Computer Controlled Machining
make something big
Using ShopBot CNC Machine
What a great assignment in this week. I was waiting for an assignment that I'm pretty good to do. I have started in FABLAB Dhahran in May 2015 as a 2D expert. It was a great challenge that I can move from hand tools to digital fabrication. The manager in FABLAB Dhahran told me to use Inkscape for workshops. I have done several projects using CNC like (Office Table, shelf, and shoe storage) and floor shelf that what I'm going to describe in details on how to make it from A to Z.rom A to Z.
I get the idea for the floor shelf when I was browsing the painterset website and I notice a shelf made by recycling wood that utilize iron connection. So, I asked myself what if I can do it fully by wood without using any screws. The first step was sketching the design then convert it to digital copy by using Inkscape. Second make it using CNC Machine.
By the way, I designed this shelf again when I had joined Fab Academy for the (Computer - Aided Design., Computer - Controlled Cutting assignment.)
The dimension of the shelf is about 175 cm high and the distance between each shelf is 40 cm.
Download: PDF File
Using VCarve to be able to get the g-code format for the CNC ShopBot
On the left side, we get the size of the sheet that used to cut the shelf
On the top of right side the Toolpaths tools settings
I have selected from tools bit in the wood section 1/4" Down-cut(57-910)
I did use 18mm MDF thickness but in the cut depth I added 18.7mm because the wood it's not straight surfacing. So, to make sure I get between 0.3mm to 0.8mm.
3D View that show-up how the pass will go
Note: you must place screws in the design or tap to do not cut fully for safety to avoid any parts that might be fly while cutting
Download: VCarve File
Download: g-code File
ShopBot to read the g-code that saved from VCarve
first, push the reset button once you run the machine
set zero axis (Y,X)
and clibrating the (z) axis
don't forget to put the metal plate under the bit
open your file by clicking cut part and before click start make sure to check everthing
make sure to warm up the bit by running the router spindle for a while then click start to cut the design
finishing
You can customize the finishing the of this project depending on the look and the color of the place you are planing to use this shelf in.
As you can notice from the photo, the width of each of horizontal shelf is decreasing as we go up.
