Mounting Plate

Locker Name Plate

Overview

The mounting plate is a piece of 3/16" thick polycarbonate. It is the part of the assembly to which all other parts are mounted. It is CNC Routed and then Tapped by hand for the mounting hardware.

3D Model: https://a360.co/3IdXULV

Mechanical Drawing

In order to create the CAD model for this part, students should review and reference the mechanical drawing shown here. Note that the holes are referenced from the lower left corner of the front view of the drawing. Additionally, the size of the holes referenced are the size of the holes needed for tapping #4-40, #6-32 and 1/4"-20 threads.

2D Drawing: https://a360.co/409ngk2

CAD Tutorial for Mounting Plate

Mounting Plate CAD.mp4

Original Tutorial

Mounting Hole Update.mp4

Mounting Hole Update

Import Tool Library.mp4

Import Tool Library for X-Carve

In this tutorial, we import the tool library for the X-Carve. If you are using a different CNC machine you wll want to import a different set of libraries for the proper speeds and feeds. In this case, we are using two tools,

Lastly, here is the link to the tool libraries folder:

Lindblom Tool Libraries and Post Processors

CAM Tutorial for Mounting Plate:

In this video, we will cover how to CAM the name plate so that we can export the post processed files for the X-Carve Router. Note that this process could be done for other types of routers. In that case you should use differnt tool libraries and your settings for the CAM may be different. In general the X-Carve is more of a beginner machine so the settings here could probably run on any other machine, they will just be slower than they need to be in that case.

New Mounting Plate CAM.mp4

Selecting a piece of polycarbonate

The mounting plate has a length of 4.5 inches, a width of 3 inches, and a thickness of 3/16th of an inch. This means you will need to search for a piece of poly carbonate that is larger than those measurements. In the case below, a desirable piece of polycarbonate that was 5 inches wide by 5-1/6 inches long could be cut out of a piece of scrap stock that only had minor imperfections.

Width ~5"

Thickness = 3/16" or 0.18

Height ~5"

Cutting the Polycarbonate

Cut The Polycarbonate.mp4

Peal the plastic covering.

Drill holes in all four corners with a 5/32" bit.

It should look like this when it is done.

Routing the Mounting Plate

In the section below, we will work through the Routing process for the Locker Mounting Plate. Follow along with the setup tutorial.

X-Carve Operating Procedure

Now that the x-Carve is powered up. We will need to work through th efollowing steps to route the small holes, the medium holes and cut the contours. We will begin by providing pictures for "Step 4 Mount Stock and Sacrifice". To do this, we will need to move the gantry out of the way and screw down the stock.

Mount the Stock and locate the Workpiece Offset (G54)

1. Place the stock in the middle of the sacrifice board.

2. Locate the #4 1/2" wood screws

3. You will need 4 screws to mount the stock.

4. Use the drill and the small bit to anchor the corners.

5. Screw in all 4 corners.

6. Make sure the stock is flat and does not bow in the middle.

7. Us the guide to find the G54 Origin of the stock.

8. Mark the home position with a dot.

Install the 1/16th inch bit

9. Locate the 1/16 bit and 1/8 to 1/4 collar

10. Place the bit in the collar

11. Send the router to the home position.

12. It is best to always swap the bit when the machine is at home so that if you move the machine while swapping the tool, it is easy to reset.

12. The tool is at the bottom and there is a lock button on the left side of the spindle. It is yellow.

13. Place a Wrench on the flats of the router's chuck.

14. Push the lock button while turning the wrench.

15. Try not to loosen it so much the bit falls out. Instead loosen the chuck with the wrench then use you had to do the rest while also supporting the bit.

16. Remove the bit.

17. Install the 1/6" bit.

18. Tighten the Chuck with the wrench and lock button.

19. Drive the spindle so the bit is directly above the marker mark on the stock.

Set the Workpiece Offset (G54)

20. Zero the X and Y axis.

21. Lower the z axis until it is just about to touch.

22. place a piece of paper under the tool and continue to lower it to the point where the paper just catches on the tool.

23. Zero the Z axis.

24. Lastly, Home the Machine one last time and take a picture or screenshot of the X Y and Z values. If something happens during the machining operation and the work offset position is lost, then you can home the machine, and then move it back to the negative of the X and Y in the screenshot and restart your program.

Run the First Program

NOTE: If the Mounting Plate CAM Anaya files cannot be located on the desktop of the computer, they can be downloaded here:

Mounting Plate CAM Anaya

25. Click File to open the folder and locate the program.

26. Locate the "Mounting Plate Anaya CAM" Folder and open it.

27. Select the 1 1-16 LockerMountingPlate bore program and click Open

28. Once loaded, the program should look like this.

1 1-16 LockerMountingPlate bore.mp4

29. Click Run (Play) on the UGS interface and the router should start and drill the small holes with the 1/16" bit.

Home the Machine and Swap the Tool to 5609

30. Locate the 5609 (1/8th in single flute upcut bit)

31. Send the router to the home position.

32. It is best to always swap the bit when the machine is at home so that if you move the machine while swapping the tool, it is easy to reset.

33. Swap the 1/16 bit out and install the 5609 bit.

34. Make sure the chuck is tight on the bit.

35. Drive teh spindle until it is above the workpiece.

36. Lower the Spindle and touch off with a piece of paper.

37. Zero the Z axis. Then raise the Z axis up above the part.

Run the Second Program

38. Click File to open the folder and locate the program.

39. Locate the "Mounting Plate Anaya CAM" Folder and open it.

40. Select the 2 5609 LockerMountingPlate bore program and click Open

41. Once loaded, the program should look like this.

2 5609 LockerMountingPlate bore.mp4

42. Click Run (Play) on the UGS interface and the router should start and drill the larger holes in the plate as shown in the video above.

Mount the stock with 4 new holes

43. After the second program completes, raise the Z axis and then send the gantry back out of the way in the +Y direction. You will now need 4 more #4 screws.

44. Place 1 scre in each of the new corner holes.

45. Use the drill to tighten the 4 screws down, being careful not to strip the screws.

46. The plate should now have 8 screws total holding the stock to the sacrifice board.

Run the Third Program

47. Click File to open the folder and locate the program.

48. Locate the "Mounting Plate Anaya CAM" Folder and open it.

49. Select the 3 5609 LockerMountingPlate Contour program and click Open

50. Once loaded, the program should look like this.

3 5609 LockerMountingPlate Contour.mp4

51. Click Run (Play) on the UGS interface and the router should start and cut the ring and outer contour as shown in the video above.

Clean the Table and Remove the Part and Left Over Stock

52. Once the program completes, drive the gantry back in the +Y direction.

53. Turn on the Vacuum

54. Vacuum the plastic chips.

55. Carefully unscrew the four screws holding the mounting plate. Make sure you do not strip the screws.

56. Remove the Mounting plate.

57. Unscrew the 4 corners of the remaining scrap.

58. Remove the polycarbonate from the sacrifice board and finish vacuuming the area.

59. Make sure you park the spindle in the back of the machine so it is unlikely for someone to cut themselves on the tool.

Completed Mounting Plate

The mounting plate routing is now complete. The final product should look like this. Now you will now assemble the full locker plate design in the following tutorial:

Tap and Assemble