Tag Archives: cnc machine

How CNC Machining Revolutionizes Product Design: Boosting Efficiency and Precision

Posted on by

CNC machining plays a transformative role in modern manufacturing and revolutionizes product design and production by automating machine tool control through computers. Therefore, CNC machining is a high-precision solution for modern manufacturers, utilizing advanced electro-mechanical devices to move tools across various axes based on computer-programmed instructions. A typical CNC machine includes a controller, machine tool, and workpiece. The controller executes instructions from a computer program, directing the machine tool to cut or shape the workpiece.

Designer: Proximars

While robots are typically associated with repetitive tasks, Primus challenges this notion by partnering with human creators to execute artistic visions. This robotic arm translates digital art into commands, creating geometric pieces reminiscent of Andy Warhol. With Primus, users can mount a canvas, calibrate, and begin painting, combining human creativity with robotic precision for a truly unique artistic experience.

What are the advantages of using CNC Machining?

1. Accuracy

Precision turning machines operate autonomously, ensuring defect-free products with consistent accuracy. Governed by codes and software, they maintain settings throughout production cycles for product consistency. Additionally, they operate continuously without compromising quality.

Image courtesy of: stockfilmstudio

2. Achieves Speed in Production

The Running milling machines can run at their fastest speed to meet high demands, they can work nonstop, 24/7, staying accurate and saving material. This makes production fast, efficient, and scalable without extra costs.

Designer: Kenji Abe

Kenji Abe’s Hakusaku series features exquisite machined aluminum saké glasses designed to elevate its visual appeal. Crafted from duralumin, these cups boast thin rims, as slim as 0.6mm, offering a unique drinking experience. Precision-machined and adorned with geometric textures, they prevent temperature transfer while enhancing aesthetics.

3. Lower Production Costs

Using CNC machines drastically cuts down production costs, enhances efficiency, and scales production without waste. It also reduces energy usage, trimming operational expenses, making it a cost-effective method without sacrificing quality. Additionally, the low overhead cost due to minimal human intervention substantially reduces expenses.

Designer: Yunjae Lee

Designing unique chairs can be tough due to their long history, yet they inspire endless creativity. Seoul-based designer Yunjae Lee innovates with birch plywood and CNC milling, crafting a chair with three rounded legs, requiring no additional hardware for assembly. The Tri-Round Chair, reminiscent of IKEA projects, breaks down into eleven pieces before assembly, creating a stable structure with its interlocking design. Built from 18mm birch plywood, the chair offers stability without extra hardware, reimagining traditional chair design with a modern twist.

4. Reduced Wastage

CNC machines use iterative optimization to minimize waste and produce components efficiently. This approach, coupled with fixed tooling and routes, maximizes raw material usage and significantly reduces waste for manufacturers.

Designer: Jörg Hugo

Ceramic Bodies is a collection of four porcelain vases designed by Jörg Hugo to fit together like a three-dimensional puzzle. Utilizing a blend of digital and analog design methods, Hugo creates timeless pieces that explore the relationship between materiality, form, and space. Each vase undergoes geometric optimization to minimize structural mass and energy, resulting in a visually captivating ensemble. CNC-milled plaster molds ensure precision in sizing, while 3D-scanning and modification techniques enable efficient production and customization. This innovative approach combines the craftsmanship of handcrafted ceramics with the efficiency of digital design, offering a unique and visually striking addition to any space.

5. Ensures Safety

One primary benefit for CNC machine operators is safety. CNC machines operate behind guards or enclosed, transparent safety doors, making them much safer than manually operated machines.

6. Supports Various Materials

Image courtesy of: zokov

CNC machines work with a variety of materials, including composites, metals, foam, phenolics, and plastics. When choosing materials for CNC milling, some factors like hardness and heat tolerance need to be taken into consideration.

Designer: Dom Riccobene

Dom Riccobene’s CNC-machined Mt. Fuji sculpture showcases the intricate beauty of Richlite, a durable and sustainable material. Blending data, art, and design, Riccobene creates detailed sculptures crafted by algorithms, earning him the title of “data sculptor.” With applications in various industries, Richlite’s versatility and tactile properties make it a preferred choice for residential, commercial, and industrial uses.

7. Low Maintenance Required

CNC milling machines are low-maintenance, usually requiring only periodic tool changes and light cleaning. This in-house serviceability saves money as professional maintenance engineers are not needed.

8. Consistent Output

The CNC process ensures uniformity by being computer-controlled, resulting in identical parts with no variations in quality.

Designer: Baliza Norte

The BN! lamp, a modular table lamp crafted with CNC milling techniques, ensures precise and interchangeable assembly. Inspired by timber toys, its design guarantees symmetry and seamless operation. Delivered in a flatpack, it requires no extra hardware for assembly. Each component is meticulously crafted for easy replacement, and users can choose a bespoke brown color scheme.

