CNC was perhaps the most challenging assignment so far. In total, it took me 3 attempts to finally make my design. I used Nomad 3 in three attempts.

Attempt 1: During Tutorial

Before the tutorial, I prepared my .svg file; initially, I chose a complex bird pattern however when I tested the simulation after following the instructions in the homework document, I realized that the pattern was too detailed to be cut without using a smaller bit size or a larger piece of wood, so instead I switched to a simple lotus pattern. I came prepared for the tutorial with the .svg file, hoping that I could get started on my assignment during the tutorial; while I learned a lot, the output itself was not satisfactory. The contours did not cut through all the way, so the lotus looked incomplete. I tried to sand it, hoping I could detach the lotus.

However, I ended up breaking the wood. So, I abandoned the first attempt and decided to try again.

Attempt 2: Clamp issues

This time, the clamp in Nomad 3 would not work properly: it could not hold the wood tight. The wood kept moving when I tried to zero the machine. We (me and the people at the OEDK) spent the next 2 hours troubleshooting the clamp and fixed it by the end of the day. However, my booking time has run out, and I had to come back for attempt 3.

Attempt 3: Finally Successful!

This was the attempt where I finally succeeded!

First, I prepared the .svg file according to the instructions on the homework assignment. Then, once I logged into Nomad 3, I rechecked to make sure that all the settings were accurate. After this, I measured my piece of wood and changed the dimensions of the .svg file. Consequently, I have mentioned my lotus according to the new dimensions. Finally, I tested the simulation of the .svg file once again to ensure it looked fine. I saved the file, and then I began preparing the machine itself.

I then clamped the piece of wood into the machine. Then, I followed the instructions in the document to set up the machine. These included changing the bit to check the bit size and zeroing the machine.

I admit I was nervous during the whole time the machine was running, so I kept an eye on the machine without doing anything else for the 27 minutes it took for my design to be done. After 8 minutes, I paused the machine to clean it up. I would do so again in another 8 minutes, once the machine had completely stopped running.

While my first Lotus was cut out almost perfectly, the contours in the second Lotus did not go all the way through. To solve this issue, I edited my .svg file to have a stock thickness of .80 instead of .75, and then I removed the pocket pathways, and left the contour pathways, and redid the process on the same piece of wood, hoping that the zeroing would make sure that the machine would cut along the same lines. It was successful, and I was able to remove the Lotus from the base word; however, some of the pieces still did not cut all the way through. I cut out those pieces manually using an awl and a hammer. I then hand-sanded it with some sanding paper of 60, 150, and 400 grit.

Following this, I applied beeswax to them and then came back in two days to wipe off the extra beeswax.

Then I was done!

Cost analysis:

Cost Type	Cost	Price	Source	Quantity	Total
Materials	Wood (1” x 6” x 8ft yellow pine)	7.88	Lowe	0.3	2.46$
	Beeswax	9.98	Lowe	0.2	2.00$
	Sanding paper	5.98	Lowe	1	5.98$
	Brush  and dustpan	2.90	Amazon	1	2.90$
Labor	CNC Machinist	28/hr	ZipRecruiter	2 hr	56$
Overhead	Cost of using the machine	100/hr	Practical Machinist	2 hr	200$
Total					269.34$