Over the past two weeks, I’ve been working on a CNC machining project, and I’m excited to share the results!

I began by selecting a design from Noun Project, choosing a lotus flower pattern for the center of two coasters. After finalizing the design, I downloaded the file as an .svg and imported it into Carbide Create. I then added an outer circle to define the coaster’s boundary.

Next, I created the necessary toolpaths for the coaster design and saved the file as a .c2d.

I then uploaded the file to the Shapeoko Pro CNC machine and prepared my workspace. After carefully measuring the dimensions to ensure everything was set up correctly, I started the cutting process.

Once both coasters were cut, I post-processed them to give them a smooth, refined finish.

Finally, I painted the lotus flower and the inner heart, completing the project!

 

 

Cost Type	Cost	Price	Source	Quantity	Total
Materials       Labor	Wood block 0.3ftx0.45 ft	$23.99 (16 pieces)	Amazon	2	$2.99
	Sand paper	$9.90/25 sheets	Home depot	1	$0.40
	Spray paint	$5.98/can	Walmart	1	$5.98
	Prototyping Engineer (You!)	$36/h	Zip recruiter	1h	$36

Total: $45.37

 

Cost estimation

Producing 50 coasters involves several key costs, including materials, labor, and prototyping. The main material cost is wood, and to produce the batch of 50 coasters, the total wood cost is $75. Additional materials include sandpaper, which costs $9.90 for the entire batch, and spray paint, which requires 5 cans at a cost of $29.90. Labor, in the form of the prototyping engineer, is another significant expense, with the total cost fixed at $36 for the design and setup of the CNC machine, regardless of the number of coasters produced.

After accounting for all materials and labor, the total cost to produce 50 coasters amounts to $150.8. When this cost is divided by the 50 coasters, the cost per individual coaster is $3 ca. This analysis highlights how producing large batches of the same product, substantially decreases the final cost.