Computer Controlled Machining

This week, I used the CNC machine in my lab. I hadn't used a CNC machine before, so for the group assignment, our group assignment leader Ismail showed us how to use the CNC machine. We also completed our lab's safety training. Then, adjusting the settings of the CNC, such as speeds, materials, and allignment, we cut a test design.

You can see our group assignment with this link

For this week's individual assignment, I cut and assembled a ballot box. First I designed it with Fusion 360. I first sketched a square with a side of 1000 mm as I would use a plywood with these dimensions. To design the base of my ballot box, I sketched another square with a side of 200 mm. Afterward, I designed three finger joints for the two sides and four finger joints for the remaining two. I designed the depths with 21 mm because the plywood I used had a thickness of 18 mm, and I left a tolerance of 3 mm to fit the joints together. I chose 3 mm as my tolerance because the other lab members had used it that way, and their design had worked.

Base Design of Ballot Box

Then, I copied and pasted my sketch to make the ceiling of my ballot box. I also designed a cavity to throw papers into the box. Afterward, I added fillets with a diameter of 6 mm to the corners as I was going to use a metric 6 screw to cut my box.

Base and Ceiling Designs of Ballot Box

Afterward, I sketched a rectangle with sides 600 mm and 200 mm so that my box would have a height of 60 cm and the lateral surfaces would fit to the base and the ceiling. Then, I sketched four joints to fit into the base and ceiling with four joints. I also sketched three joints to fit the lateral surfaces together. I then copied and pasted this sketch.

Lateral Surfaces 1

After sketching the lateral surfaces to fit into the base and ceiling with four joints, I designed the lateral surfaces for the bases with three joints.

Lateral Surfaces 2

Now all the surfaces were ready.

All Surfaces

Then, I gave my sketch a depth of 18 mm as it was the thickness of my wood.

The Complete CAD

I also drilled four holes with a diameter of 6 mm to each piece so that I would stabilize the surface with a screw before cutting the hole thing.

The Complete CAD

However, I realized that only two holes would be enough to stabilize a single piece instead of four.

Finally, after adjusting the settings in Fusion 360 for the CNC, I cut the pieces.

Pieces after Cutting

Then, I assembled my pieces. My final product looks like the followings:

Final Ballot Box 1 Final Ballot Box 2 Final Ballot Box 3
You can access my 3D design through these zip files: 
  
  STEP File 
  f3d File