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Computer Controlled Machining

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CNC Milling

This week's mission is to make something big by using the ShopBot to CNC mill. We learned from designing the toolpaths, milling, post-processing and assembly.

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Make Something Big

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Toolpaths Design

I always want a stool for outdoor painting. So I made this easy-to-assembly stool that can be laid flat in the car trunk and assembled on the go. It's in a palette shape cause I think it could also be a palette on the back at the same time..

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SketchChair

I also found a software from KickStarter: SketchChair. It is a free, open-source software tool that allows anyone to easily design and build their own digitally fabricated furniture.

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Fix the material to be cut onto the bed securely with screws

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Zeroing the bit

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Load toolpath commands

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Start cutting

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Fail #1

Even though I reserved 1 inch on each side, it still exceeded the milling area. The bit hit exactly on the nail in the wood and got broken.. Lesson learned: always reserve enough space.

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Milled parts

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Post-processing, Sanding

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Fail #2

The hole turned out to be twice as big as the thickness of the material. So I have to use these small cut-out pieces to fill in the gap. I then used staple to fasten it.

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Hammer to make it fasten more steadily.

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Assembly

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Outdoor Painting Set

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Let's go..

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TSpline model the base for my toolkit

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CNC on my carefully selected patterned wood

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To achieve this pattern:

1/4 straight end mill
1 rough cut + 2 finishing cuts with 90% stepover, rotated 90 degree

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Toolkit