For this project, I teamed up with two of my groupmates to make a capybara with a bird chilling on its head. Using a CNC machine, we turned this cute idea into an actual wood cutout and the whole process was a fun mix of trial, error, sanding, and a little panicking over end mills.

Step 1
We started by browsing through Noun Project, to download the vector-style images you can download and use.

We downloaded the file as a PNG and imported it into Carbide Create, which is the software used to prep files for the CNC machine.

Step 2
After measuring our piece of wood (170 mm x 87.5 mm x 17.9 mm),  we adjusted the canvas size in Carbide Create to match. Then we placed the PNG of our capybara-bird file onto the canvas and started setting up the toolpaths. Some adjustments we made in Carbide Create included:

• Created the first contour toolpath to cut the outer edge of the capybara using a 1/8″ end mill. We used the stock top and stock bottom for the depth.

• Set up a second contour toolpath for the details inside the design — like the bird and facial lines — this time using a 1/16″ end mill and a max depth of 0.25 inches.

• Added tabs around the outer edge so the piece wouldn’t fly off mid-cut (very important — no one wants a rogue capybara).

Once everything looked good, we exported the file and sent it to our emails so I could use it on the lab computers during our CNC training.

Step 3

Next came we used the Shapeoko Pro to cut the file.

• We loaded the file onto the Carbide Motion software and re-measured the depth of the wood, adding 0.2 mm extra to account for the spoilboard underneath.

• We clamped the wood down on all four sides — not as easy as it sounds. It took a few tries to figure out the best placement since the clamps kept getting in the way.

• After calibrating the machine and running the probe, it was time to cut!

The first cut (outer edge) took around 11 minutes. Then I had to swap out the 1/8″ end mill for the 1/16″ one. This was honestly the hardest part — the bit was stuck, and I had to call over the lab techs more than once. It was stressful because I thought I messed up the whole file, but eventually we got it working again.

The second cut took another 6 minutes, and finally, the design was complete!

Step 4
After cutting, the capybara was still attached to the wood by the tabs. So we used a dremel tool and a 250 mm bi-metal cutter to remove it. Then we sanded down the edges using 240 and 120 grit sandpaper to get rid of splinters and rough spots.

Since we wanted a more finished look, we also (1) stained the wood with a darker finish (2) let it dry fully, (3) prayed on a clear gloss coat for a polished, slightly reflective effect.

We ended up making a second version too, just to have a matching pair per the assignment.

Final reflections:

This project was such a fun intro to using the CNC machine, it helped me understand the entire workflow from start to finish. There were definitely some bumps along the way, but seeing our little capybara with a bird go from a digital file to a physical, stained piece of wood made it worth it.

Cost Analysis:

Cost Type	Cost	Price	Source	Quantity Used	Total
Materials	1×4 Board	$4.47 / 8 ft	HomeDepot	1 ft	$0.56
	Paintbrush	$5.99 / each	Amazon	1 brush	$5.99
	Rags	$10.99 / 15 rags	Amazon	1 rag	$0.73
	Clear Gloss Spray Paint	$6.47 / 12 oz	Amazon	0.5 fl oz	$0.27
	Wood Stain	$9.99 / 8 fl oz	Amazon	0.5 fl oz	$0.62
	Sand Paper (120 grit)	$10.97 / 12 sheets	Amazon	¼ sheet	$0.23
	Sand Paper (240 grit)	$10.99 / 10 sheets	Amazon	¼ sheet	$0.27
Labor	Woodworking Operator	$23 / hour	SalaryExpert	1.5 hours	$36.00
	Prototyping Engineer (You!)	$34 / hour	ZipRecruiter	1 hour	$34.00
Overhead	Facility Cost (Machine Time)	$50 / hour	xebec	1.5 hours	$75.00
$153.67

Clean Table: