Week 5: Make Something Big

PART I | Testing CNC

  1. group testing

    As a group, ACT students together practiced and tested pocketing 'ACT' out on the board.

    We also tried out how to zero the tool.

  2. halloween time

    Then we tested profiling with a pumpkin shape.

PART II | Design and Making

  1. design

    I decided to make a stool that is supported on human arms, with the possibility of easy dissembling so that each arm can also be a weapon.

    I found an image of arm online and then trace it into vector file in AutoCAD.

    The file was exported as a dxf file.

  2. making

    I imported my dxf file into the toolpath building software and created toolpath.

    The tool is set to 1/4" tool, and the thickness of material is 0.47", with two passes each cutting 0.275 (max cut depth is 0.55 in order to ensure cutting through).

    I saved the toolpath and preparing to load it into shopbot.

    First, I screwed my board onto the bed and began by zeroing x,y,z.

    Then, I turned on the machine, load in my file, and attempted to run.

    However, the first attempt did not go well as I did not allow enough time for the tool to start spinning before milling.

    I broke the endmill, which I feel very bad about.

    I tried again, and it is finally working correctly.

    After finishing milling, I turned off everything and vaccumed.

    I assembled my stool/bar table, but apprently my joints were poorly designed.

    The stool does not stand up very stable.