the table and that's VALUE. The "build-yer-own" guys claim that you can get a better machine for a couple bucks less and that statement is technically true. However, when you add in the cost of the design software, tooling, and your time - the cost is way over that of a CW. How bout that scanning probe too? I've yet to see anything like that available for the "home brew" machines.

So, as you can see, I have lots of reasons for choosing the CarveWright CNC wood carving machine. There is so much more here than what initially meets the eye. THINK about this and I'm sure you'll come to the same conclusion. After all, thousands of us already have.

Another Authority

DigitalRoute — 2008-05-09T12:19:37-05:00

I got another email message from someone surfing the internet and happened upon this website...

This gentleman thought it was necessary to let me know how misguided (my word - his was a bit less complimentary) I was because I choose to use a Carvewright instead of using one of the better approaches.

He claimed that I was working with a machine that just didn't have the power to do adequate wood carving and that I would be best served by either buying or making my own custom machine. One that I could control though the use of real G-Code. He also blasted me about the design software too, saying it was inferior and that it was closed and lacked proper standards.

I have to admit that this guy really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't mind that he had a strong opinion and he wanted to IMPOSE it upon me. But I do mind in how the message was delivered and how he assumed I was an idiot for making the choice I did.

I need a couple of days to think this over before I respond back.

Good Tool for Initial Pattern Creation

DigitalRoute — 2008-04-28T20:21:35-05:00

I spent quite a bit of time trying to find a software tool I could use to modify image colors as I had described in my last post. I tried half a dozen different packages and none of them seemed to do what I wanted to do. It seemed like a fairly simple task and yet there was only one tool that held out any promise...
Then, I decided to do some reading and found my answer. I say I did some reading, because I really need to drive home the fact that even though I've been preaching about reading the manual, I failed to do so with a software tool I've been using for years.
When I read the manual again, I found that what I wanted to do was right there!!! What a dork I was - if I had only followed my own advice I could have cut weeks off of this process.
I will be making a screencast soon to illustrate the process.

Working to Pattern Up

DigitalRoute — 2008-04-25T19:17:38-05:00

I've been working with the software to design patterns... The software can import pictures, graphic elements, clip art, and a lot of other forms of digital artwork. It converts those images into a grayscale format. It does this by taking the pixels and changing them to different levels of white and dark. These differing shades of light and dark are then converted to depth. the darker the pixel, the deeper the depth.
While trying my hand at scanning images and converting them to patterns, I found that I needed to do some manipulations to the scanned images. This especially true of clip art. Clip art is strictly black and white and so the carving would turn out to be very exaggerated. What I need to do is find a way to adjust the images and change or rather swap colors.

Next Video is Available

DigitalRoute — 2008-04-18T19:20:07-05:00

The next video is now available. I want to thank all you folks for being patient with me (again). I hope you enjoy this film. I finally get the machine doing some work. I realize I'm new to this tool, but I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy working with it. The video is a bit longer (15 minutes) than my usual lot, but I do cover quite a bit of material.
Visit the video page to view it.

Member Contact

DigitalRoute — 2008-04-09T07:31:08-05:00

Got a great note from one of my newsletter subscribers - R Rauenhorst. He sent me an email to thank me for putting together the tip on "Reading the Manual". I've included it here in it's entirety.
===========================

Matt

You are sooo right. I have now completed two projects nearly perfect. I am now ready to read the manual again. One thing I have learned and will do from now on is to take my piece of wood and sand it with my performax sander which will take out some slight imperfects that might cause a problem. A flat board is as important as having it square.

Thank you
R. Rauenhorst

===========================

THANK YOU Mr Rauenhorst for sending the nice note AND for including a tip of your own. Letters like this are great to receive and a guy can never get enough of them. I sure do appreciate this sort of stuff - it makes putting this site together very rewarding.

Scanner a MUST!!

DigitalRoute — 2008-03-31T19:36:02-05:00

Having a blast putting some of my ideas for patterns into action.

