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Guess what time it is? It’s Easter season! – a time for giving and receiving Easter eggs, spending quality moments with family, and Easter DIY decorations! Wondering what Easter project to embark on? Well, wonder no more because we’ve got just the thing for you!
This week, we’re thrilled to present our latest Easter Egg Holder project complete with a full guide and resource pack including CAD models, End Mill Tool Libraries, and more!
Let’s dive into how we made this project and how YOU can make it too! And maybe even get a sweet deal of up to $251.66 OFF on your own CNC machine!
Step 1: Design (CAD)
As we geared up to design this project, we found ourselves in need of a little inspiration. That’s when we stumbled upon this Easter Egg Holder idea! Before beginning, we decided to keep things simple by opting for some 6mm thick MDF
With the design concept in mind, we fired up Fusion 360 to bring it to life. modelling the Easter Egg Holder was easy – by just tracing the image, and extruding the sketch, Our Easter Egg Holder was ready to go!
But here’s the best part – we’re sharing the CAD file with you for FREE! So go ahead, grab it below!
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Click to expand
Step 2: Manufacturing (CAM)
With our model ready, it was time to use Fusion360’s Manufacturing tools to generate a full toolpath. You can find this by navigating to the Manufacturing tab.
The operations used in this project were pockets for the ear, eye, and nose. Then we used a contour operation for the outline of the bunny! Only 2 operations and this was ready to go!
But before we unleashed our design onto the wood, we decided to play it safe and simulate the toolpath using our trusty Fusion360 End Mill Library. Oh yeah, did I mention you can also get a FREE Maker Store End Mill Library for Fusion360, Carveco, or Vectric? Download it below!
End Mill Selection
Let’s chat about picking the right end mills. For our project, we went with two different sizes. For cutting wood, we chose a 2-flute down-cut end mill. The down-cut design stops the wood from chipping on the surface, and the 2 flutes help clear away swarf material (woodchips) faster.
We used a bigger 6mm 2-Flute Down-Cut End Mill for the outline and handle contour cuts. With this larger tool, we could finish the job quicker and cut deeper in fewer passes.
For the smaller details like the ear, eye, nose, and slab insert pockets, we used a smaller 3.175mm 2-Flute Down-Cut End Mill. It’s great for cutting those tiny details precisely.
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Critical CAM Setting Recommendations:
- End Mills:
#180 3.175mm (1/8") 2 Flute Flat End Carbide Down-Cut
#100 6.0mm 2 Flute Flat End Carbide Down-Cut - Spindle Speed: 16,500 RPM
- Cutting Feed Rate: 1200mm/min
- Use Even Step downs: TRUE
- Ramp Type: Helix
- Ramping Angle: 1 Degree
- Roughing Step: 1mm
These settings are generalized to suit the C-Beam XL, WorkBee V3, and OutBack CNC Machines. Users with different machines may require alternative settings for optimal results.
Step 3: Machine Setup
There are 3 main tasks to get your CNC machine setup: Clamping, Probing, & Extraction.
Clamping
As we were setting up our WorkBee V3 CNC Machine with an MDF spoiler board, we pondered how best to secure our material for machining. After some thought, we went with the reliable option of using standard wood screws to ensure a firm grip during the process.
But while we didn’t end up utilizing it this time around, we couldn’t help but consider the potential of the T-Track spoiler board system. It’s a fantastic alternative that we’ve seen others use with great success. The beauty of the T-Track system lies in its simplicity – it makes clamping and unclamping your workpiece a breeze, with no extra tools required.
And hey, if you’re interested, we happen to offer the T-Track system too! It’s just one of the many CNC accessories we offer to help make your machining projects smoother and more efficient.
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Click to expand
Collet & End Mill Installation
Before we could dive into cutting our material, there was a crucial step – getting the right cutting tool! After considering our options, we settled on the 3.175mm 2 Flute Flat End Carbide Down Cut End Mill (#180) and the 6.0mm 2 Flute Flat End Carbide Down Cut End Mill (#100) for this particular project.
Installing it was a breeze – just slide the End Mill into the appropriate Collet that matches the end mill shank diameter, then tighten both the Collet and the End Mill onto the spindle. With that simple setup, we were ready to bring our design to life with precision and accuracy.
Probing
To set the start position of the program, we first position the XYZ touch probe snugly on the nearest corner of our material, then attach the alligator clip to a solid ground point such as the end mill.
Within CNCjs, we initiate the probing process, which quickly sets the precise X, Y, and Z start positions. This step ensures that our CNC program begins with pinpoint accuracy, laying the foundation for flawless execution.
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Extraction
As our CNC machine works, it inevitably generates swarf – those wood chips that can wreak havoc on your projects and even wear down our end mills.
To keep our creations pristine and our tools in top shape, we simply opted for our trusty shop vacuum. It’s a straightforward yet effective method to easily remove any swarf in its path, ensuring a clean and smooth cutting process.
Of course, if you’re looking for a more permanent and hands-free solution, you can always explore options like a mounted dust shoe.
Production
Now, onto the fun part – the execution phase! With all the setup completed and our program loaded onto the controller, it’s time to kick back and watch the WorkBee V3 CNC Machine do its magic!
Most importantly, let’s not forget to capture these moments! Don’t hesitate to grab your camera and snap some awesome shots for Instagram. Remember to tag us with #MakerStoreUSA, so we can see what you’ve made!
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Step 4: Post-Production
We’re on the home stretch! With the Easter Egg Holder precisely cut, we now just need to sand the tray and finish it!
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Sanding
We employed a range of sandpaper grits, spanning from the coarse 60 grit all the way up to 300 grit. It’s important to start with the lower grit sandpaper as this is the roughest. From there, You can finish with the highest grit sandpaper which is the least rough, doing so will provide a fantastic smooth finish to any wood you choose.
Finishing
When finishing the product, you have a world of options! We’ve chosen to leave the MDF material uncoated to be painted later on!
Some other great alternatives to wax might be:
– Paint
– Varnish
– Clear Coat
– Lacquer
– Linseed Oil
– Wood Wax
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