I am back with the last unit before our final project! And this unit uses the CNC machine and Resin Techniques!!!! ooooooh

Step 1) I had to determine what I wanted to cut out – and I wanted to do a star! So I downloaded a SVG of a star with some dots around it from the Noun Project. I then loaded it onto Carbide Create to generate toolpaths. I created a pocket pocket toolpath for  first, the dots with a depth of 0.1 in. and 1/16th drill bit; second, the entire star with a depth of 0.2 in. and 1/8th drill bit; third, the entire outline cut to stock bottom and 1/8th drill bit. There also are tabs to ensure when it cut out, the piece doesn’t go flying.

Step 2) After downloading the Carbide Create file, I went to the Nomad CNC machine and uploaded it onto Carbide Motion. Following the instructions, I clamped my wood down (adding a small slab of sacrificial wood below it to ensure if it cut through to not damage the machine), zeroed it, and changed the drill bit to my first one, the 1/16th.

Step 3) Pressed Start and let the machine run! For my first cut, it was looking good! Everything was centered, it was cutting nicely, until….. it was nowhere near cut all the way through for my final outline cut…… And I couldn’t figure out how to run just the last outline cut again on a lower z-axis, so I had to scrap the piece and start again. I went back into Carbide Motion and added a 0.15 in. depth on the final outline cut. After loading the new file onto Carbide Motion and going through the setup steps again, we ran the cut. And it worked! Cut out all the way where if only needed slight pushing to pop it out due to the tabs. I then ran it a second time – and it worked! However, the wood was slightly warped so some of the dots didn’t cut as deeply as I wanted them too, but it still looks good!

Step 4) There were some rough edges and surfaces of my cut out star, so I used some sandpaper to smooth them down. Then I used some semi-clear gloss to give the wood a few coats.

Step 5) Then I mixed my resin! I approximated how much I needed, got half of that of part A resin, weighed it, then got the same weight of part B resin, and added some amber dye. Mixed it, and poured it into my stars! It went well, however since some of the dots were shallow, the resin didn’t really sit as well as I wanted into the dots, and there was slight overflow, but I wiped off the overflow and let it dry!

And the star is created!

Clean Workspace:

Cost Analysis:

• Tools – Due to the nature of the tools, I will be omitting them
• Material
  • Wood – $8.52
  • Semi Clear Gloss Spray Paint – $6.19
  • Resin – $25.49
  • Resin Dye – $11.99
• Labor
  • 4 Hours ($10 per hour) – $40

Grand Total of: $92.19!!!