This week in EDES we were tasked with cutting out a design in wood using a Computer Numerically Controlled Machine, or CNC Machine. These machines use an end mill (think a slightly modified drill bit) to subtract material from whatever stock you are using. For the class, we were given 3″x 5″ pine wood to use as our base material.
Our first task was to find a vector file from “The Noun Project”. This website has SVG files for thousands of English words ranging from abacus to zoo. I decided upon a lotus since I wanted to make a gift for my girlfriend.

Using Carbide Create, I created a simple toolpath for this project. I made each petal of the lotus a pocket, then made a thicker outline to surround the flower. Once finished, I sent it over to the CNC machine for cutting.

Once cut, the final pieces required sanding and filing to remove some of the excess material. I used 180, 400, and 1000 grit sand paper to add a smooth finish to the project. Before sanding with the higher grits, I stained the wood to get a deeper color.

This was a relatively simple project and I really enjoyed learning how to utilize the CNC machines in the OEDK.
Cost analysis:
Lowes Pine 4″x6″x12′ – $28 ( $2.33 per foot): used 1 foot for $4.66
Total Cost: ~$4.66