8. Computer controlled machining

real_foot_finish

Make something big.

Table with adjustable height

For this week, I decide to choose Fusion 360 with Slicer to make the design.

Idea

I have a small appartment and I want to make multifunctionnal table. One mode for low table and the dinner mode. Using fusion 360, I maid a design of what I had in my mind. So here you can see the render, o if you want, you can download it, just by clicking here.

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Reality

I did not make any press fit furniture or any furnitue before that and I liked the result of Slicer. So I decide to keep it simple in the first time and make just a simple low table with two feet.

Preparation

For the preparation, I decide to make one foot to start, when I'm satisfied, I will make the other foot and design the top of the table. So, using my initial design, I extract the following foot (and you can download it just by clicking here).

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Slicer configuration

Slicer is an add-on of fusion 360, he slices and converts 3D models into 2D patterns. To install it, you need to go to the autodesk app store and download the application for the right system, launch it and restart fusion 360. After restart, in your fusion 360 model, you need to click on ADD-INS > Slicer.

Define object size

The first task that I didi when I start, was to adjust model to his real size, by setting the right unit like you design it in Fusion. For me the defaults units are millimetters and for slicer in inchs, so I need to update it. And be sure that you have selected, Original size and Uniform Scale.

single_foot_slicer_choose_object_size

Manufacturing setting

For the manufacturing settings, the place where you define what kind on space that you have for machinin, by this way you can vizualize how many board woods, you will need have. single_foot_slicer_manufacturing_setting

Construction technique

The are differents techniques to use to generate the dxf files. It's differents kind of patterns to switch from 2d to the 3d. Each of them have a possible configuration.

`Interlocked Slices`

Personnaly I choose the Interlocked Slices, it was the best render that I see for me.

single_foot_slicer_construction_technique_interlocked

Other techniques

Stacked slices
Curve
...

Vcarve configuration

Fillets for angle

To facilitate, the press-fit, it recommanded to add fillets for the angles. Generally, you will choose the half of diameter of your tooling.

Toolpath

Inside/outside

I used the same parameters pour the inside and outside paths:

End mill diameter: 6.35 mm (1/4 inch)
Pass depth: 3 mm
Stepover: 40%
Spindle speed: 6000 rpm
Feed rate: 40 mm/s
Plunge rate: 30

And to be sure that the pieces will

Tenons

Shopbot

Before the job

Fix your piece with 4 screws and be sure it's well fixed.
Install the right endmill
Define the XY relative position
Define the z
Turn on the vacium
Put the wear hearing protection and the glasses

During the job

Keep the stop button with you
Don't move outside of the room (except if the are a fire)
Check with your eyes if it's ok but don't touch with your arm

After the job

Turn off the ventilator
Remove the tenons from pieces
Clean the surface

Work process

In the first time I export all the designs of my table in slicer, but it was to much for what I want.

The surface was not plane, so to reduce the wood, I decided to design with slicer just the feet, and after I will design the top of my table.

Make the design in Fusion 360
Export the design in Slicer
Define the parameter in the slicer (see the slicer configuration part)
See the tutorial of how to build it
Export it as DXF
Import the files in Vcarve pro
In Vcarve add dog bones
Test just for two pieces to see how it feet

The test was a success in the failure. My two pieces was hard to join. So I go to the slicers settings to update the tolerances.
Let's make it
The foot is great, as I expected, I like the result so, I will maid the other one.

Top of the table

Design

Fusion 360

I knew the dimensions the holes by my first design, but to be sure, I take some real mesure with an analogic multimilimeter. Here you can download the exported dxf file from fusion 360.

top_table_fusion