For the CNC Router, we were tasked with creating a maze of our design. To start this process, I printed off some graph paper and began to draw my design by hand. I drew the main path, then branching "Red Herrings". I highlighted it and then began the process of converting it to digital.
Drawing the maze was a bit of a pain in Inventor due to the constraints for each line segment. I wanted all to be uniform in width in order to make it look a bit more professional. First I drew the main box and extruded it to the correct height, then in one sketch I drew the rest of the insides and extruded inwards. It made the shape of the maze perfectly. I only encountered a few problems due to the fact I drew with grid paper first. I incorrectly converted the distance of my grid paper to Inventor, so the final maze looks slightly different, even though for the most part it's the same idea.
The next step was not too bad, but gave me some issues. We had to import our files to Fusion 360 in order to get the code for the Router. Once in 360 we had to setup what our part actually consisted of, change settings, change what the computer saw as (0,0,0) and finally have the computer calculate the tool path and export as G-code. Left: Setting up and adjusting box point Right: Tool paths calculated
Setting up the Router was the most stressful part of this project because I did not want to screw it up. Luckily, I had help the entire way through, so all my fingers are intact. After firing everything up and pulling up the G-code file, I had to navigate the drill bit to the center of my material and tell the Router that point was (0,0). Zeroing the other axis was interesting because we placed an electrically charged metal block on top of my foam and the Router lowered the bit until they touched and closed the circuit, which zeroed the z axis.
Finally, I laser cut my name into it and the maze was finished. Originally I had the wrong blue color so it melted right through which you can see on the right side.
In doing this project, I learned quite a bit. First, drawing the maze in Inventor required a lot of focus, but overall wasn't too difficult. Next, importing into Fusion 360 was a breeze, but the toolpaths and settings for the setup were the hard part. I also learned about the simulation in 360, which will cut out the part on the computer to show you if anything is incorrect. Finally, I learned how to set up the Router, which may come in handy for my final project.