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First CNC project. Not arcade related, but getting much, much closer.CP mockup.

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mccoy178:

Playing around tonight, I decided to throw an old mockup of a 4p control panel into the cnc program to see how hard it would be to make it.  Well, here is how hard it is:
1.  Create a .bmp or .jpg of the control panel with real measurements.  (i.e. photoshop, etc.)
2.  Download trial software of VCarve Pro (www.vectric.com), and import the pic.
3.  Convert picture to vectors with simple, simple click
4.  Highlight areas to pocket (buttons, trackball hole, joystick holes)
5.  Toolpath the cuts (not hard)
6.  Preview cuts
7.  Repeat selections for countersink of trackball, cutouts for controls and trackball housing.
8.  Do the same to cutout cp from your material.

I understand that this will not make sense to everyone, but if it does, the point is that it is really that simple to have the cnc cutout the cp!  Now, if you want to countersink on the bottom side, you would need to flip the .jpg, draw with simple boxes the areas to be routed out, and put that in the software.  With the actual material, it would be flipped just the same.  As long as it goes exactly back into where it came out, it will match up perfectly.  A simple fixture to hold the control panel could be routed out first to avoid any movement issues. 

Here are the pics of the cp I used and the resulting rendering of what the cnc would do.  It took all of five minutes at most. :cheers:
(See, I told you this thread was not arcade related, yet arcade related. ;) )

mccoy178:

Also, this would hold true for any cabinet .jpg's.  If it is a true measurement drawing or pic like Jakobud's, you could use one side, i.e. the heigth of the cabinet, to scale it appropriately.  From there, it would be as simple as cutting out the side.  Otherwise, .dxf files are not necessary if the drawing is of good quality and accuracy. :applaud:

Franco B:

Awesomes  8)

I can see your next project being quite special  ;)

Whats the bed size of that thing? Can you cut full size side panels?

Just dont do what my shift partner did when I was CNC milling my CPs and use coolant (after expressingly telling him not too). Coolant and MDF don't mix well  ::)

mccoy178:

Coolant?!  I hope not on this machine.  It has a 5' x 10' bed with a 5.5" workable z axis.  Thanks for the compliments!  I don't see any freetime forever, but I am cutting out a wall mounted jukebox for a buddy Wednesday night, so hopefully I'll have pics!

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