Final Project

I started this assignment with the intention of making an engraved rolling pin like the ones linked here. I do a lot of baking so I thought it would be a fun way to use the 4 Axis CNC. Things went awry..

I spent a long time turn the handles so that they comfortably fit the palms of my hands. I turned the dowel so that it was the length that I think would be the most helpful based on the recipes that I usually make.

Then came for the time for me to make the hole in the centre of the dowel. I bought a super long drill bit. I went to load my project onto the lathe but mysteriously the fixture that mounts a drill bit to the right most side of the lathe was missing.. I asked shop staff and Amitabh but we couldn’t find it or figure out an alternative. So this meant that I had to eyeball it with my own jig. This did not go well and resulted in an off centred hole which caused a very wobbly rolling pin 😦

I think the project is salvageable eventually I was disappointed so I switched gears to a new idea.

I’m feeling a little homesick lately so I decided to make a topographical map of my favourite place in Canada with the other mill. Here’s a screencap of the area. I decided to recreate a particular valley.

I traced over the image in illustrator to create the levels.

Then I separated them out into layers.

And then sent each one to the other mill for adjustments. I love the other mill. The interface is so so good.

I milled the designs into a small piece of cedar that I got in the Yukon. It smelt incredible.

Then I decided to cut a couple layers out of this copper coated aluminum to add to the piece. These little layers mark the areas where I camped the last time I was in the Yukon.

I got this copper coated aluminum from Home Depot and it mills very poorly. Next time I’m just going to use copper plates.