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7. Computer Controlled Machining

In the assigned activity of week number 7 we interact with the LARGE FORMAT CNC team.

GROUP ASSIGNMENT: - Complete your lab’s safety training - Test runout, alignment, fixturing, speeds, feeds, materials and toolpaths for your machine - Document your work to the group work page and reflect on your individual page what you learned

INDIVIDUAL PROJECT. - Make (design+mill+assemble) something big Assignment Checklist.

item Activity Status
task 1 Linked to the group assignment page DONE
task 2 Documented how you designed your object (something big) DONE
task 3 Documented how you made your CAM-toolpath DONE
task 4 Documented how you made something BIG (setting up the machine, using fixings, testing joints, adjusting feeds and speeds, depth of cut etc.) SDONE
task 5 Described problems and how you fixed them DONE
task 6 Included your design files and ‘hero shot’ of your final product DONE

WORK TEAM

We will detail the technical characteristics of our equipment with which we will work to be able to adapt the parameters, according to the need and experience.

Technical specifications

Team Dimensions

Tools

Among the accessories, there are usually cutters of different sizes; for cutting, roughing and even carving applications. With the application for various materials, such as: MDF, WOOD, AGGLOMERATE, ACRYLIC and ALUMINIUM.

This image shows the wrenches that attach the cutters to the spindle; these came with the equipment.

This is an external control that displays buttons by color, as follows: - RED: This button is an emergency button. Press it as soon as any unusual movement or incident occurs with the operator. - BLUE: This button is a RESET button and is generally used to reset the driver. - GREEN: This START button helps initiate the cutting process once the file has been loaded.

Personal Safety Equipment.

The use of Personal Protective Equipment is mandatory when interacting with the large-format CNC, because we are exposed to extreme noises of up to 80 decibels, suspended particles, and even the risk of cutting with tools or material used inside the CNC. Therefore, we use: a half-face dust protection mask, eye protection glasses, safety gloves, and earplugs.

Design, manufacturing and assembly of products with CNC.

REMINDER. Before any large-scale design can be carried out, we will carry out small cutting and roughing tests with appropriate tolerances to optimize the assembly process. Without an additional post-process, we will also see the different materials commonly used within the Continental University FabLab.

Design.

AutoCAD_Design.

The following design will be used as a gauge to quickly identify the thickness of the most commonly used sheets within the Continental University FABLAB.

For this, we relied on AutoCAD, using the linear stroke and circular pattern tool, and also indicating the dimensions in the intermediate sections, at least to know the measurements.

When we have finished the design we will export it in DXF format.

VCarve_PRO.

This software we work with is very intuitive, we will explain it throughout the development of the assignment.

In this image, right where indicated in the red box, the side of the material to be worked, measurements, thickness and the point of origin at the time of working are configured.

Now there is a very important detail, when making lace pieces, you set the “DOG_BONE” option, or chamfer, this will make the cutter go a little into the corners.

Here we already have it applied. Now we configure the milling cutter parameters, here it is simply a matter of selecting one of them. We usually work with a 6mm diameter milling cutter. Here we configure the passes for each roughing, it depends a lot on the thickness of the material. Now, to keep the material in place, “tabs” will be added to connect the cut piece to the plate. This is for the safety of the cutter and to ensure the materials used are protected. Simulated preview

Here we review the operating processes, which are as follows: - Internal Roughing. - Internal Cutting. - External Cutting (with tabs)

We see the materials and tools needed to use in the cutting process, as well as some screws to fix it to the slaughter table. We set the cutting board.... And we start with the cutting process We clean And now we have it ready to run the tests…

Manufacturing.

Now for the manufacturing process, we made a small armchair, with a full sheet of plywood. In each image, we will also describe the suggested steps or recommendations. We begin with the Design process in Inventor. Once the design stage is complete, we see the parts that will make up the furniture. We proceed to simulate the entire cutting process so that we don’t have any problems. Here we have everything ready, all the necessary parts. We brought the whole griddle so we could cut… I put a lot of effort into bringing it. We fix it with screws to the slaughter table, so that the work can be carried out.

The pieces are now ready… Here I managed to finish the assembly, I helped myself with a rubber jump rope so that it fits smoothly without damaging the furniture too much.

Downloading area.

LEARNING, FINDING AND LESSONS

When working with three-axis or more CNC machining equipment, tolerance must be taken into account for fitting parts or, if necessary, having a little more adjustment; Now, when making parts with exact measurements, it cost me a little more effort to join them.

It is understood that the CNC cutting process is subject to roughing, unlike 3D printing, an additive technology, where material expansion must be assessed by the very action of “depositing filament” onto a work area.

Last update: July 24, 2025