The scanner I was using gave up the ghost and my newest multifunction printer/scanner/copier/fax machine doesn't do a very good job so I had to resurrect an older scanner. I stopped using it when I bought a multifunction machine some time earlier. It's one of those things that end up working for the better cause I forgot how nice a job it did and how good the software worked. I gave up a lot of quality for the sake of convenience with the multi machine.
A good scanner and software doesn't cost much and yields great results. A definite must if you plan on creating your own patterns.

Capture Your Notes

DigitalRoute — 2008-04-06T19:21:38-05:00

Been spending a lot of time on the CarveWright forum these last couple weeks. I've been reading every single post and the corresponding replies. There's a ton of great information there and the first thought that went through my mind was how can a guy catalog and organize this information for later retrieval...
I know you can do a search on the different posts, but sifting through all the posts can take time and may not render the answer you are looking for. In addition, not everyone would categorize these posts in the same way I would. This also applies to all the other data and information I've come across in other places.
I put my thinking cap on and came up with a great way to do just what I want. I will be putting this idea into another one of my tip newsletters. Yes, this is a hint to sign up for the tip sheet.

Qualify those Claims

DigitalRoute — 2008-03-23T07:43:45-05:00

I got a nice letter from a fellow carving enthusiast this morning. He stated that he wanted to help me by telling me what the best of everything was. He stressed that I keep an open mind that even though I was advocating the Carvewright and Compucarve systems, eventually I would come to see that there were better products out there.

I don't take issue with what he had to say, nor do I dispute his right to feel that his experiences make him an authority. I honestly believe we are all entitled to our opinions and I will go down defending someone to uphold that right.

What I wish this gentleman would have done however, is to qualify his statements. In the advertising world, this is called confusing CLAIMS with FACTS. Stating "Windows XP is the best cnc operating system" is not a fact, but a claim. This doesn't mean that he doesn't feel that this is the best operating system because obviously he does or he wouldn't have made that statement. ...But tell me why you feel this way.

I was thinking about this letter and I began to wonder if I've made the same mistake... So I went through every inch of this website and read every thing one more time (this must be as least the 600th time) to see if I've made any claims.

Yes I have!! Many times. But in every instance I've explained why I feel the way I do. You may not agree with what I have to say, but at least you know why and how I came to my decision. This is important. You come away understanding how I think and my perspective might make you see things in a different light or from a different angle.

I truly want to thank this gentleman for writing. He helped me to see things and made me realize I need to double check my work. He also made me understand just how important it is to explain things fully. A tip and help site needs to keep these ideals at the forefront.

I plan to review more of what he wrote to me about. I can only learn from his experience.

I See A Pattern

DigitalRoute — 2008-03-16T07:35:39-05:00

I've been working on a number of patterns the last couple of weeks. It's taken me a bit of time to get comfortable with the software (which is to be expected). I think I still have a long way to go, but I feel I'm over the major hurdles. I got a good grasp of the basics and now I can go about trying to learn a new tidbit here and there.
This is the part of software use I like the most; finding those little things that make your project pop! It's like being on a treasure hunt and finding the magic ring.

CarveWrights on Sale

DigitalRoute — 2008-03-20T07:07:48-05:00

Just a short note to give my carving pals a "heads up". My affiliate member Amazon is having a sale on the CarveWright™ CNC wood carving machine. Save 11% ($200.00) right now!!

I trust Amazon! They are a well established brand name. I've been doing business with them on a personal basis long before my professional association. I know first hand of their great customer service and desire to make their customers happy with their purchases.

I don't know how long this sale will last so my advice is to get while the getting is good.

Normally these machines are $1899.99 - Now they are just $1699.99

If you are in the market for your first machine or your next machine - click on over and grab yourself a $200 savings. With this sale, you could go ahead and get that Scanning Probe, or a set of Carving Bits to complete your investment.

