For the 7th homework assignment, we were assigned to cut out an object out of foam, wood, or wax with the CNC machine that started out as an image or .svg. We decided to create the city design from Easel Inventables and to make it out of wax first and then out of wood for the final design:
Small city from Easel Inventables
After choosing a design, we prepared the file for the CNC machine at a size of 3in x 3in. We used a 0.125 in bit with a feed rate of 30in/min, 0.025 in depth per pass, and total depth of 0.2 in. After the file was prepared, we exported the g-code to the CNC machine. It took approximately 27 minutes to cut.
Before and after
Satisfied with the result, we began working on the final 3in x 3in version in plywood. The blocks we used were uneven at first so we tried sanding and filing them to make them more even.
After the blocks were evened out, we began cutting them with the same setting as the version cut from wax. It took approximately 17 minutes to cut.
Unfortunately, it was too small and therefore some parts were not strong enough and were broken during the machining process:
We tried again with a lower feed rate (15 in/min) and a more shallow depth (0.05 in total and depth per pass). It took approximately 8 minutes to cut. Unfortunately we ran into the same issue again:
To solve this issue, we used a larger piece of wood (4.5in x 4.5in) to give the smaller potions of the object more strength. It took approximately 12 minutes to cut.
The city printed well this time so we began post-processing it:
First, we smoothed the surface by using a sanding block made from 100 grade sandpaper and a wooden block. A utility knife was used to remove parts that were more difficult to remove.
After the city was smoothed out, we decided to stain it for the final product:
Thank you for reading,
Danielle and Andre
