I found the Dancing Santa on the Winfield Collection website http://www.thewinfieldcollection.com/ca ... cing+santa I decided to get the project plans to use as a guide for creating the vectors. There are plans for a large and small (Tabletop) version. I choose to get the tabletop version because it would be easier to scan the drawings of each part. I created vectors and cut all the parts for the tabletop version on the CNC Shark.
I used a tracing technique by importing each of my drawing bitmap (*.jpg) files into VCarve Pro. I included some of the art work to use for V-Caring too. Once I have created the complete set of parts I created a copy to be used for scaling up the project. I plan to make a larger outdoor version of Santa.
I built my first Dancing Santa similar to the original plans. I choose to use the motor and hardware kits available from the same site. These are resonably priced and this way I would have everything on hand to complete the project. As you can see from my pictures and video my first Dancing Santa was a success. I did make a few changes and only used part of the original hardware kit. I will order my own hardware on future builds.
From The Winfield Collection site:
1. Tabletop Dancing Santa Plans - $9.95 Note: This plan includes detailed instructions, material list, drawings and exploded assembly drawing.
2. Tabletop Motor Kit - $9.99
3. Tabletop Dancing Santa Parts Kit – $7.99
4. 5/32 x 24” x 24” Finnish Birch Plywood - $12.49 Note 5/32 plywood is also available from Woodcraft. I do not have a local supplier!
Departures from the original plan:
1. I used ¾ MDF for the stand parts instead of pine.
2. I used ¼ MDF for making the 3 stud flanges instead of modifying the Nylon spacers. We used regular wood glue to glue the stud flanges to the back of Santa’s head and body.
3. I used a scrap of ½ HDPE to cutout the drive/crank and added a set screw instead of drilling the motor shaft. The original plan uses hardwood for this part.
4. Our scaled up version of Santa will use thicker plywood and larger hardware. We also want to add a mug of beer in one of Santa’s hands.
All the 5/32 Plywood parts were V-Carved and cut from one 24” x 24” piece of plywood in about 40 minutes. I plan to redesign the larger Santa using thicker plywood and add a beer mug to one of Santa' hands to make him a little more comical.
Enjoy and have a great day!
..... Rod