Exploratory 9

Laminated Project

Autodesk Fusion 360 is industry standard 3D Modelling software.  Students will uses the software to create a three dimensional models of a cutting board.  Once created, 2 dimensional ‘working drawings’, or plans,  are generated which serve as a guide to the machining and assembling of the cutting board.  Cutting boards will also incorporate the programming and operation of CNC machinery . 

Cutting Board Design

As with any project, there are some ‘constraints’, or rules, that need to be observed when designing. 

Design Constraints:

• Project Planning – Your project will be modeled in 3D using Fusion 360
• Size
  • Overall Length & width – maximum 13″ (330 mm)  in length and 12″ (300 mm) 
  • Thickness –  finished thickness of your cutting board shall be 3/4″
  • Single Board – no single board shall be wider than 3″
• # of Boards – your design must use a minimum of 4 pieces of wood to demonstrate your ability to laminate
• CNC – your design will incorporate the use of both the CNC router and the Laser engraver in an effort to enhance the finished product and demonstrate the ability to operate these tools.
• Working Drawing (plan) – from your completed model, a dimensioned working drawing will be produced that will be used during construction of your project.
• Wood Restriction
  •  Wood species must be chosen from those identified in class
  • BLACK WALNUT wood is only to be used for accent pieces ($$$)

Procedure – Student Designed Laminated Project

Exploratory 9 Project 1 Self-Assessement

Setting Up an Autodesk Account and Obtaining A Free Education License

You will need to setup an Autodesk account and apply for a Fusion 360 free education license.  This is a two step process.  

1. Create an Autodesk Account (follow above link).  You know you have completed step one when you have received a ‘verification email’ and clicked the ‘Verify’ button.  You will now have access to a 30 day free trial of Fusion 360.  Sign into Fusion 360 using the link found on your desktop.
2. Verify your student status (will need to be done once a year).  Completing this step will convert your 30 day free trial to a 1 year education license.  You will need a school document to prove your student status in order to complete this step.  This can be obtained from your teacher.

Account Sign-up guide (pdf)

Browser Access

Tutorial Series – Designing a Cutting Board

The following tutorials are graded.  As you complete each one you must show your teacher to receive a mark.  Failure to do this will result in no mark awarded for the given tutorial (ie a student that does not show their teacher any tutorial until complete will only receive a grade for the last tutorial in the series)

Fusion 360 – Basics

• Complete this BEFORE anything else

Modelling a basic cutting board:

• Tutorial 1 – Modelling the first board
• Tutorial 2 – More boards
• Tutorial 3 – Assembling
• Tutorial 4 – Creating a unique design
• Tutorial 5 – Modeling the drip groove

Creating a ‘working drawing’

• Drawing Tutorial 1 – sheet setup and view placement
• Drawing Tutorial 2 – adding dimensions

Once you have completed the tutorials and dimensioned your plan you will print out your plan out and submit it for marking and approval to proceed.

Preparing to use the CNC Router

Complete the tutorials below to program the CNC Router to cut a drip groove in your cutting board…

When you launch VCarve on your computer for the first time you will be asked for license & registration keys.  These can be located here using File Explorer…

• This PC > SchoolShare > Maker Wood Studentz > Exploratory 9 > Vcarve Info

Open the ‘.pdf’ file and copy and paste.

• VCarve Tutorial 1 – Job Setup
• VCarve Tutorial 2 – Create a rectangle
• VCarve Tutorial 3 – Generate a ‘Toolpath’

Versalaser 4.60

 Using the laser to enhance your project

• Importing Your Working Drawing into Inkscape
• Inkscape – Preparing for Engraving
  1. 1. Images
     2. Text-basic
     3. Text-curved

  Laser – UCP Settings