Community challenge #6: Creative Joinery (closed)

Julien · March 22, 2020, 11:55am

Hello everyone,

I was sitting on the fence about putting the community challenges on hold during these troubled times, but I figured that we could still use this opportunity to take a break from the news, and have some fun in the shop (hopefully, many among you still have access to their machines)

I’d like to thank you again for the great entries and 50+ voters in community challenge #5.

Challenge #6 is: Creative Joinery!

The goal is to make joints that look fancy or interesting/unusual.

Many of you may not have a vertical workholding setup in place at the front of the machine, so the joinery does not have to be between two parts at 90°, it can be between pieces in the same plane. Think interlocking 2D pieces, using inlays as joints, etc…

The rules for this sixth challenge are:

use a Shapeoko or Nomad
submit your entry in this thread:
- It must include CNCed joints
- include the associated design file(s) and tell us about the steps you followed to create it.
you can post multiple entries if you want.
timeline:
- deadline is set to April 5th, midnight PST
- there will then be 7 days for voting.
  - voting will be open to legit community members only, and the jury reserves the right to remove votes from “outsiders”, and will also break any tie.

The prizes for this challenge are sets of ZrN-coated endmills from the Carbide3D store, and mainly single-flute ones (you’ll love them if you intend to start cutting aluminium)

First place : 278Z (1/4"), 274Z (1/8"), 282Z (2mm), 201Z (1/4" 3FL), 203Z (1/4" stub 3FL)

1stplace1373×973 241 KB
Second place : 278Z, 274Z, 282Z

2nd_3rd_place806×971 111 KB
Jury’s prize : 278Z, 274Z, 282Z

2nd_3rd_place806×971 111 KB

And as usual, some Carbide3D swag:

(note that it may take a while to get the prizes to you when this is over, depending on the situation at that time)

Stay safe, have fun, and be creative !

WillAdams · March 22, 2020, 12:51pm

Folks doing this sort of thing will probably want to use a fixture to cut parts held vertically in the overhang area at the front of the machine. One such design is:

I suspect that working up a design which allows for adjustment in the other two axes, rather than just Z will help (I’ve considered trapping the speed nuts in a circular cutout which allows angular adjustment but never worked up the specifics) will be needed for some joinery designs.

A list of joint types for which designs have been published already to use as either as a baseline or starting or jumping off point:

Fingerjoints: https://cutrocket.com/p/5cb536396c281/ — c.f., Design into 3D: Boxes: Magazine storage for a flat-cut relieved version (cutting those with a radius endmill rather than a V should remove the visible void)
rabbeted: https://cutrocket.com/p/5cba77918bb4b/
Knapp joints: Knapp Joint with CNC
Dovetails: Sharing Carbide Create Dovetail Files

MadHatter · March 22, 2020, 1:10pm

Here’s another website that has a bunch of CNC wood joints.

Not sure how I found it, but as much as he contributes, I wouldn’t be surprised if I got it from a @WillAdams post.

Julien · March 22, 2020, 1:13pm

And that link at the end with tens of CNC-friendly joints looks like a good place for inspiration.

luc.onthego · March 22, 2020, 2:22pm

Great site for inspiration. Some of those are very well suited to easily produce on the CNC with basic tools. I’m sure however, the designing could in some cases be challenging for tight fitting joinery.

WillAdams · March 22, 2020, 2:36pm

Another interesting idea are the various spring-fitting designs — one site with such designs is:

Sbedow7885 · March 24, 2020, 5:27pm

Here is a design concept… not sure if i will actually have time to cut it but i will see if i can this weekend. STL files uploaded for anyone else to play with.

CARBIDE CREATE JOINT - 250 inch dowel-3.zip (33.1 KB)

Julien · March 24, 2020, 5:33pm

Yay for keeping the C3D logo theme alive !
That’s a creative joint for sure. Alternatively the “inner C” could be part of the lower piece, and the “negative C” could be part of the top piece ?

Sbedow7885 · March 24, 2020, 5:35pm

I actually started off that way, but I don’t believe its possible to keep it down to two pieces, and show correctly on both sides of the joint. Thats probably not important… but It drove me to this version for now.

WillAdams · March 24, 2020, 6:14pm

The C3D logo will be mirrored on the other side of the joint — an argument for not having it show there.

Alternately, mill the hexagon from two sides and have two Cs?

fenrus · March 24, 2020, 6:15pm

it’s more upside down than mirrored

Sbedow7885 · March 24, 2020, 7:28pm

Here it is simplified a bit more…

STL Simple.zip (29.1 KB)

Julien · March 24, 2020, 7:30pm

Exactly what I had in mind!

Sbedow7885 · March 24, 2020, 7:34pm

This with some Carbide Green resin fill would look sharp on 4 corners of a Shapeoko Bench…

neilferreri · March 25, 2020, 12:01am

Depends how you flip it.

@Sbedow7885 What is it for? Like, what’s your vision for the end use?

Sbedow7885 · March 25, 2020, 2:17am

I really didnt have one in mind to be honest, but after I started to model it, I am thinking of making a new table for my XL and I think this would look good on the corners and be stronger than simple butt joints.

MarkDGaal · March 25, 2020, 12:46pm

If anyone wants an idea for this challenge pm me I’ve got a doozie. You’ll need someway to vertically hold the work piece tho.

m_price · March 25, 2020, 12:55pm

Here is a lighted shelf i made for over my desk. Its made from just some cheap scrap i had. The program i used was called Fingermaker. I looked for the link to it but i guess the programmer discontinued it. it was done with a 1/8" ball mill.

and here is some more of other projects.
Here is the legs i did for the Grand Lake table.

Sorry i don’t have a project file as it just output G-Code.

micphigoo · March 27, 2020, 10:21pm

This is a test piece I made today, not a finished project, but I hope it still qualifies…

My goal is to make a table base like this:

Saw this challenge and thought I’d try to come up with a different joint, that would help with clamping and glueing the two leg pieces. Got some inspiration from those excellent joints shared on the links above. This was my first test:

I was surprised how well it fit on my first try, though still some improvements would need to be made.!

enl_public · March 27, 2020, 11:37pm

Quite stylish. Then again, I am a fan of midcentury modern.