I hope you have a great day!
Carve On,
_Matt

Software Makes Decent Strides

DigitalRoute — 2008-03-10T19:40:16-05:00

nearly a month and a half ago i mentioned how i was not impressed with the process of registering the software.
up until a couple of days ago, i had been using a downloaded "evaluation" version of the software. finally, the eval period ended and it came time to register the software if i wanted to use it any further.
i tried and tried to get my version to register with no success. i tried everything and nothing would work. i finally decided to trash the whole application and install the version from my software distribution CD i got when i bought the machine. that part went ok and when i went to register everything went smooth as silk. i checked for any updates and there was one (from version 1.125 to 1.126).
i downloaded the new version and replaced the app with the newer version... again, no hitches. i then went to my shop computer and did the same thing (you can register and use the software on up to two computers). there too, the process was simple and painless.
i have no idea why the eval version gave me so many problems, but the distribution version was fine.
in a past occupation, i was a software developer and so i can understand why Carvewright wants to know who is using their software. it makes sense and by registering, it's an easy way to make sure your users are using the latest version. what i don't understand though, is why Carvewright doesn't just GIVE this software away. they have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain.
their machine is almost useless without patterns and projects - it begs for content.
give the software away and maybe there will be more people developing patterns, etc which will only help to spur more machine sales.

Wood Carving Machine Tips Interview

DigitalRoute — 2008-03-04T16:40:56-06:00

Hello everyone, I recently did an interview about my website with Workshop-Buynow.com. I thought you might be interested in what was asked and my responses.

Q: What is the name of your website?
A: Wood-Carving-Machine-Tips.com

Q: What is your name?
A: Matt Mattelig

Q: Where are you located (city, etc)
A: Clinton Wisconsin

Q: Could you please give us a short summary of your website?
A: This is a website dedicated to helping the cnc wood carving enthusiast develop their skills and knowledge when working with the CarveWright™ and CompuCarve™ cnc woodworking machines.

Q: What inspired you to launch your own website?
A: I love to work with wood and also with computers. The carvewright™ is a perfect marriage of those two passions. It seemed like a good idea to launch a website that would help other hobbyists develop their skills and provide some solutions as well.

Q: When did you launch your website?
A: On Jan-11, 2008

Q: How did you decide on a name for your website?
A: I wanted something that conveyed the site emphasis.

Q: How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
A: Ha, that's a good question. Given the fact that I'm single, I think I can devote a great deal of effort to this project. In addition, I like what I am doing and have a genuine passion for this subject matter. I hope that my success will follow that passion.

Q: If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
A: I'd like to hire individuals to translate my work into other languages and create sites to address those different speaking visitors.

Q: If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
A: I believe so - in fact I hope so cause I would like to do this as a full time occupation.

Q: What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
A: No unexpected costs so far - however, it's been an incredible amount of work just LEARNING what I have to learn in order to do site development, search engine submission, figuring out how to work with email auto responders.... Things like that. The learning curve is quite big and as I get into this more, I'm finding that the piece I DO know is getting smaller and smaller. LOL

Q: What has been your biggest challenge?
A: TIME management

Q: How has running your website differed from your expectations?
A: None so far.

Q: How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
A: The site has only been up for a short time, but I plan to keep the site up for as long as people find it useful.

Q: Who is the one person you credit most with your success so far?
A: That would be my good friend Rusty. He has been very instrumental in moving me forward in this project. He is almost as enthusiastic about this as I am. He has a very good way of making sure I keep on task and that I don't wander too far from the goal. He has helped me move forward and steered me in the right direction.

Q: Do you have any last thoughts you would like to leave with your site visitors?
A: That I genuinely appreciate all my visitors and I hope they will let me know if there's anything they would like me to concentrate on. I also ask that they join my free email newsletter and above all - enjoy the site and maybe be patient with me.

