Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Loooking for cnc project book? dxf, g-code?

Rick Chownyk wrote:

>
> Ok, this may seem like childs play to some people, but I have TRIED
> real hard to work in 3-d and have come to the conclusion that I am a
> 2 -d person! I have spent WAY to much time playing with Rhino, and I
> just-don't-git-it!!! Is there a cnc project book or website that has
> drawings or the g-codes to make things? I wanted to make my dad a
> 3"x3"x3" aluminum block that has the circles generated from each
> side, so that it looks like 5 or 7 squares in it. I saw one on ebay
> a number of years ago and I would really like to make some for my
> family (read- cheap,cool x-mass gifts!) My wife was very impressed
> with the detail I can get from my cnc and wants them in Silver AND
> 3/8" square for earings!!! If anyone knows of the plans, prints, or
> whatever, please let me know. Thanks! Rick Chownyk
> Rchownyk(@)aol.com

Hello Rick,

I wrote a C program to generate Gcode for the nested cubes that I think
you are referring to. The program is for 3 nested cubes. The outermost
cube is something like 1.95 x 1.95 x 1.95 inches milled or flycut from a
2 inch cube. The rough 2 inch cube is a 2 inch length sawed from 2 inch
square bar stock.

The middle cube is a 1 inch cube. The smallest is a 1/2 inch cube. The
bit used is a 3/8 inch diameter roughing endmill with 5/8 inch flute.
There is a 3/8 inch diameter hole drilled through the center of the
smallest cube.

The endmilling does each side about 0.020 inches short of severing the
next smaller cube. The result is that the 3 cubes are nested but still
attached. You can use a jewelers saw to sever the corners so that the
cubes are detached. The diagonal dimensions of each cube are just a
little larger than the round hole it was severed from. As a result, each
cube tumbles freely within the next larger cube but cannot be removed.

Some folks prefer that the cubes not be severed to tumble freely.

The C program can be adapted to more than 3 cubes and to various sizes.
Or you can just use the present Gcode as it is for the 1.95 inch, 1.0
inch, 0.5 inch nested cubes.

I did this in 6061 aluminum on my Sherline 5410 (metric 5400) CNC mill.
Allow about 1 hour per side. I used TurboCnc 3.1a.

Is this something I should send directly to Rick or would others like it
too. Is there someplace that I should post it for all.

Also, for a very small nested cube see Dan Statman's jewelry website. Or
maybe I saw it posted on the Sherline website as something neat made by
Dan Statman with a Sherline mill.

BTW, I have been told that these nested cubes were orignally a right of
passage for a lathe apprentice. The cube sides are faced then nested
round holes are bored on the lathe. Then the corners are severed by
undercutting the bottom of each hole. After a side is finished the round
holes are plugged with press fit round plugs also made by the
apprentice. After the last side is bored, all of the plugs are removed
to allow the inner cubes to tumble freely within the outer cubes.

Tom Hubin
thubin@...