Week 8

Tray Design in Fusion 360

I started by designing the tray in Fusion 360. Here is the embedded model:

With help from my instructors, I improved the tray’s shape and prepared it for cutting. I also made a manufacturing simulation in Fusion to verify that all settings were correct.

Here is a quick simulation video:

CNC Router Setup

Next, I learned about the 3-axis CNC router. Below are two photos of the machine itself:

The control panel was quite detailed and required careful understanding:

We thoroughly prepared the machine for cutting: we secured the large plywood sheet firmly onto the worktable, precisely defined the stock origin, calibrated the tool with steps like setting the correct bit length, and even connected a vacuum system to efficiently collect chips and dust during the process.

Milling Process

Once everything was ready, I started the milling process on the plywood. Here is a photo:

And here is a short video showing the router in action:

I was pleasantly surprised by the final cut quality. Right after milling, the tray looked like this:

Finishing & Usage

A closer look shows some imperfections on the surface:

However, these are minor and can be solved with sanding or other manual finishing techniques.

I decided to attach straps through the holes in the tray, creating a “wearable tray” for snacks such as macarons:

It’s a fun and practical way to bring treats to any event.