CNC Routing

Assignment: Use the Shaper handheld CNC router to create a wooden personalized organizer.

Due Monday, Oct 4th by Midnight

First things first! If you haven't already recieved your Shaper Training (1st Training), schedule it ASAP!

During the next three weeks, you will learn the basics of a CAD software called Fusion 360. This software is free for hobbyists and is widely used by the maker community so you can find abundant resources online to learn more and dig deeper. This week we will start with the Shaper which is a handheld CNC router. Most CNC routers have a gantry and are not handheld. Due to rennovations and space constraints, our other CNC router is in Kelly Goff's studio for this semester and if you'd like to learn more about it, check out this page on our website.

Careers in CNC Routing: Interestingly enough, we have a local partnership with PolyFab, MA and send graduates there to start entry level jobs programming CNC routers. Aleza Epstein graduated Wheaton in 2018, took FabAcademy, worked at PolyFab and is now pursuing her masters at RISD. They love hiring Wheaton students! But if you go on Indeed right now and search "CNC Machinist" it's likely that alot of jobs will pop up. Individuals with CAD and CAM skill sets are in demand right now and likely will continue to be until this technology becomes obsolete.

Step One

Download.

Install Fusion 360. Make sure to install the hobbyist version which is free.
Illustrator (you should have received an email about this)

Step Two

You need to learn some Fusion 360 basics first. Start with this guide and follow along for at least pages 4 - 6. This will likely take you a few hours if you are fully following along (which I highly recommend).

Step Three

Now we will begin the design for this project. Your piece of wood will be 3/4" thick with a width of 12.5 and a height of 8.5. You will be creating something akin to a desk organizer. You can get creative with this given the constraints below. Feel free to sketch this out on paper! You will need:

to cut a profile

in this profile you will need an outlined circle 3" in diameter

a minimum of three additional shapes that each fit something you own and can actually put in this organizer

to engrave your initials (or some other text) with a v bit

Watch this video to see how you should create the design.

Step Four

Once you have your training and your design, it's time to head to the Fiber Lab and make your organizer! Be sure to sign up for a time to use the Shaper on Setmore . Check out the video below for a refresher on how to use the Shaper.

Tools needed:

digital calibers

hammer

chisel

double sided tape and scissors

charged drill with phillips head and bits

wood (your wood is cut and under the Shaper table

Step Five

Remember to sand the edges a bit. Once you've sanded, you could paint or stain this.

CNC Routing

The Shaper