PROCESS

I wanted to create a similar design to the plasma-cut apple parts that I created since I liked the way they came out. I found the same design on thenounproject.com, downloaded the .stl, and uploaded it to the Nomad computer.

Once I imported the .stl file, I created pocket-cut tool paths to cut out the inner portion of the apple, and the inner portion of the leaf. I then created an outer body to be cut through all the way.

As seen in the simulation above, the leaf cut was 0.5 inches deep, and the apple body cut was only 0.25 inches. The outline cut was 0.80 inches deep (0.025 inches deeper than the bottom of the stock to make sure the bit cut fully through).

After I checked that the simulation looked correct, I sent the g-code file over to the Nomad CNC machine and began my cut.

Each cut totaled approximately 30 minutes, and once those were finished, I was able to move on to post-processing.

First I had to pully punch my design out of the wood slab since the CNC didn’t fully cut through for both pieces. This resulted in substantial splintering on the back side of one of the parts, which is visible in the final product.

I moved to sand both pieces with 120-grit sandpaper, before covering the front with tape and cutting holes so that just the lowered regions would be spray-painted black.

Once the spray paint dried, I applied a black stain to the back of the apple logo, and then a clear coat over the sides and front.

With that, I let the stains dry, and I had a finished CNC project!

 

REFLECTION

This project went pretty smoothly for me, since I had been working with Julian on the CNC part for our final project during the same time, and had become familiar with operating the Nomad CNC mill and could do so will little to no problems. Julian was a big help to me through the process, walking me through how to find the proper cuts to code in the vcarve software, since it had been a while since my CNC training.

I enjoyed working with the CNC mill, and had an opportunity to work on both mills at the OEDK–using the Nomad for this homework, and the Shapeoko downstairs for the Final Project.

 

aCOST ANALYSIS

Raw Materials

• 1/2 sqr foot of wood 3/4″ thick = ~$4.80
• Black Spray Paint = ~$0.20 
• Black Wood Stain = ~$0.20 
• Clear Coat Stain = ~$0.20

Labor

• 2 hr x $15/hr = $30

Overhead

• Unknown
  • Shapeoko Pro XXL Fixed Cost = $2,800

Final Cost = ~$35.4

This cost covers both pieces, working out to be a price of $17.7 for each. This isn’t a totally unreasonable price, but it is pretty steep for what you’d be getting.

Labor costs could also be reduced since the majority of time was spent sitting in front of the CNC Mill making sure nothing went wrong (which can in my opinion be qualified as unskilled labor).