Silhouette sign

This is what i chose to make my sign. I sketched it out on paper, then created it in adobe, saved the file from adobe and uploaded it to Fusion 360. Use the shape builder tool to connect the outline with the text. Once the design is all in one shape, save the illustrator file as a DFX and open it in Fusion360. To install Fusion, I created an account with my school and installed the program through the Autodesk website. (photo: dfx file with dfx domain circled) 

After the sign is 3d, your going to want to make a base thats going to act as your wood your cutting the sign out of.  It doesn't have to be perfect but it has to fully go around the shape your trying to cut out. You should make the dimensions of this 'wood' the same as what you want to cut the sign out of.  Use the sketch tool to draw the rectangle around the design.  

Once you've made your base, you should go to manufacture. My wood base isn't showing because i turned the visibility of it off, but you can keep yours on, it doesn't affect it at all. After that your going to want to make your 2d contour, post-process set up and stock.

This is where I got all the information and downloads from. You'll find more explanations here (tutorials) and all the materials the CNC machine needs to run your project.  You'll also use the information here and tutorials for setting the machine up and cutting your project. 

This is just my settings in Fusion 360 for my set up and such, if your making exactly what i am then it should look like this, but if anything is different (including dimensions that makes a big difference) then you'll have to follow the tutorials at resources in the portal.  You also have to send your finished file, (so when your completely ready to cut) to makerspace@dawsonschool.org which is the computer hooked up to the CNC machine. 

Again, this is more examples of things I had to do to set up my Fusion 360 correctly to move on to cutting. So if you aren't doing exactly what i am i would still recommend looking it in up the portal resources. 

My first attempt at cutting didn't work out, I laid the wood landscape instead of how I was supposed to, so pay attention to how your sign is going to be cut out into the wood. I also had to make some slight adjustions to make the drill cut all the way through instead of leaving those little splinters on the bottom of my sign. 

This is the successful cut, how its supposed to look after cutting properly. After its cut you take the tape off the bottom and then you can paint it however you want, or you dont even have to paint it. It's recommended to seal it at least though, since its wood and could rot.