Computer-Controlled Machining

Individual assignment:

Make (design+mill+assemble) something big

Group assignment:

Test runout, alignment, speeds, feeds, and toolpaths for your machine.

Intro

In this week I decided to make a design for a table that changes height .And to do so I made the base as dovetail joint. The part can have three positions.
I saw similar idea as a chair.

Design of the part 2D

I used fusion 360 in the design. I made the table with paths and grooves.
Also I made the cornrers as dog bone with a 6mm diameter :the tool size.

And the legs of the table as dovetail joint.

I made a parametric design.I drew the first joint then I made a patern of it.

Design of the part: 3D Model

I made a 3D model for the table :

First position:

Second position:

Third position:

And those are the tracks engraved in the table to hold the legs:

Tool Path /Aspire

The first trial I forgot to document the steps aspire program and toolpath but I returned and redid the process to document it.Here are the steps how we prepared the part on Aspire to mill it:
We open Aspire then we open new project and we set the width height and thickness of the plywood.

Then we import the DXF file of the part then adjust the parts to fit in one sheet.

We select open vector.

We adjust the 2D profile toolpath:like the cutting depth,the size and type of the tool.In here is just a demo but all the parts were on one sheet like the previuos picture.

Milling

We cut conter wood , the dimensions were 222cm*1m. The thickness of the wood was 18mm.Cut depth 2.5 mm,tool path 6mm.We used endmill.Also in the program there was a kerf generator.
I made a first trial and went to TIEC to cut it.I would like to thank Maichel for helping me out in this assignment .First the design was adjusted on a software called Aspire and Mach 3 CNC to generate G-code for the CNC machine.So I set the Zero point .
We used a CNC simplex machine.

We tested the vibration of the tool

Then I started cutting and here is the outcome:
We put the G-code on the machine:

Then we fixed the sheet of wood with nails:

The machine started the cutting process:

And here is the design after cutting:

The dove joint was perfect , but the grooves at the table were not deep enough to hold the legs, so as a solution I should make the grooves that holds the base deeper.

So I added to the design the grooves and also I made 3 holders for the legs for the three positions:

Then we redid the steps to adjust the design so we used Aspire and generate the G-code here are the steps:

Cutting:

Result

And Voila :

Note the three positions and the change in height :