CNC machines initially require a higher investment than manual machines, but as usage grows, costs decrease. Skilled technicians are still essential for programming and supervising, but finding them can be challenging, potentially impacting the quality of machined parts in some shops.

What are the four Steps of CNC Machining?

CNC machining progresses through four stages:

Step 1: Create the CAD Drawing

Image courtesy of: SpaceOak

The first step involves creating a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) model using 2D or 3D design software. Note that complex designs may require skilled designers, and the CAD model serves as the blueprint for the machining process, guiding the CNC machine in executing precise instructions for material cutting or shaping.

Designers: Ahmet Yasir Karakus & Ahmet Ergun

The ROWND unveils a user-friendly CNC lathe, compact and precise, suitable for new users and professionals alike. Its intuitive touchscreen interface and compatibility with various materials make it accessible and efficient for diverse projects.

Step 2: Convert CAD to CNC File

To convert CAD to CNC, use Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software or basic tools. CAM translates CAD designs into G code, which CNC machines understand. Note that basic tools offer simplicity but lack the advanced capabilities of CAM software.

Step 3: Configure the CNC Machine

Before manufacturing, the CNC machine needs proper setup, akin to configuring a printer. This involves positioning the workpiece accurately and configuring the die and other settings.

Designer: Jasper Mallinson

Jasper Mallinson’s Mecha-Morphis Wearable CNC Machine revolutionizes design manufacturing with its portable exoskeleton design. Small enough to fit on the arm, it provides remarkable mobility for intricate tasks, empowering creativity on the move. Versatile and sustainable, Mecha-Morphis reflects a fusion of innovation and environmental consciousness, offering a glimpse into the future of creative freedom.

Step 4: Execution

Once the configuration is complete, machine operation can proceed by executing the program on the CNC machine’s display panel. One may need to navigate program prompts for different settings. The machine runs continuously until manually stopped or due to errors or any form of power disruptions.

Designer: Makera Design

The Carvera enables one to create prototypes, designs, PCBs, and molds on your tabletop. Compact and equipped with powerful modules, it offers 3-axis CNC machining capabilities with optional laser-cutting and a 4-axis upgrade. Self-leveling and intuitive, it includes drill bits, a probe tool, and a laser module. With a robust build and versatile compatibility, it’s perfect for home or workspace use.

In conclusion, CNC-produced machines play a key role in product design as their components offer superior quality, and zero defects, alongside environmental benefits. Opting for CNC over manual machining brings advantages like precision, speed, safety, efficiency, and cost savings.

The post How CNC Machining Revolutionizes Product Design: Boosting Efficiency and Precision first appeared on Yanko Design.

One-handed exoskeleton CNC machine lends super humanized powers to creative builders of the future

Posted on by

In a world where innovation knows no bounds, Jasper Mallinson has created a groundbreaking prototype that pushes the boundaries of product design and wearable technology. His brainchild, the Mecha-Morphis Wearable CNC Machine, is nothing short of a modern marvel that promises to revolutionize the design manufacturing industries.

Mecha-Morphis is not your typical wearable exoskeleton. It’s a powerful, portable CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine that can be worn on your arm. What’s even more astonishing is that it’s small enough to fit comfortably, offering the wearer incredible mobility while working on intricate design and manufacturing tasks. If you are already feeling superhuman imagining the prospect of this wearable, you are not alone!

Designer: Jasper Mallinson

Imagine having a CNC machine at your disposal wherever you go. With Mecha-Morphis, this is now a reality. The device combines cutting-edge technology with ergonomic design, making it the perfect companion for architects, engineers, and designers who are always on the move. The frame of the portable and lightweight exoskeleton can move in six axes for six degrees of freedom in any direction. All the computer circuitry and other hardware attached to the machine is housed inside a small exposed backpack with the circuitry showing you mean business.

One of the most impressive features of Mecha-Morphis, envisioned as a part of Jasper’s final project from the Innovation Design Engineering masters course (by the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London) – is its versatility. Whether you need to carve intricate details on a piece of wood, sculpt delicate curves on metal, or 3D print a complex prototype – this wearable CNC machine can handle it all. It’s a design tool that adapts to your needs and allows you to unleash your creativity, no matter where you are. The Mecha-Morphis Wearable CNC Machine is not only resourceful for professionals but also for students and hobbyists. It offers the opportunity to learn and experiment with CNC technology in a portable, accessible way. The one-handed exoskeleton of sorts is a stepping stone for the next generation of designers and engineers.

Moreover, Mecha-Morphis is designed with sustainability in mind. It uses eco-friendly materials and efficient energy consumption, aligning with the global trend towards greener, more responsible manufacturing practices. It’s a testament to how innovation and environmental consciousness can go hand in hand. Empowering professionals to break free from traditional workshop constraints and explore new horizons, the Mecha-Morphis Wearable CNC Machine traverses the boundaries of conventional design, offering a glimpse into the future of creative freedom.

The post One-handed exoskeleton CNC machine lends super humanized powers to creative builders of the future first appeared on Yanko Design.

This tiny desktop CNC machine with lathe and laser modules puts powerful fabricating tools right at your fingertips

Posted on by



No more getting your parts fabricated from another country. The Carvera gives you the ability to make your own prototypes, mockups, designs, PCBs, and even molds, right on your tabletop.

Roughly the same size as a microwave oven, the Carvera is easily one of the smallest tabletop fab-labs you can own. Equipped with powerful modules, auto self-leveling features, auto tool changing abilities, and an interface that’s easy enough for any basic designer/engineer to use, the Carvera brings factory-grade prototyping and fabrication into the household.

Designer: Makera Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $3099 $4999 (38% off). Hurry, only 33/50 left! Raised over $1,300,000.

For a respectable $3,099, the Carvera adds 3-axis CNC machining abilities to your arsenal, with an optional laser-cutting module and even a 4-axis CNC upgrade. While that price tag’s higher than your average tabletop 3D printer, the Carvera gives you the ability to work with wood, plastic, composite (carbon fiber), metal, and even custom-design and produce your own PCBs, adding a valuable set of tools to your arsenal.

The Carvera ships fully assembled, with a work-area measuring 14.2″ x 9.4″ x 5.5″. It self-levels at the start of every job, and will automatically select the right tool for the right job on its own, calibrating along the way for an accurate end result. The tools at Carvera’s disposal include multiple drill bits from broad to narrow, a probe tool, and even a 2.5W laser etching/cutting module. The Carvera automatically switches between bits and modules based on the job, and a rather clever dust-collection pipe located alongside the spindle sucks in wood chips, plastic dust, and metal shavings/burrs as the machine does its job, keeping the work area clean throughout. The enclosed design helps keep any other fragments or dust particles from littering your area, and cuts out sound too, making Carvera perfect for having within your home or on your workspace.

Cavera features auto tool changing and auto probing.

Whether you are doing auto-leveling, cutting, cleaning, drilling, or carving, Cavera can automatically change the right tool for the right job seamlessly and save you time.

Cavera has a built-in dust collection system so projects start clean and finish clean.

With the integrated 2.5W diode laser module, you can engrave a wide variety of materials including paper, wood, plastic, leather, fabric, PCB stock etc.

While the Carvera’s built to be a self-operational 3-axis CNC machine, it comes with a modular 4th axis attachment that lets you add an extra dimension to your projects. The 4-axis module attaches a lathe to your Carvera, allowing you to make more detailed designs with undercuts (something that isn’t possible with traditional 3-axis relief jobs). The 4th axis module is optional and costs an extra $300, although it’s best suited for people who build intricate 3D models with complex details.

The entire gadget comes with a robust build, featuring a metal-alloy frame, a stainless-steel shell, and durable ABS+PC components. All axes of Carvera use high-quality linear rails and ball screws too, eliminating vibrations to ensure the Carvera works with precision. The CNC machine comes usable right out of the box. A fold-out holder lets you mount your Android/iOS smartphone on the side of the Carvera and control it + check the job status using Carvera’s app. The Carvera supports connections via USB and even WiFi, so you can even control the CNC machine using a MacOS/Windows/Linux computer. Carvera works with most common 2D and 3D software too, accepting 3D models from Fusion360, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and VCarve Pro, as well as vectors from Vectric Aspire and Adobe Illustrator (for PCBs and laser-etching and laser-cutting jobs).

Carvera lets you make professional PCBs for your electronics.

For those building cutting-edge drones from carbon fiber or metal parts for their robots, there is no substitute for CNC milling.

Carvera supports a wide range of natural materials, making it the perfect choice for artists and designers who make art and custom products.

The Carvera comes with a retail price tag of $5,000, although they’re running an early bird discount on Kickstarter. For the 38% discounted price of $3,099, you get the fully assembled and equipped Carvera with the bits and the laser module, a toolkit with drivers, brackets, and clamps, a kit of accessories featuring power cables, dust filters, safety goggles, and laser goggles. For experimentation, Carvera even gives you a sample set of materials to practice your skills and test your machine on including 2 waste boards, 4 PCBs, 2 acrylic plates, and even 2 aluminum plates. While not included in the sample set, Carvera even works with other plastics, set epoxies, a variety of woods, and even carbon fiber. The laser module works well on paper, wood, plastic, leather, and even certain fabrics. The Carvera desktop CNC machine comes with a 1-year warranty, and you can buy upgrades, mods, and spare parts from its online store.

Click Here to Buy Now: $3099 $4999 (38% off). Hurry, only 33/50 left! Raised over $1,300,000.

This flat-pack chair is supported by three rounded legs and requires no tools for assembly!

Posted on by

Developing unique, original ideas for chairs can be a tough ask– chairs have been around forever. Still, perhaps due to their rich, eclectic history, chairs supply an endless source of inspiration for designers. Adding his own interpretation to the mix, Yunjae Lee, a Seoul-based product designer has taken to birch plywood and CNC-milling to design and construct a chair with three rounded legs, requiring no additional tools or hardware for assembly.

Before assembly, Yunjae Lee’s Tri-Round Chair breaks down to eleven separate pieces– reminiscent of IKEA projects. From the looks of it, the eleven pieces of Tri-Round Chair have been CNC-milled to fit into one another like a 3D puzzle. The chair’s center support structure is comprised of two wooden pieces that rest on the ground, providing stability for the chair from the ground up. One longer beam intersects and runs perpendicular to those two boards to connect additional support side legs that cradle the chair’s main seat and backrest. The complex interlocking formation of the Tri-Round Chair ensures stability and a solid structure.

Tri-Round Chair is built from birch plywood that measures 18mm in width. By using thick pieces of plywood, Yunjae Lee was able to create a chair with rounded legs that can support the chair’s weight without any bending or the use of additional hardware. Through innovative, original design, each piece of Tri-Round Chair seamlessly connects with one another to form a finished product that feels familiar while giving the traditional four-legged chair new energy, and one less leg.

Designer: Yunjae Lee

By joining each separate component together, Tri-Round Chair finds support through a complex interlocking building method.

Symmetrical and round by design, Tri-Round Chair comprises eleven separate pieces of birch plywood.

Through interlocking and overlaid assembly, Tri-Round Chair is stable enough to carry weight.

Yunjae Lee painted Tri-Round Chair a darker shade of brown, a sophisticated new look compared to natural plywood.

Before assembly, Tri-Round Chair can be seen as eleven separate pieces, echoing what might appear as a project from IKEA.

Tooli Plots, Engraves and Airbrushes on Your Desktop

Posted on by
Tooli Modular CNC Machine

Tools that were once industrially available are now making their way onto our desktops, to the endless joy of DIY enthusiasts.

If you’re past the stage of marking the name of your loved one on a tree, you probably know that metallic surfaces are far more durable. Granted, Troy Cundy must have thought of more practical things when he designed the Tooli creative desktop tool, a desktop CNC machine that relies on modularity to prove its versatility. The four tasks Tooli can accomplish are laser engraving, airbrusing, dispensing and plotting.

While this CNC machine isn’t for everybody, it could definitely prove useful for creative minds that are interested in leaving a mark on things (quite literally, this time). One of the best things about Tooli is that modules can be added to it in order to expand the surface for plotting or engraving. Considering that, Tooli could help small business, as well, and not just individuals.

“Tooli was designed from the ground up to be a scalable multi-function creative tool that’s super easy to use. Available in 3 sizes up to 84x60cm (33″ x 24″), Tooli provides the perfect creative space for artists and makers. The intuitive touch screen makes using Tooli super easy, and together with our Art2Gcode software offers a total package that everyone can use.

Tooli can plot with a level of versatility unlike anything else. The solenoid found in conventional plotters is replaced with a stepper motor and provides ultimate control over plunge speed and depth. With adjustable force from 30 to 1000g (1 to 35oz), this unique design is the perfect tool for plotting with everything from scrapers to soft tip markers. Tooli’s plot function allows you to easily create drawings with pens pencils and markers, or cut signs and decals with the included knife. We’ve even added a unique stamping feature that automatically returns the stamp to an ink pad as needed.”

Cundy turned to Kickstarter to raise the $65,000 AUD necessary for mass producing Tooli. So far, backers have pledged less than a third of that, but the project still has 37 days to go. If pledges follow the current trend, the funding goal should be exceeded way before the deadline. Assuming you’re backing the project with more than $1,395 AUD, you should receive your modular CNC machine in March 2016.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Nomad 883 3D printer, or the gingerbread house built using CAD and lasers.

3Doodler pen gets safety feature, attaches to CNC arms to fulfill its 3D printing potential

Posted on by

3Doodler pen attaches to CNC arms to fulfill its 3D printing potential

When we ran into the WobbleWorks team on our recent Berlin trip, they were kindly enough to show off the shipping version of their crowdoverfunded 3D Doodler handheld 3D Printer. Though, when cofounder Max Bogue hinted that the company still had some surprises up its sleeve, he wasn't kidding. Perhaps most interesting is the inclusion of a mounting dock on the pen, which allows you to attach it a CNC machine, fulfilling the pen's 3D printing ambitions. Once attached, you can utilize another port to control the speed buttons remotely, so you can manipulate extrusion without actually touching the device. Also of note is the addition of a silicone tip cover, which serves to protect fingers from the heated metal extruder.

Filed under:

Comments