Rabbeted box generator for Carbide Create

I wrote a small app to create plans for rabbeted boxes on my S3. I wanted something where I could just type in the board thickness + width/height/length of the box I wanted, and have a plan ready to cut. It’s fairly simple right now; the rabbets are just calculated at 1/2 the thickness of the boards, but they should be ready to glue or fasten together.

http://chaunax.com/shapeoko/twhl.html

Since the Carbide Create .c2d file is in a readable format, I was able to create the entire .c2d file, along with all of the toolpaths needed! All you have to do is type in your dimensions, save off the file, and open it in CC. You can adjust your feed rates or tools, or move pieces around, and theoretically the toolpaths should just adapt itself in CC. (I’m defaulting to #102 in wood).

Give it a try, and let me know how it goes!

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Neat!

I worked up doing similar boxes (by hand) ages ago: http://www.shapeoko.com/projects/project.php?id=1 — do you think you could add the hinge idea from that as well?

I think I could work that up, I’ll give it a try soon. At first I wondered how you coded the roundover portion of the lid from an svg, but then I realized it’s just a post step, which makes my 2.5d job much easier.

I also need to re-read my Roy Underhill books and figure out if there’s a better depth than the 1/2 measurement I’ve been using. I’m sure he’ll be amused that I’m using his book to figure out what to CNC.

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There was another recent hinged box design posted to Reddit which I need to find the time to look into — might make a nice option for your system, and wouldn’t require any post-processing carving:

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For those wanting to use this app again, please try the new link here: http://chaunax.github.io/projects/twhl-box/twhl.html

Let me know if you run into any problems. I fried my board a while back and couldn’t use Carbide Create, so I haven’t tested it in a while.

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Worked up an OpenSCAD file to preview this:

Available at: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3575705

Note that the generator has moved to:

http://chaunax.github.io/projects/twhl-box/twhl.html

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