CNC Box (Finger) Joint Box

Tutorials
93

Selecting “LuaLaTeX” and rerunning got me this: any idea what I am still doing wrong ?

This is LuaTeX, Version 1.10.0 (MiKTeX 2.9.7000 64-bit) 
 restricted system commands enabled.
(./cncboxfingerjoint.tex
LaTeX2e <2018-12-01>

luaotfload | main : initialization completed in 1.050 seconds
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/generic/luatex85/luatex85.sty")
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/latex/base/article.cls"
Document Class: article 2018/09/03 v1.4i Standard LaTeX document class
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/latex/base/size10.clo"))
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/lualatex/luacode/luacode.sty"
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/generic/oberdiek/ifluatex.sty")
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/luatex/luatexbase/luatexbase.sty"
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/luatex/ctablestack/ctablestack.sty")))
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/luatex/luamplib/luamplib.sty")
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/latex/tools/calc.sty")
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/latex/xcolor/xcolor.sty"
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/latex/graphics-cfg/color.cfg")
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/latex/graphics-def/luatex.def"))
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/latex/forloop/forloop.sty"
("C:/Program Files/MiKTeX 2.9/tex/latex/base/ifthen.sty"))[\directlua]:9: attem
pt to index a nil value (field 'Sample')
stack traceback:
	[\directlua]:9: in main chunk.
\luacode@dbg@exec ...code@maybe@printdbg {#1} #1 }
                                                  
l.185 \end{luacode}
94

Oh yes, there’s one other thing.

I disabled the \typein of querying for which Saved Preset would be used:

%\typein[\boxspecification]{What preset is to be used?}

and instead, hard-coded it to:

\newcommand{\boxspecification}{Sample}

You’ll need to either name your pre-set “Sample”, or change that line in the .tex file to match your name — please avoid using underscores or special characters.

95

Another reason to use METAPOST (besides the fact that I want to learn it so I can leverage that to learn METAFONT so as to do a typeface design I’ve been working on for decades) is that it allows analysis of paths and intersection, which some of the boxes require:

96

Renamed my preset to “Sample”, and success:

LuaLaTex_OK
LuaLaTex_OK.png763×681 22 KB

So to sum up what I did for other members, the workflow is easy enough:

  1. install OpenSCAD (2019 RC4, not the latest stable 2015 version)
  2. open the .scad file, modify the parameters in the Customizer, then create a “Sample” preset with the “+” button, hit “Save Preset” to get the JSON file.
  3. install MikTeX, launch TexWorks, open the .tex file, select “LuaLaTeX” in the drop-down menu, hit the “play” button, and voilà, the PDF.

Not having to open Inkscape to get from the PDF to an SVG would be a good improvment to the workflow.

1 Like
97

METAPOST will directly create an SVG — I just need to structure the files to allow for that.

1 Like
98

Hey, Will, will one be able to make the finger cuts a bit deeper - and before they come out of the fixture use a 90 deg Vbit to put a chamfer on the ends of the fingers so they will be proud, and finished, when assembled?

I’m still not sure how you’re doing this as once it stated that all four pieces should be milled at the same time and then it was two. Have you done a video - or do one when this is all completed?

Thanks for the work. Don’t know where your kick-starter is located, but I’ll kick in a few bucks if it is still open. Location??

99

Thanks!

Working on a video and set of photos now.

The Kickstarter is at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/designinto3d/design-into-3d-a-book-of-customizable-project-desi

Leaving the fingers proud and chamfering is an interesting idea — it’d make assembly easier if nothing else — I’ll see if I can work that in as an option.

100

Hit Kickstarter. Thanks for the link.

1 Like
101

Working up a design:

Capture
Capture.PNG2067×1440 98.9 KB

which makes this:

cncboxfingerjoint-cigarbox.pdf (8.7 KB)

which can then be opened in Inkscape and resaved as an SVG:

cncboxfingerjoint-cigarbox

Which can then be opened in Carbide Create. Use the two boxes which have three boxes to cut the sides and front and back — the top and bottom can be cut directly from the geometry for them. It will be necessary to draw in the geometry for the dividers.

Then use the structures at the top left to cut the fingerjoints using the fixture at: https://cutrocket.com/p/5cb25f3380844/

1 Like
102

That .svg will need to be sized down to 75% of the size

103

The sides will need to have mirrored slots for the sliding lid added:

cncfingerjointbox_cigarbox_sides_front-back.c2d (43.5 KB)

104

For the joints, if you wish, you can cut the boards a bit long and then when you mount them use this geometry:

image
image.png2067×1440 109 KB

to machine them flat/even before cutting the joints (I would recommend doing so).

cncfingerjointbox_cigarbox_joints.c2d (50.7 KB)

1 Like
105

Here is the source file which has the lid and bottom in it:

cncfingerjointbox_cigarbox.c2d (55.1 KB)

106

Worked up a generalized fingerjoint box with fingers all around:

https://www.blockscad3d.com/community/projects/966268

1 Like
107

Reworking this a bit, I now have a version in OpenSCAD which previews without thin not quite removed parts when modeled with rounding:

image
image2065×1440 109 KB

108

Putting two parts together and showing their intersection shows the material which needs to be removed:

image
image2065×1440 208 KB

109

A glitch. hull doesn’t work properly with concave geometry:

image
image2065×1440 216 KB

Will need to define a module in such a way that that isn’t an issue.

110

One option here is to do pairs of cylinders at the begin/end points which are joined via a hull operation:

image
image2065×1440 712 KB

it just needs to be joined up with a loop which stacks them in increasing sizes so as to create the radius endmill shape.

111

Which once made produces a representation of the cut:

image
image2065×1440 201 KB

112

Which works when one is placed manually:

image
image2065×1440 196 KB

next up is seeing what’s involved in adding them to the appropriate module or in some other programmatic fashion.