Week 07 — Computer-Controlled Machining

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 assignment

Make (design+mill+assemble) something big

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate 2D design development for CNC milling production

Describe workflows and operation for large format CNC machining

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Checklist

• Linked to the group assignment page
• Reflected on your individual page what you learned of your labs safety training
• Documented how you designed your object and made your CAM-toolpath
• Documented how you milled and assembled your final product (including setting up the machine, fixturing, feeds, speeds etc.)
• Described problems and how you fixed them
• Included your design files and 'hero shot' of your final product

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Introduction

For my first CNC machining experience, I decided to make something simple and practical. Because the lab and CNC machine are located in another city, I needed a design that is movable and easy to transport back home. I also wanted a result that can be displayed at school, so the target was a balance between practicality and visual interest.

To reach focus state while working on concept selection, I used background music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSXdH5SzNBs

Inspiration and Sketch Design

Inspiration

Pinterest was used as the primary visual reference source to review different CNC furniture concepts and evaluate what can be realistically produced in this week. The design workflow is similar to laser-cutter planning, but scaled for larger stock and assembly constraints.

There are many interesting projects and it is easy to over-scope design ideas. For a practical fabrication plan, I selected an oval rocker-chair direction that is visually strong but still feasible for the current machining stage.

Key reference: https://www.andrewdoxtater.com/work/ovalrockerdiy

Sketch Design

In Fusion, I created an ellipse with dimensions 572 x 1000 mm. A vertical and horizontal construction centerline was added to improve navigation and symmetry control.

I allocated 273 mm distance for the joint notch area. The ellipse was cut using rectangular profiles (15 mm x 260+). Midpoint and coincident constraints were used to connect the rectangle geometry accurately.

The base side was completed first.

The back side followed with a similar workflow by adding another construction line and adjusting constraints.

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