Week #08: Computer-Controlled Machining | Garner Holdsworth | Wheaton College, MA

8. Computer-Controlled Machining

Goals for the week:

Documented how you designed your object (something big)

Documented how you made your CAM-toolpath

Documented how you made something BIG (setting up the machine, using fixings, testing joints, adjusting feeds and speeds, depth of cut etc.)

Described problems and how you fixed them

Included your design files and ‘hero shot’ photos of final object

Context for Neil & Friends

This week was Spring Break for Wheaton College, so I personally didn't get into the lab to actually make anything physically until the following week. As such, I had more time on my hands to meddle with my CAD Model in Fusion 360.

Group Assignment

Characterizing Our Tools

The Wheaton College Lab is equipped with two CNC mills, but the one I will be using this week is the AXIOM Pro V5; and the toolpath software used is VCarve.

Building Something BIG

I was super excited for this week as we finally got to woodworking and creating things with utility, not just aesthetic and concept. My design was a simple desk riser for a laptop; and to warm up my Fusion 360 skills, I took some measurements of the objects on my desk and created a fake deskspace to model the final product.

For a product like this, creating the model parametrically seemed like a no-brainer; the riser's legs needs to be able to fit over and around my keyboard, and the top panel needs to be able to accomodate the cooling tray and laptop. Since some pieces of this design slot into each other, a material thickness parameter was crucial to ensuring a proper fit for each component.