My Apologies

DigitalRoute — 2008-02-14T16:38:23-06:00

Hello fellow carvers...
i want to apologize for not being very topical of late.
i'm in the middle of some family stuff, and as you might imagine, it's consuming a bigger amount of time that i would like.
i haven't forgotten about you - in fact, i've been working (albeit slowly) on developing some patterns. every spare minute i get is going to that endeavor.
i know you've all had moments like the ones i'm having now, so i feel pretty confident knowing you'll understand.
thanks as always, for stopping by and hold your patience for just a bit longer and i'll be back with stuff to share.

my best,
_Matt

More on Software

DigitalRoute — 2008-02-01T16:08:07-06:00

been experimenting with the software all this past week. for the most part i like it. i read manuals to learn how to do something. i find that it actually reduces the learning curve and i'm able to do more in less time. most people feel they are wasting time by reading and would rather struggle through something than learn how to use it the right way. my dad is like this and he is constantly asking me how i figured out how to do something. my response is: "I READ THE MANUAL". having said that, i spent a big portion of my free time learning how to use this software. i would open the application and size the window in the upper 2/3 of the monitor. i would then run the help application and size that window just under the designer window. then i would read the instructions and apply them in the window above. this actually goes pretty fast and once i have tried something, it tends to stay with me so it's not too often i have to refer back to the directions.
i developed this strategy when working in my old profession, testing software. you learn the software quickly, but you do run across a number of errors in the documentation... such is the case with this package too. most of the errors i ran across were nothing too big - mostly a lot of the wrong key assignments. i work on a mac and there was a lot of reference to the "control" key when in reality it should have read as the "command" key. i run into this a lot because most windoz programmers are not aware of the difference between platforms, so i won't get too bent out of shape with that. most of us mac users are aware of that oversight and just accept it.
one thing that i wasn't happy with though, was the fact that many graphics were not present. for whatever reason, there were many graphic holders that were dark. THAT is unacceptable and i hope that CarveWright will fix that.
CW has put up a number of video tutorials on their sight. i like the fact that there are both inline versions and downloadable ones as well. i think this is brilliant on their part. even if you have a dial-up line to the internet, you can start the download and go do something else while you are waiting. i would encourage everyone to download a version to their computer if they have the disk storage space available. if disk space is at a premium, i would still see if you could download one or two videos and then burn them to cd or dvd.
i make this suggestion for a good reason - convenience. the computer i use for making patterns, etc is located in my workshop basement. while my carvewright is cutting away on a project, i work on other patterns. this computer is not connected to the internet. if i should need to reference a tutorial, all i have to do is pop in a dvd and i have the help in front of me. it's a good idea to review these tutorials from time to time. you would be surprised how much you pick up AFTER you have used your carvewright for a while. all of a sudden, something you watched a while back now makes sense, or it inspires you to try something new.
my only suggestion to CW, is to make the type in the text boxes a bit larger. sometimes there is too much crammed into a box and it's hard to read what is being said.
the example below illustrates what i am talking about.

Software Activation Frustration

DigitalRoute — 2008-01-24T12:28:05-06:00

prior to my present endeavors, i spent nearly 20 years in the software and systems development arena. in addition, i've programmed PLC's and operated many major machine centers so i'm very familiar with drawing, cad-cam, and machining software. i was therefor excited to start with the CarveWright™ designer software.
my initial feel for the SOFTWARE is good.
you may have happened to notice that i emphasized the word software... i did that cause i happen to like the software - but registration and activation is a different story. i think it blows!! but then again, that's just my opinion. and we all know what they say about opinions, right?
for those of you that need a refresher course, it goes like this: "opinions are just like butt holes - everybody has one, and we all think the other guy's stink!" be sure to replace "butt hole" with something more colorful to add impact. anyway, you get the picture.
i have lots of opinions on the software activation process and the whole licensing scheme in general. i'll be putting together a video on this and my initial thoughts about the design software in a couple days. i hope you'll come back and have a view.
in the mean-time, if you have a specific issue about the software, send me a request from here and i'll do my best to find you an answer.

