Desgning a Table

  • This week’s assignment was to make something big, using a CNC machine. So in fablab vestmannaeyjar we recently received few new computers and for a while now the tables we’ve been using for the computers are not up to standards.

  • For the CNC machine we use Vcarve create the toolpaths. Knowing that, I decided to use sketchup for you can easily import your components into vcarve.

  • Knowing almost nothing in sketchup I followed a tutorial on Youtube on how to make box joints for cutting and that gave me a really good base to work with.

  • It was able to give a pretty good image of the table and then I made all of the parts a component (triple click the object and press G, then ENTER) I saved it as a .skp version 8 file

Making a Table

  • Next in Vcarve made a new file, entered the sizes of the material I was going to work with. Thereafter I imported my file and Vcarve and it arranged it for me in an efficient manner.

  • Next part was saving the toolpath, opening it in another computer with a program to read the toolpath and send it to the CNC machine.

  • I placed my material and held it in place using 4 screws in each corner. Material in place and running the toolpath. First cutting the inside ones and the the outlines second.

  • All the parts assembled.

  • I recommend double checking where each part goes for I started my assembly by pressing them the wrong way and they were pretty much stuck.