Group Assignment :

This week's group assingment was to do the lab's safety training and to test the runout, alignment, fixturing, speeds, feeds, materials and toolpaths for the machine in our lab. We milled out a plywood test piece with various features mentioned in the group assignment.

Visit our Group assignment page here

Individual Assignment :

Design:

I took inspiration from a Adjustable height computer stand design by Portuguese Designer and modelled my version of it on solidworks

I began the design process by focusing on the dimentions.

Initially, I designed the top of the structure

I created the main rectangular shape for the base in a 2D sketch. Then, I used the fillet tool to round off all the sharp corners, giving it a smoother profile.

Use the Line tool to draw the shape of the two notches onto the bottom edge of your sketch. Then, use the Trim Entities tool to cut away the original lines inside the notches, creating the open slots

With the 2D sketch complete, I used the Extrude feature to transform the flat design into a 3D object. I set the thickness to 5.00mm, which gave the sketch depth and created the solid base of the part.

After confirming the extrusion, the 2D sketch was successfully transformed into a solid 3D model.

now i started to design the side legs

After designing the components, i have started to assemble each

After assembling, i have gotten this results

Then i imported them on coral draw to convert it into dxf file

Dog bone:

Dog bone is a woodcutting technique employed to craft precise and seamless joints between two wood pieces. This method entails carving out a small notch or groove at the end of one piece to perfectly accommodate the shape of the other, resulting in a flush and sturdy joint.

Art cam:

Art cam is a software application used for creating and preparing designs specifically for CNC (Computer Numerical Control) routing machines. It allows users to design intricate 2D and 3D models, generate toolpaths, and simulate the machining process. Art cam software is commonly utilized in woodworking, signage, and other industries that involve CNC routing and engraving.

Next, I selected all the vector outlines to create a Profiling toolpath, which is the main instruction for cutting. I set the tool to cut on the 'Outside' of the lines, which ensures the final parts are cut out to the correct dimensions.

The next crucial step was to open the Tool Database to choose the specific bit for the cutting job. As shown, I selected the 6mm Ball Nose tool, which automatically loads its preset cutting speeds and feeds.

Before calculating, I opened the Material Setup dialog as a final check on the stock material. Here, I confirmed the material's thickness is 18mm and defined the Z-Zero position on top of the material.

With all the settings configured, I named the operation "Profile" to keep the file organized. The final step is to click "Now," which tells the software to calculate the exact cutting path for the CNC machine.

After the path was calculated, I opened the "Save Toolpaths" window to export the instructions for the CNC machine. I then selected the "Profile" toolpath to be saved as a G-Code file, which is the language the machine reads to cut the part.

The very last step was to give the machine instruction file a name, which I entered as "outer path." Clicking "Save" created the final G-Code file, which is now ready to be sent to the CNC machine for manufacturing.

Once I had the .dxf file, I saved it onto a USB flash drive and subsequently transferred it to the PC that is connected to the CNC Wood Router STM 1325 machine.

Problems Faced and How I Overcame the Problems:

Issue with CNC Wood Router STM 1325 and Solution

Our CNC Wood Router STM 1325 CNC experienced a malfunction due to a damaged MOSFET in the Z-axis. This issue raised concerns about completing our CNC week projects on time. After discussing the problem with my instructors, they suggested using the VCarve cutter as an alternative.

Adjustments and Solution Implementation

The cutter has the capability to mill plywood up to 12 mm in thickness. To accommodate this, I adjusted my design to 18 mm, which aligns with the available plywood stock in our inventory.

Drill Tool (DT): Used for drilling & routing holes in various materials with precision so i need to use this tool

The machine's versatility is further enhanced by its modular design, which enables easy customization and integration of additional tools and modules based on specific production needs.

Machine :

this is the controler it have lot of options and i learned some of them

now im putting the drill bit to the origin point

you can see the drill bit on the origin point.

now i opened the loaded file on the contrller

i selected my design file and we are ready to mill

you can see our machine at salem fab lab

i was started the milling process by pressing run

we need to wait for the mill to done

this is the final output after milling

post process:

this are the saftey stuffs we have.

this machine is im going to use it for finishing

wearing saftey equipments looks funny but it saves you from damaging yourself

im removing any burs left on the wood try to giving a smooth finish

assembling:

Final output: