Awesome CNC

A curated list of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) and Digital Fabrication resources.

Contents

• Introduction to CNC
  • Beginner Books
  • Feeds and Speeds
  • Workholding
  • Tolerances
  • Intro Miscellaneous
• Software
• Designs and Models
  • Furniture
  • Vector Related
  • Photo Techniques
  • Terrain Related
• YouTube Channels
• Uncategorized
• Related Awesome Lists

Introduction to CNC

• Shapeoko CNC A to Z - Guide for new Shapeoko CNC users, but lots of good general info on workflow, tooling, feeds & speeds, workholding, etc.
• PreciseBits Tutorials - Collection of Wood & Metal tutorials accumulated by PreciseBits aka Think & Tinker.
• AutoDesk Instructables CNC Class - Teaches basic CNC concepts and flat pack design.
• CNC Dictionary - Definitions of various arcane terms used in CNC machining. (CNC Cookbook)
• Guerrilla guide to CNC and resin casting - Home manufacturing tutorial for robot builders, model makers, and other hobbyists. (Michal Zalewski)
• Vectric for the Absolute Beginner - Great series of videos on using Vectric software, starting with job setup... Mark Lindsay CNC

Beginner Books

• Make: Getting Started with CNC - Introduction to working with desktop CNCs, (Edward Ford, creator of the ShapeOKO CNC).
• Make: Design for CNC - Learn how to design, fabricate, and assemble a wide range of CNC projects
• Guide to CNC Sign Making - This book will lead you through the sign-making process with simple non-technical language and show you many examples of great signs...
• The Hobbyist's Guide to CNC - Just published, haven't had a chance to explore fully, but seems to cover the hobby market.
• Mastering Fusion 360 - Step by step projects for Fusion 360 for CNC and 3D printing. (Jake Sugden & Joshua Manley, SliceForm LLC)

Feeds and Speeds

• Fablab Speed and Feeds Calculator - Basic feeds & speeds calculator. Not a replacement for understanding feeds & speeds.
• G-Wizard - Feeds & Speeds calculator running on Windows. (CNC Cookbook)
• PreciseBits Feed and Speed Calculators
• Making sense of Feeds and Speeds - What is Chip Load and why is it important?
• CNC Feeds and Speeds Calculator Wood - Guide + Easy Tips (CNC Cookbook)
• 16 Tips to Avoid Tearout and Splintering / CNC Machining Plywood - Choice of bits, feeds & speeds, cut direction etc. (CNC Cookbook)
• SFM to RPM - What is Surface Feet per Minute and converting to spindle speed. (CNC Cookbook)
• CNC Routing: Speeds and Feeds - Chip load, feeds and speeds, flute types, DOC (Depth Of Cut), oh my! (Cal Bryant)
• Understanding V-Bits for VCarving - Good visual for understanding cut width vs cut depth for different angle V-Bits. (Kyle Ely, Learn Your CNC

Workholding

• 8 Ways to Hold Material in Place... - ...While Machining with a CNC Router (Kyle Ely, Learn Your CNC.
• Hold Down Clamps - Quick & easy hold down clamps from scraps (Dave Gatton)
• [Hold Down Clamps (DXF file)](https://mhatalski.github.io/awesome-cnc/holddown clamps.dxf) - Hold down clamps based roughly on Dave Gatton's design.
• How to Use Tabs in Vcarve for Woodworking - A variety of techniques for using tabs with Vcarve (Avid CNC)
• 7 CNC Fixturing Tips for a Small Shop - Clamps, Vacuum, Double-Sided Tape, CA Glue... (Make:)
• Get a Grip on CNC Work = old-downs, wedges, screws, double sided tape, hotmelt glue...

Tolerances

• Using OpenDesk.CC to Create CNC Furniture - What kind of fit do you want? -0.60mm Mallet-tight, -0.00mm Press-fit, +0.20mm Push-fit, +0.50mm Slide-fit. (Make:)
• More elegant CNC dogbones - Useing slightly smaller dogbone fillets, since wood is soft and compressible.

Intro Miscellaneous

• Climb vs Conventional Milling - Which way? (CNC Cookbook)
• 16 CNC Router Tips to Avoid Tearout & Splintering - Common causes & solutions of wood tearout. (Tormach)
• Surfacing / Spoilboard cutters / fly cutting - Reviews of several spoilboard cutters and tips for using them. (CNC Cookbook)
• Conventional Milling vs Climb Milling - Good explanation of chip formation during machining, and climb vs conventional milling. (Harvey Tool Company)

Software

• Aspire & VCarvePro, Vectric - CAD/CAM. (Windows)
• Fusion 360, Autodesk - CAD/CAM/CAE/PCB. (Windows/Mac)
• Carbide Create, Carvide 3D - CAD/CAM. (Windows/Mac)
• Easel, Inventables - CAD/CAM. (cloud)
• PixelCNC: CAM For Artists - CAD/CAM. (Windows)
• FreeCAD - CAD, 3D parametric modeler. (Windows/Mac/Linux, opensource)
  • Freecad User Book - A users journey learning Freecad.
• Mach3/Mach4, Newfangled Solutions - CNC Control software. (Windows)
• grbl - CNC control software. (Atmega 328, Arduino)
• NCneticNpp (NotePad++ GCode plugin) - Simulate/Plot g-code files directly in Notepad++

Designs and Models

• Design & Make 3D Clipart - Collection of 3D clipart models, both free and paid. (Vectric)
• Carbide 3D Elements - Collection of free SVG files (Carbide 3D)

Furniture

• OpenDesk - Opendesk connects a library of downloadable designs to makers to customers.
• OpenDesk.cc Design Files - Collection of OpenDesk.cc design files.
• SketchChair - Design and build digitally fabricated furniture with open-source software.
• Layer Chair - Parametric chair built out of stacked layers.
• Italic Shelf - Easy to fabricate, easy to assemble Knock down shelving system.
• CNC Workstation Cart - Standing-height computer workstation. (Evil mad Scientist)
• SketchChair - free, open-source software tool that allows anyone to easily design and build their own digitally fabricated furniture.

Vector Related

• CNC Hershey Font (Single Line Font) Tool - Single line (instead of outline) fonts are great for fast CNC engraving and also work better for things like LED signs. Browser based tool producing SVG output (Maksim Surguy)
• Calligrapher.ai - Realistic computer-generated handwriting, SVG output.
• MakerCase - web-based application for designing boxes or project cases for laser cutters and CNC routers. Generates SVG or DXF files.
• Maze Generator - Maze Generator, free to use for private projects, commercial license available.
• Rad Lines - Generats vector line artworks for plotting / laser engraving / CNC machining or marketing purposes. (Maksim Surguy)
• Flow Lines - Flow field / streamlines / flow lines visualization. (Maksim Surguy)
• Converting line art for drawing - Tips for converting vector clip art for CNCing. (Carbide 3D)

Photo Techniques

Software to process images to something that can be CNC'd.

• StippleGen - Processing application that can create stipple drawings and “TSP art,” from image files. (Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories)
• PicPerf - Simular to Photo VCarve, but with circle/square/hex dots instead of lines. (FabMo)
• Vector Halftone Maker - Dot halftone generator, with many options.
• F-Engrave - G-Code generator for Engraving and V-Carving. Input can be text with a font (CXF or TTF font), image (bitmap, PNG etc.) or DXF data.
• Halftoner, Reactor = Halftone & Reaction/diffusion image generators.

Terrain Related

Working with maps, terestrial and other

• Carving 3D Terrain Topographic Relief Maps on a CNC Machine - Step by Step Instructable.
• Terrain Relief Models, Unabridged - Tips & workflow for working with terrain maps. (Carbide 3D)
• Moon Trek - NASA provide tools to explore lunar maps & data, including download digital models that can be CNC carved or 3D printed.
• 3D Printed Moon Copernicus Crater Desk Décor - Instructable for 3D printing a lunar landscape, but applicable for CNC machining.
• How to Carve the Lunar Surface - Instructable for CNC carving a lunar surface.

YouTube Channels

• Learn Your CNC - Lot's of good Vectric tips & tricks by Kyle Ely, who also teaches master and group Vectric classes at LearnYourCNC.com.
• Vectric Ltd - Makers of Aspire/VCarvePro/Cut2D CAD/CAM software. Tips, tricks, tutorials, & projects videos.
• Avid CNC - (Formerly CNC Router Parts) Makers of Avid CNC machines. Tips/tricks/tutorials/project videos.
• ShopBot Tools - Makers of ShopBot CNC routers & tools. Tips/tricks/tutorials/projects/interviews on ShopBot CNC machines, but not machines specific.
• Hobby CNC with Dave Gatton - Big projects and small.

Uncategorized

• Maker.js - JavaScript library, Your compass and straightedge in JavaScript. Exports SVG, DXF, PDF.
• Paper.js - Javascript library for working with vector graphics. The Swiss Army Knife of Vector Graphics Scripting
• Rough.js - JavaScript library for sketchy hand-drawn-like style.
• lasercut.scad - OpenSCAD module allowing 3d models to be created from 2d lasercut parts, with a flat file automatically generated.
• Design into 3D - A system for parametric design of projects for CNC or traditional techniques.
• TouchTerrain - TouchTerrain converts digital elevation data into digital model files (STL or OBJ) suitable for 3D printing or CNCing.
• Deepnest.io - Opensource nesting app (Win/OSX/Linux) for CNC/Laser?plasma cutting. Reads DXF/SVG/CDR files, exports DXF/SVG. Uses the SVGNest libary. (Jack Qiao)
• Digital Fabrication for Designers - Discussion of the design and cutting of wood joints with a CNC.
• Lithophane Makers - A lithophane is carved or 3D printed artwork in a thin translucent material that reveals an image only when back lit.
• Tapered Inlays - A method of doing inlays with sharp corners by using tapered V-bits. (Paul Zank)
• Tapered Inlay Plug with Clearing(Vectric gadget) - Cutting the plug for a tapered (Paul Zank method) inlay can be a problem because of the first pass depth. This Vectric gadget adds roughing passes.
• Tailmaker Software Free Downloads - Guillochograph (Guilloche generator), Puzzle My Joint (jigsaw patterns & frames), Fingermaker (design complex finger joints), and misc. patterns.

Related Awesome Lists

• Awesome Plotters - What is a plotter but a CNC machine with a pen?
• DrawingBots Resources - List of resources and tools for plotter and drawing robot enthusiasts