Buying a CNC for the First Time

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

@Kathy

I haven’t seen anything like these things here yet

We’ve done a lot of boxes:

A Simple CNC Box --- in-depth

There is a very cool video on this at: [A Simple CNC Box] which unfortunately, doesn’t go into depth about the CAD/CAM aspects of this. Since it’s so simple, it’s an excellent project to show one technique for drawing it up. c.f., Start by installing and launching your favourite CAD/CAM app — we’ll use Carbide Create for this. Actually, no. Start by deciding the dimensions of the box, and determining what thickness(es) of material will be used.

Knapp Joint with CNC

Has anyone ever tried to create Knapp joints with their CNC? It looks like a very good candidate for CNC joinery.

CNC Box (Finger) Joint Box

Working up a tutorial on this for the wiki: but is now at: First step is to create the box itself: This is done in OpenSCAD using the parameters: length = 6; width = 3; height = 4; thickness = 0.375; bottomlidthickness=0.125; pins=13; partspacing=2; Next resolve the pin/joint size and spacing: [cnc_box_fingerjoint] Next step is to work out how to get from the above parameters to a file which may be easily cut using Carbide Create — probably using METAPOST.

A different sort of box

Building from a couple of different ideas[1][2], and giving up on the perfection of void-free, and limiting tools to a reasonable number (2), I have arrived at: https://www.blockscad3d.com/community/projects/1270618 which allows one to cut out a box in 2, 3 or 4 operations: bottom (cut to size) top (cut to size) — possibly combined w/ the bottom front/back and one or both sides (repeat once for 2 operations if need be) — this will cut the joinery blind box joints and miter as well as feature…