Controlled cutting machining


Learning outcomes:


  1. Demonstrate 2D design development for CNC production
  2. Describe workflows for CNC production

Stages:


  1. Design
  2. Toolpath creation
  3. Implementation

In this assignment, I tried to work on something challenging which includes different features to adjust the milling machine accordingly and know more about how it works. I choose to build an innovative books shelves design from scratch. The workflow below shows the stages I went through from designing to implementing and finishing.

Workflow

2D- Design

Design

First step I made was doing the 2D design using Adope Illustrator software for the shelves separately, then put them in one sheet to be easily set up for the cutting using the CNC machine. The challenging part in the design was being very consistent with the edges and the holes in which the shelves will be connected and fitted in.

I've made the design with Adobe illustrator beacuse it's easy to me in using and i can make a quick design on it


Also i made the dog bone on it


Dog bone is a technique used to avoide the curve in the corners that the cutting tool left it in the implementation



Dog bone different shapes you can add it on the design


Iknow it's crazy, But i've made the dog bone manually (there's an automatic methods in different softwares) but i've chose to make it on Illustratot because it was easy to me and faster


After adding a circles in the corners and merge it with the chape to get this output


Final result, Let's export the file to go for toolpath creation

Export

File-->Export, then select extension .dxf

CAM Toolpath and Machine Setup

This part of the assignment I made up the design ready for implementation and set up machine parameters using software ArtCam as shown in the figures below.

Also you can see how to start with ArtCam trough this tutorial





Import the files
Files are in now


Nesting phase, Where we need to arrange the files to take smaller space can take


Material setup, where we setup the start orgin in implementation on the sheet


Set the tools, Step over, step down and machining details to make the toolpath


You can see here the other line of toolpath around the vector shape


Toolpath-->save toolpath, select.tap extenstion and let's take it to the machine


Implementation

In this phase of the assignment, I started implementing the design that has been converted to be ready for machining on the CNC milling machine. The video below shows the implementation process step by step.

Output

Finish

After obtaining the shelves parts from the CNC milling machine after processing, I started the assembly process and product final touches for finish

The output


The result of the dog bone in reality


Let's start the assembly phase


I've used the artelon or flixable hummer to avoid any breaks in the wood from hitting while i trying to fit it


It's growing and get bigger


Almost done, I found it bigger than i expected honesly xD


The final result!




Final Product

And finally, the final product (BOOKSHELVES) is now ready to use

It's really big!


DXF file


ArtCamfile


Toolpath file





Done

  1. The library design
  2. Dog bone detail for fitting
  3. Machining on the router machine
  4. Library assembly

New Learned

  1. Tricks for fitting like the dog bone
  2. How to make something big from a group of pieces
  3. Machining processes

Enjoyed with

  1. Design somthing useful like a smal books library
  2. Machining/cutting
  3. Assembly