This is the story of nine bobas.
But first, a little backstory… I went on thenounproject.com and found a boba icon, saved it as a SVG file using Illustrator, and imported it into Easel, where I set the measured material dimensions and desired CNC depths. Originally, I wanted the outer rim/cap of the boba to be 1/4″ depth, the inside filling to be 1/8″, and the bobas to be at various heights between 0″ and 1/4″.
Not exactly clear cut… even reducing the number of boba didn’t help 🙁
However, since Carvey didn’t seem too great at the whole carving-around-circles thing, I decided to go with just the outer rim and varying boba depths. Now the trials begins.
In & out the Carvey
Boba 1: Prepare file on Easel. Press “Carve” and follow directions to secure piece with appropriate clamp/screws and and select bit. Select 1/16″ bit because the open file on the computer is set to 1/16″ and you automatically assume the bit currently in Carvey is the 1/16″ bit. Carve!
Boba 2: Reason that Carvey just can’t handle the whole circle thing, so it’s carving out more than intended. Slightly downsize boba to compensate. Carve!
Boba 3: Better. Downsize boba some more. Decrease depth of the straight line to reduce cut time (from 15 down to 12 mins)– the shallow groove can act as a guide for hand-sawing the part later. Carve!
Big boba, medium boba, small boba
Boba 4: The edges are still too fragile. Downsize boba just a bit more. Carve!
Boba 5: Take 2. Carve!
???… Try again.
Intermission (aka dinner).
Boba 6: Notice that someone had cleared the work surface and changed the screws and removed the bit. Replace blue screws with red screws. Find the 1/16 bit from the box. Wonder why the color isn’t black like the one you’ve been using. Pause. Stare. The black bit clearly states: 1/8″. Tell self to never just assume without double-checking. Ever. Get out original-sized boba file and put 1/16″ bit into Carvey. Carve!
Boba 7: Get a new piece of wood for the final product (because you’ve been doing it double-sided like a true college student). Carve!
Boba 8: Time for second piece. Carve!
Proof of concept! But hmm… they don’t seem exactly identical?
Boba 9: Realize the bit had come loose. Tighten again with wrenches. Carve!
Ready for post-processing!
True story.
Well, although trials 1-7 came out just a “bit” wrong, 8 & 9 rose out of the ashes/sawdust to full bobatastic glory. (Remember to vacuum Carvey and set material size accordingly for each use!)
Cost: $5 materials + $5 machining + $20/hr * 8 hr = $170 total. So each boba costs $85. A little more than your average boba, I suppose.
Onto post-processing. I sawed off the boba part and used the belt-sander to create a rounded dome on the upper part of each piece. Then I sanded the surface, edges, and grooves down with 200 grit sandpaper. To really make the boba pop, I left the middle clear while staining the rest of each piece a dark mahogany.
Then I decided to color the boba pearls black with the most high quality post-processing tool called a sharpie. Realism right there. Unfortunately, however, the difference in depths of the bobas is left only to the most perceiving eye.
Black boba, white boba
Then again, I imagine the effect will be better on a bigger scale– perhaps a life-sized boba replica is in order. Coming soon–
Boba 10: Resize file. Confirm bit. Carve!
Order up!
