Learning to move between softwares and cut on the CNC machine took a lot of trial and error for me. My pieces are not perfectly identical, but this is because I learned from my mistakes after carving the first one.

I decided to make my own design instead of downloading anything from the internet. I started in Procreate, a drawing software, to create the illustration. I then imported the PNG into Adobe Illustrator and used the Image Trace function to transform the photo into an SVG file. After learning more about how CNC worked, I modified my illustration to have less tight line work, allowing a bit to fully pass into each corner.

Top: Detailed fish illustration
Bottom: Final simpler fish illustration

In Carbide Create, I created multiple pocket toolpaths at 0.1″ depth for the inner details and a contour line around the outside circle. I chose to use a 1/16″ bit for the inner pockets to preserve the detail and a 1/8″ bit for the outer cut to save time. I then measured the length, width, and depth, of my first piece of wood using the calipers and inputted this information into my file.

First, I tried using the Shapeoko, but the machine would not measure the depth of the bit. I later realized this was because part of the homing device was touching metal, which prevents the machine from continuing its job. To save time, I switched to the Nomad. I changed out the bit and homed the machine. One thing i learned is that the Nomad will not do anything if the door is open. This is not limited at actually running, but also includes jogging the machine and measuring the bit size. Finally I clamped my piece of wood into the machine and ran my cut.

For the final outer contour cut, the end mill bit went off the edge of my piece of wood and got very close to the metal. For my second piece, I scaled the entire piece down to ensure the cut would stay within the dimensions of the original block, allowing for slight inconsistencies in the homing and the kerf. My second time using the CNC machine went a lot faster, as I knew how to troubleshoot when errors appeared. Something I learned from my second attempt is that you only need to home the machine once per piece. After cutting the contour line, I realized I had not reset it to the new stock bottom, so it did not cut all the way through. I made a new c2d file with just the outer line and cut it without rehoming the machine.

To post-process, I hand sanded my pieces using two different grits of sandpaper. If I were to CNC again, I would decrease the height and width of my tabs, as they were difficult to sand down. I then mixed equal parts A and B of resin and added equal parts of the light blue and sapphire dyes to create a water-like color. I carefully poured the resin into the internal pocket, ensuring it did not overflow over the boundaries. I used a popsicle stick to spread the resin into the smaller corners and left it to cure overnight.

My finished fishes!

Overall, I really enjoyed using the CNC machine and the resin. I see myself using them for more projects in the future. I made mistakes, but I now know how to fix or prevent them in the future.

Cost breakdown:

1 foot of 3/4″ thick wood plank = $1.50

1oz of clear resin = $1.13

Nomad CNC Machine: new is $2,800, but we will include it as a month membership at a MakerSpace = $50

6 drops of dye = negligible

Labor: 4 hours at $15/hour = $60

Total Cost = $112.63

Clean Workspace: