With this being my first time using a CNC cutter, I wanted to keep this project relatively simple. Since the majority of the beginner projects were cut in the outline of a circle, I decided to use a smiley face as the subject of the project.

Designing the gcode file for the cut, using similar dimensions of what I learned in the training session, I used 0.1 depth pocket cuts for the eye and mouth of the face and a complete contour cut for the outline of the face, taking away 0.1 inches from the total max depth of the wood plank.

With the Nomad machine being temporarily unavailable, learning how to use the Shapeoko set up a bunch of obstacles I had to overcome. The primary issue was the use of clamps to hold the wood in place. I found that even when I tightened the wood as securely as possible, in some instances, the drill bit would get caught in the wood and move the entire piece, ruining the run. To avoid this from occurring again in the next run, I applied double sided tape to the bottom of the wood similar to how the Nomad machine operated, which seemed to prevent this issue from occurring again.

Another issue I had run into was the use of the spindle. Although I had turned on the switch on the spindle itself, I was completely oblivious to the fact that there another safeguard for the spindle, giant red button at the front of the machine. Unbeknownst to me, when I tried to run my cut, the spindle didn’t rotate, causing less than desirable results. With the help of Raeedah, the spindle was able to spin and make the final cuts.

The rough cuts of the smiley faces are shown below.

With minimal post processing of simply sanding down the edges and faces of the cuts with 100 grit sandpaper, the final products are shown below.

Overall, I am happy with how the final product came out, with the exception of the wood knot on one of the faces.

If I could redo this project, things I could improve upon:

• Avoiding wood knots in the cut
• Familiarizing myself more with the machine I am using before trying to use it (Shakeopo)
• Post processing more (clear coat + paint)

Cost Estimate:

Materials (all costs from Home Depot):

• $6 – 2x 7x3x0.7 softwood planks
• Negligible – Double sided tape
• Negligible – Sandpaper

Time:

• 2 hours*$9/hr (price based on minimum wage in Texas and cost of operating tools and machinery used) = $18

Total Cost: ~$24 for two smiley face cuts