The Hobby Guy Workshop

Floating Cross

Completed

Laser Workshop GuildDiode Lasers Community

I created a Floating Cross memorial for a dear friend. However, it ended up being way too big for the size magnets I bought. So, I had to use multiple magnets and it’s not really “floating”.

My goal with this project is to keep it small enough to use the magnets I have. I’ll be using 3x6mm magnets. I will be using 3mm birch or basswood that will be glued together to create the 6mm depth. Since I will need to cut a space at the top of each cross and the bottom of the arch for the magnets, I plan on using 1/16thin. wood and creating small squares to hide them. I will also be creating small squares for the other ends. This style of crucifix is similar to a San Damiano cross. If this works, I have some other ideas on crosses to make.

Project Progress

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Each Project Session preserves the maker’s tests, Prototype versions, changes, and lessons in the order they happened.

Session 2

Design Complete. Let's get it cut out.

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I decided to change the laser from the Aliencell to the Sculpfun. I decided on the final design after a few tweaks. Anybody else find they can spend hours on trying to make the design "just right"? Anyway, let's get this cut out.

Well, this is a fail. I'm not sure what's going on but my machine is having problems. It can't home properly and so the laser is out of whack with where the laptop thinks it is. I'm wondering if my limit switches are broken. I may go back to using the Aliencell.

I uploaded the final Lightburn file that I plan on using. Everything will cut out of the 300x300. I still haven't decided which stains I will use for the various pieces. I'm currently thinking of a darker stain for the cross and arch. Then, i light stain for the attached layered pieces.

1 Project Entry in this Session.

Session 3

Cut it out and assemble.

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Back to the Aliencell X1. Finished the design in Lightburn, export to svg, load in to Aliencell Space. Chose the material as basswood 3mm in Aliencell Space. Didn't like the defaults and changed somethings and processed the file. Didn't like it. The engravings were too light and the cuts were too scorched. Back in Aliencell Space, the settings were the defaults for the material. In the AI livestream w/ Rich and Patrick a few weeks ago, Patrick had the same issue. It appears that if you pick a default material, Space won't let you change the settings. So, I went back to "unknown material". Changed some settings and I like it better.
I ran the pics through Google Gemini to remove the background. It's much easier to see the design.

There are three pics. The first is of the arch design I settled on. If you look at the Lightburn file in the first session, there are pics of a number of different designs I liked. The second pic shows the cross hanging with the magnets installed. So, that worked! I was relieved. Finally, the third pic includes the layered pics to hide the magnets and complete the style of cross.

The next seesion will be (hopefully) the staining and final assembly. I may also add a lessons learned notes for my future reference.

2 Project Entries in this Session.

Session 4

Staining the pieces

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I have four stains that I bought because I liked them. I had some ideas on when I would use them but no grand plan. For this project, I was going to stain the cross and arch with a red mahogany. The addon pieces would be in colonial maple. However, I decided to just see what the other two might look like. One is called simply white and the other is barn red. I really liked both of them on the arch. Feel free to let me know if you have any suggestions.

Ultimately, I went back to my original plan. I'll assemble and complete the project tomorrow (unless I have to start over).

1 Project Entry in this Session.

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