Topic outline

  • Week 09: Computer-Controlled Machining

    This week we are going to learn how to design a bigger object using CAD and gain basic understanding how CNC milling works. Each of you is going to get a 120x120 cm of 18 mm thick sheet of plywood that you will use to CNC mill parts for your assignment.

    Lectures

    Wed 09 Mar, 16:00 (online, global)
    Electronics Design by prof. Neil Gershenfeld.

    Thu 10 Mar, 15:00 (onsite, hybrid)
    Introduction to Electronics Design at the Aalto Fablab.

    Machine Introductions

    Thu 10 Mar (onsite)
    10:00 Recontech 1312 CNC machine introduction

    Mon 14 Mar (onsite)
    10:00 Recontech 1312 CNC machine introduction

    Resources

    We will shoot the introduction sessions and make them available as resources here or via the shared drive. Also make use of the internet. YouTube hosts lots of useful tutorials, for example.
    • Assignment icon
      Assignment 09: Computer-Controlled Machining

      Follow the steps below to complete your assignment.

      • Participate one of the introduction sessions or watch instruction videos.
      • Pay attention to what runout, alignment, feedrate and tool paths are.
      • Design, CNC mill and assemble something big (meter scale). You will get a 1200x1200x18 mm sheet of plywood for your assignment. Make use of it.
      • Document your process in a new page on your website.
      • Add downloadable design files to your documentation page.
      • Submit a link to the page on your documentation website.
      Read more about the assignment on the Fab Academy Assessment Guide page.

      This assignment will be graded in the scale from 0 - 5.

    • URL icon
      Video: Nesting and Tool Paths for CNC with FreeCAD URL

      Watch this video to get an idea how to nest (lay out) parts of a 3D CAD design on a sheet of material and how to generate tool paths that can be loaded into the controller of our CNC machine.

    • URL icon
      Video: 2D CNC Milling with Fusion 360 and Recontech 1312 URL

      Watch this video to get an idea how to use Fusion 360 to make a design that you can cut out of plywood sheets with our Recontech 1312 CNC machine. Generation of tool paths is covered as well, although it is probably a bit different in the most recent versions of Fusion software.

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Week 10: Electronics Production