Project Overview:

For this project we were tasked with using a CNC machine to cut a noun out of wood. After finding a super cool penguin face from the noun website, I got to work. We had to turn in two identical copies of our object.

The Process

This assignment had very few steps. To begin I set up my file for the Carbide router.

Then after my file was properly set up I ran it on the CNC machine. I had a few problems with the eyes and the nose of the penguin melding together so I had to remake the file quickly and run it again. The second time I ran the machine the cut looked much better and I was happy with it. Unfortunately after like 80% of the cut had been finished the tape lost its grip and my piece started sliding while the end mill was still cutting so I had to quickly abort the cut and restart for the third time. The third time my cut ran perfectly and I had zero issues. The two pieces are slightly different sizes because I had to redo my file when I got kicked off the Carbide for going over my reservation and starting again, but they are identical in all other ways.

I then took my piece down for sanding and went from 80 all the way up to 2000 before taking it outside for staining.

Then I stained my piece.

Then it was finished!

Reflection:

Things I would like to work on in the future:

• I would like to experiment more with the different depths that you can cut using CNC
• I would use extra tape rather than less to ensure not having to do any work over and for safety
• I would not pick a design with little eyes because they are very hard to sand the inside of
• I would not use plywood because when you cut into the wood it leaves a black mark which you can see on your part (this wasn’t my fault as it was all I could find but I would have done it differently given the option)

Cost Estimate:

• Material
  • Wood: 2$
  • Stain: 1$
• Time Cost:
  • 2hr x 15$ = 30$
• Overhead
  • Carbide machine ~2500$
    • per hour of use ~20$/hr
  • Sandpaper ~ N/A

Total: 53$