CNC for Builders at TTLMakerspace

Get to Know a CNC – Week 1

Concepts Covered

Get hands-on with the machines. Learn how they move, how to manually control them, mounting up materials.

Exercise 1: Setting up for operations

Exercise 2: Manual control of CNC

Exercise 3: Using coordinates, setting a job origin

First Automation! – Week 2

Concepts Covered

Walk through the entire process of creating an automation intended for assembly. Use miniature modelling (a stool) to learn design principles for CNC production, as well as the basics of CAM.

Exercise 1: Prepping the CNC machine

Exercise 2: Running first automation

Exercise 3: Create a simple solid model, generate CAM operation for it

Multi-body Modelling & CAM – Week 3

Concepts Covered

Learn more advanced techniques for creating designs with multiple interconnected parts. Learn to position objects relative to each other to visualize designs in 3D. Learn the important concept of tolerance for good fit. Become familiar with parametric modelling for easily adjustable fixtures.

Multi-body CAM – Week 4

Concepts Covered

Learn to design for, and correct problems commonly encountered in building for CNC using dressup modifiers. Become familiar with edge-treatments such as chamfers and round-overs, and how to plan double-sided operations in CAM.

Joints and Helper Objects – Week 5

Concepts covered

Go in-depth on creating joints that can be produced on a CNC machine, and learn to use helper objects for solving tricky problems.

Exercise 1: Dovetail Joint

Exercise 2: Lap Joint

Final Project – Week 6

Concepts covered

Use your multi-body modelling and CAM skills to create the final project – a tool organizer for the French Cleat Wall! This project gets you using all your acquired skills to create a design intended for a real-world environment.

Successfully completing the final assignment unlocks 3 hour of machine time you can book for your own use.