You Go Technorati

DigitalRoute — 2008-01-26T13:58:04-06:00

submitted this site to Technorati - the tracking code lies within. want them to start crawling and indexing this blog.
Technorati Profile

Unpacking the CarveWright

DigitalRoute — 2008-01-19T15:08:15-06:00

Finally unpacked my new CarveWright cnc wood carving machine!!! it arrived the other day but i wanted to wait till i could make a video of the whole process. i wanted all of you to share in the fun and excitement along with me.

i apologize for the fuzziness that crops into the video every now and again. i didn't know that was happening until all the unpacking was over with and then it was too late to re-do the video.

i know what i did (stand to the side and then the focusing didn't know what to focus on), and will not make that same mistake again... but hey, this is a tutorial, right? so i guess we ALL learn.

It ARRIVES!!!

DigitalRoute — 2008-01-08T10:38:46-06:00

Today my CarveWright® machine arrived. it looks great. UPS delivered it to the store and the outside packaging is in great shape. usually they tend to beat up those big heavy boxes but not this time!
i can't wait to open it up but i have to wait. i want to make a video of the process and i won't have time to do that for a couple of days.
boy, i'm going to be tortured every time i walk by it.

Meet Chipper...

DigitalRoute — 2008-01-15T09:12:43-06:00

This is Chipper - he's our new mascot. You'll be seeing a lot of him around. He's our new channel icon on YouTube, and he'll brand the pages of all our e-newletters. We especially like his big wide smile... Makes you feel good just to look at him.

On Track and Ready to Go

DigitalRoute — 2008-01-13T16:04:55-06:00

Every once in a while, a machine comes along that revolutionizes and dominates the industry segment it occupies. This is the case with the CarveWright® and CompuCarve® CNC carving machines.

Make no mistake, this isn't just another carving machine... this is a router on STEROIDS!! And this router has a brain - a computer brain.
This is a compact, affordable, table-top machine packed with loads of capabilities.
Even the seasoned pro will marvel at the functions this machine can perform. Add the accessory probe and there is no end to the jobs you can perform. Create new works of art, replace that broken filigree, make signs for your friends... The possibilities are endless.

This machine could easily supplement or replace your current means of income. WOW - Guys, what an easy way to justify this machine to your wife!! You may even finish a couple of those "honey do" jobs. Show her what it can do and let her come up with some ideas for turning your love of woodworking into a steady profit stream.

Traditional hand routers, carving knives, or hand tools can't even come close to the power and precision achieved with this machine.
i've just started my journey with this machine, (although i've been wishing for one for quite a while now). i'm no stranger to woodworking or to CNC machine control. i've spent years working with and programing computers. i've also built a number of machines and created the software code that tell the PLC's (programmable logic controllers) what to do. it's this combination of qualifications that lead me to my purchase. Like all new ideas, the early adapters tend to pay more and experience some "debugging" pains... But the payoff is the EXPERT knowledge one gains in the process.
All one has to do is visit the CarveWright® forum and you'll see just how many people are a part of this exciting movement. Count me as one of those semi-early adopters.

This site is geared with the notion that good things come to those that work for them. Join my mailing list, visit and comment on my blog, and use the links on this site to get yourself one of these woodcutting tools. Watch the videos, and become an expert in your own right.

Thanks for the visit and i hope you'll come back again and again.

_Matt

It's a GO

DigitalRoute — 2007-12-31T08:02:49-06:00

Got the "GO" from Rusty - thinks this is a great idea and so i went and ordered the machine today. last day to get the "GET-IT-ALL" deal. took a few minutes to register a new user name and join the forum and order the machine.

An idea is hatched...

DigitalRoute — 2007-12-29T13:51:33-06:00

Been watching the CarveWright® machine for almost a year now and i'm very interested in buying one. also think it could be a good start to my new venture thinking. will run this idea past Rusty and see if he agrees.

Look & Listen

DigitalRoute — 2008-01-03T20:18:43-06:00

found this video on YouTube. watch as the founder of Carvewright® demonstrates this amazing
cnc carving machine geared towards the home hobbyist.