Embedded Files
One of the most exciting projects we worked on for summer 2022 was designing and building this arcade cabinet. The goal was to create a retro-style arcade cabinet based on the form factor of classic games like Ms. Pac-Mac. The purpose of this project was to create a platform where Dawson students could code their own games using the site Makecode Arcade and then upload them to a Raspberry Pi Zero in the Arcade Cabinet so students and visitors to campus could play their games.
Diving in and exploring new tools is one of my favorite learning opportunities as part of my job at Dawson. I really enjoy combining pieces equipment and a variety of techniques to create something new and different. For this project, I am learning to create a zippered hoodie from scratch using a pattern purchased online. I am planning on added some embroidered details including a graphic and accompanying logotype. I am experimenting with exporting graphs created using an online graphing calculator called Desmos and then bringing those designs into Hatch Embroidery Digitizer to create the embroidery.
After being introduced to this technique by my Mr. Supiro, I have been experimenting with using Vetric's VCarve software to create a couple of detailed floral designs inlayed into the surface of end-grain cutting boards. The process of learning to use VCarve was a fun challenge in and of itself. I also developed some new techniques using Illustrator to create designs with the tolerances needed to successfully mill the two opposing patterns of wood creating the walnut "plug" and "socket" in the main cutting board constructed out of cherry. These parts were milled on the CNC router using a 15° v-bit. Read on to learn more about the process, mistakes made along the way, and lessons learned moving forward with this technique. I suspect there will be more experimentation in this area in the future...
This was a fun and challenging flip-milled project to try out a new process on the CNC router. We do a bit of this with our electric guitars, but there is a lot of room for error on the guitars because the back side of the milling is really just pockets and holes and don't have to be exceptionally accurate.
For this armada, I created six identical boats arranged in a row along the x axis. I started by milling from the bottom to get the contour of the underside of the boat. Then I flipped the whole stock across the vertical central axis and completed the milling from the top.
Page updated
Report abuse