Case Study: Brian Owen creates custom bike sprocket earrings with ShopBot CNC routing

Brian Owen makes custom bike-sprocket earrings in just over an hour with ShopBot Tools, Inc.

Brian Owen, a cyclist and maker, wanted to create a unique pair of bike sprocket-shaped earrings as a gift but could not find exactly what he wanted for sale. He decided to make them himself but needed to find a way to digitally design and precisely fabricate the small, detailed object. He turned to ShopBot Tools for a solution using their CNC technology.

Using a ShopBot Desktop CNC router and the software VCarve, Owen traced a sprocket image and machined the earrings from material. He used a very small (3/64") bit from Precise Bits to achieve the necessary detail. The entire process from initial idea to a finished physical part took just over an hour. ShopBot Tools provided the means for Owen to successfully create a personalized gift in time for an evening bike ride.

Earrings for a Special Cyclist (Brian Owen)