• For every mistake, there is a fix.

 Especially when it came to the bottom CNC being offset from the top, this was a very permanent problem, and I found a fix that would not interfere too much with my current design. Making minor adjustments instead that solve my issues is something that I really need to work on.

• Accept the challenge & Stay in the ZONE!

In the beginning, I was faced with the challenge of how to cut a model that I knew I could not create with my very own hands. The savior of this daunting challenge came when I learned that Fusion has a tool that converts regular 3D models into bodies that can be edited how I knew best. Because of this, I only needed to find a free model of CA topography online (which I did).

• Using new Manufacturing toolpaths

First, I used 3D adaptive, and it took 1:20 min, and it never seemed to finish computing. Then, I was introduced to the ball end mill and the Parallel tool on Fusion, and the process was trimmed down by 35 minutes. The topography of the clock looked much cleaner after adding a horizontal pass, which acted almost as a contour.

• Double-sided CNC Milling

The tool paths themselves are no different; however, the orientation of the setup is changed, and the origin has to be placed in the correct spot so that the part can be correctly flipped to do both sides with the correct orientation.

• Using Danish Oil on Wood

To stain the wood and make it look less basic, I applied Danish oil to the wood. Although the application process was very simple, there were safety precautions that I had to strictly abide by, such as applying the oil outside or shutting the cap FULLY shut to decrease the chance of it spontaneously combusting.

• Make sure that the stock used has the exact dimensions listed under Fusion. As you have to do both a bottom and top cut, not being accurate can cause each toolpath to be offset from one another.

• Triple-check and ensure that your clock's hour hand has enough clearance to not collide with any part of the design.

• Give the clock shaft around 0.1" of clearance beyond the shaft's actual dimension.

Design Intent - Reflect on your original design intent. Did you accomplish what you set out to achieve?

Simple exterior yet complicated/challenging design process has been my go-to for most of my life. I personally prefer designs that are not too complicated (hard to look at) or not too simple to the point that they look bland, basic, 0 personality. Based on this, I find my CAlock to fit the bill because of its simple outline yet complicated geography presented when looking closer.

Core Competencies - When you started this project, you chose two or three core competencies to work on. Reflect on your progress towards growth in those three areas. In what ways did you demonstrate growth? Were there missed opportunities you'd like to do over? In what ways can your growth translate to other aspects of your life?

I demonstrated growth by challenging myself to complete something that I had no clear path toward producing, although it eventually became clear, even with some hiccups along the way. Challenging yourself in this style is a great way to grow as a person (in this case for Fusion skillset), as it is sure to provide new knowledge and things to avoid from the mistakes made along the way. I hope to further imbue this into my life beyond fabrication.

Skills - What new skills did you learn in terms of tools, materials, design, etc? Which skills would you like to work on more in the future?

The main skill I learned during this project was using the Planer that our machine shop holds. Until this project, we only used wood that was bought in perfect shapes & sizes, but as we used recovered wood for this project, this was not a guarantee. Before we could plane the wood pieces, we also had to use a metal detector to remove any hidden nails (which there were a few).

Timeline - Reflect on your time management throughout the project. Looking back, what changes would you make to your proposed timeline? How wisely did you use the time available for the project? What recommendations would you make for yourself in terms of time management for your next project?

I believe I spent my time wisely in this project specifically because I began designing the clock earlier than we were meant to (I wanted to make it so bad). because of this, I do not know for sure I could improve my time management in terms of this project.

Safety - What did you learn about safety in the shop during this project? Did you make any mistakes you learned from? Are you curious about any safety practices and why they are important? What might you need to focus on going forward so you keep yourself and others safe in the shop?

I learned new safety precautions when using the planer, which can kick back like a table saw. There is a team-work needed to handle the large pieces of wood that we inserted into the planer, so I think I need to focus on better communicating with others when a machine is running (the planer is really loud).

Risk-taking - What risks did you take during this project? When did you step out of your comfort zone?

I left my comfort zone when I decided that I wanted to create something that I did not know how to create within Fusion 360 itself. Finding a way to import the topography of California into Fusion as an editable form was a daunting process, but I was able to figure it all out with the mesh-to-body conversion tool.

Curiosity - Now that the project is done, what are you still curious about regarding the project itself, tools, the shop, or future projects you could try based on the skills you learned?

I wish I could have had more time to change the hands on the clock to more unique designs. One of my brainstorm designs was to have a clock with "floating" hands, and I wish I could have figured how to achieve such a thing in the CAlock. I also would have loved to somehow implement fun facts about the State into the actual clock design.