Tooth Fairy Boxes - The finished article.

I've started a run of tooth fairy boxes as grandchildren and great nephews and nieces arrive in the world, and for a few friends, too.

I've spent a few days programming the CAD/CAM software and today set up the CNC machine to start milling the Mother of Pearl teeth and their fairy wings. I dropped a touch of black CA glue into the vcarved faces to show up.

The discs are watch face rejects.

The cutter is 2 flute 0.6mm diameter running at 24,000 rpm. Each pass is 0.1mm, and as the discs are 1.4mm thick, there are 14 passes per item. So I've sped the vides to x8 for you. (It's OK for you, I have to sit there with a mask on while puffing the dust away.)

I know this post isn't woody, but I start on the wood tomorrow.

The idea of a TF box is appealing Malc and as No.1 grandson is starting to get his chompers, it's something I'll probably put on my 'tuit' list for this year...wouldn't mind a WIP to see how you make one? - Rob

Woodbloke said:

The idea of a TF box is appealing Malc and as No.1 grandson is starting to get his chompers, it's something I'll probably put on my 'tuit' list for this year...wouldn't mind a WIP to see how you make one? - Rob

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As you've seen, I'm doing the MoP parts on the CNC machine, and I am doing the woody parts, too.

Had a major cock up this morning and wasted a piece of wood, but I shall be taking still images of the stages of the milling to the finished articles, after I've reprogrammed the cock up away.

Malc2098 said:

As you've seen, I'm doing the MoP parts on the CNC machine, and I am doing the woody parts, too.

Had a major cock up this morning and wasted a piece of wood, but I shall be taking still images of the stages of the milling to the finished articles, after I've reprogrammed the cock up away.

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'Cock up' Malc? Wot's one of those...I never do them - Rob

This is the compilation of the milling of the lids and boxes on the CNC machine. All videos are x2. You may want to turn your volume down.



Oh, and the little holes, they're for magnets to hold the lids on. But if I can get the Ns and Ss the correct way round, the lids will only stay on one way round.

Certainly makes it look an easy way to make using one of those machines . Wish I'd got the space...

Looking forward to seeing the progress and finishing

Accipiter said:

Certainly makes it look an easy way to make using one of those machines . Wish I'd got the space...

Looking forward to seeing the progress and finishing

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Thanks, Frank.

While it makes it look easy, if like me you don't have a ready mathematical brain, it takes me a long time to create the CAD/CAM file.

I started looking for a clipart of a tooth fairy. Then having chose one, I had to change it to accommodate the sizes of cutters that I intend to use. Then that's just to get the parts cut out of the mother of pearl.

That file/drawin/image/vector, or whatever you want to call it, then has to be changed to accept the parts of the MoP. If it were just the same vector, nothing would fit.

All these things have to be managed by someone who does not do this everyday and therefore doesn't always remember the subtleties and nuances in the programming.

Then there's days when something happens. Easier this week, halfway through the first body, the machine went off track. I don't know why. I immediately stop the mill, remove the cutter from the spindle and reset the machine to do a 'dry' trace. It goes off piste again several times. I download the code and sift through it. At the 'off piste' point there is nothing wrong with the code.

I check every external electrical connection on the machine. I check all the linear bearings because it happened in the same place each time. I set the work up at a different position on the machine so it will be using the ballscrews and linear bearings in totally different places. You gassed it, It happened again in the same place in the code. No idea why.

So, back to the drawing board, literally. I drew a completely new file. I changed the sequence of the milling processes, but that was all I changed. All dimensions were exactly the same, and it worked as you saw.

I've had to learn and hone a complete new skill set to get to the point where a machine makes it look easy.

My end goal has always been to maintain accuracy of a design and to replicate it. I'm not complaining. I enjoy the computer work. I can see something forming before me, just like when I make something on the bench.

And even with the CNC, I still start every workpiece by creating a cutting list, sawing the stock, then 'plane face side, plane face edge'.

0.05mm offset.

Thanks Malcolm - I appreciate your information regarding the problems that can - do - happen using a CNC... I have to admit that more than likely I'd struggle with one. Same applies to these plastic printing machines... plus I couldn't justify spending the funds o such for the use I'd get from it.

I *almost* got training to use a CNC machine in a pine factory I worked at where they'd trained me up to run their spindle moulder... and then for me to train someone else - to then get laid off because I was being paid more than the guy I'd trained!

Two months later the factory owner contacted me about training up for the CNC, wanted me to start straight away (he'd sacked the CNC operator). I was, at that time working for a dairy company in the lead up to the Christmas cream run... told the pine guy I was "on a contract until the new year". He was quite flabbergasted... had trouble accepting it but then wanted me to start in the new year.

Needless to say I didn't after the way he'd treated me. I got a permanent job in the dairy and in March of the new year got a phone call from the guy I'd trained on the spindle... The factory owner shut it down without telling anyone (except those in collusion with him)... they found out when they arrived for work on the Monday to find the place empty of ALL stock and machinery. Two months later a new factory opened up in another town close by being run by the "manager" of the old place

Sorry for the 'ramble' for why I didn't do the CNC

I think we have a collection of curly hair and tooty pegs from our daughter, knowing my wife we probably have finger nails and unbilical. I'm sure we have puppy teeth also

Very nice Malc,
Make sure you hand them over at 2.30.

Is there no dust collection on the CNC?

AndyP said:

Very nice Malc,
Make sure you hand them over at 2.30.

Is there no dust collection on the CNC?

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I think you can get your hat 'n' coat now, @AndyP!

There is dust collection, but it's held by me. I still somehow can't let myself cover the workpiece up with a dust shoe which hides any issues happening. In my post above to Frank, if I'd have had a shoe covering it, I probably wouldn't have known it had gone wrong and ruined the whole piece. As it was, I managed to stop the machine and research the problem till I solved it, and only lost one lid.

Having gone through all the pain, I now try to repeat the process. This was this afternoon's work.



I try to match the end grains of the lids to the bodies, but it's never quite right.

I'll do their Mother of Pearl tomorrow.

They're finished, although I'm in the process of tripling this stock. I've given the sapele a coat of food safe wax.

Remember those little holes, they're neodymium magnets. Watch how they work.

fairy nice

Nice.

Very good

V good. Love the magnets.

I saw a sliding magnetic catch recently where you have two magnets in the moving part and one in the fixed part. In closed position, the fixed magnet aligns with a matching magnet in the moving part to attract the pieces. Moving the catch, slides the attracting magnet out of the way and brings a reverse polarity magnet in proximity which repels the other magnet and gives a push to the lid kind of like a spring.

Windows said:

V good. Love the magnets.

I saw a sliding magnetic catch recently where you have two magnets in the moving part and one in the fixed part. In closed position, the fixed magnet aligns with a matching magnet in the moving part to attract the pieces. Moving the catch, slides the attracting magnet out of the way and brings a reverse polarity magnet in proximity which repels the other magnet and gives a push to the lid kind of like a spring.

Click to expand...

I've set three of the boxes where either way round the magnets attract. The other three I've set so the end grain matches and the lid attracts. If you try to place the lid the other way round, it jumps off the box.

Very clever. Watching the video, at first I thought the lid would be pivoting on a swivel pin, and thought "what happens if someone lifts the lid up, will they break it?" - but no, of course not!

AndyT said:

Very clever. Watching the video, at first I thought the lid would be pivoting on a swivel pin, and thought "what happens if someone lifts the lid up, will they break it?" - but no, of course not!

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Neat, huh!