Project Notes

Week 1

• I'm currently planning to make a Chinese-seal-carving machine.
• I chatted with TA Leo to get a general idea of what I need to do.
• Seals are made out of stone: they're very small, but require high precision and a high force to carve.
• I used to carve them manually. I use a special tool. (see image)
• The machine will first use a V-bit on a spindle. Then maybe upgrade to a chiseling/hammering thing. And maybe more axes.
• I'll need lead screws to make a very sturdy machine.
• I'll add cameras to help with registration, and to transfer hand-drawn designs to be machined.
• Firmware supports inversion of foreground/background, even automatic design of seals, given characters.
• A special clamp will fix the stone in the center of the bed.
• Still open to other project ideas...

Left: Lingdong carving a seal in 2017, using traditional tools. Right: the result