How Many Spoil Boards Do I Need

[misterg]

I am ready to purchase an M3 Kit Bundle.  I understand the purpose of a spoil board but do not understand why they cannot be purchased outside of the initial machine purchase.  I understand the shipping cost can be an issue but do not understand how much you can "spoil" the board before it becomes unusable.  I can imagine using a lot of them in the learning phase.  Are programs already available to create spoil boards at home.  Any comments would be appreciated.  Right now I am using this for a hobby.

Thanks to all that can help.

MisterG

[notso]

Simple enough to make one at home.
Take your existing board, place on another piece of wood, pen the holes, now cut the holes.
Cut piece to proper size mount using a few of the holes you just made.
Now use Easel to create a square the proper size and cut depth you want to level to and using a larger flat cut (or leveling cutter) off you go.

I am sure there is a better or more professional way to do it but this was quick and easy for me to get going.

EDIT:
I have the M3 so it doesn't reach the corners, I bolted down there to level the board...then IMPORTANT, counter sink the holes in the center so when you use the bolts the heads aren't above the level...
(I just used a larger drill bit since I didn't have a counter sink bit)
I then bolted it down using the middle 4 and the corners but I also use the corners as hold downs so dual role...

[misterg]

Thanks notso. I will give that a shot when I get the kit running. I will order one spoil board to get started.

PS   Off subject.  A fellow biker.  I road an Electraglide Standard for almost 20 years.  Now on an '05 Heritage trike conversion.  Getting' old but still riding.

[Bruce]

Another option is to attach a spoil board to the workpiece, maybe with screws or tape, then clamp the whole thing into the CNC to be milled. The spoil board can be any flat piece of material secured under you work piece to allow cutting through the workpiece. But it also depends on how much Z axis height is required to mill your workpiece. The extra height adding another spoilboard may not be available.