This tutorial walks you through creating a custom set of coasters. Use this tutorial to help kickstart your next project!

This and many other projects are super easy to make with Carbide Create on the Shapeoko CNC Router!

Resources

Before you get started, here are the resources you will need to complete this tutorial.

Files

Downlod the original design files here

Supplies

1. Material of your choice (6” x 13” x 1/4” walnut used in this project)
2. #102 Cutter
3. #302 Cutter
4. Workholding (we used hold down clamps)
5. Veneer (see pro-tip below for more options)
6. Glue and roller if using veneer
7. Clamps!
8. RO Sander or sanding blocks for finishing
9. Clear coat for finishing

Material Prep

Design

The design for these coasters is pretty straight forward. The base is a 3” circle, with a few smaller circles offset towards the inside. The design is completely up to you. Included in the tutorial are some basic graphs for the design, but you can import any SVG that you wish.

Use the alignment tools to center your designs on the coasters. it may be helpful to ‘group’ your design, by using the group button, then centering the entire group in the circles.

Toolpaths

Operation 1: Detail V-Carve (#302 Cutter)

Operation 2: Border V-Carve (#302 Cutter)

Operation 3: Profile Cut (#102 Cutter)

With all of the toolpaths created, take a final look at your design by clicking Show Simulation.

Saving Gcode

Because we used 2 different tools in this project, we need to export 2 different files - one for each cutter.

• One file with the 302 cutter toolpaths (includes the ‘vcarve’ toolpaths)
• One file with the 102 cutter toolpaths (includes the profile)

To save the 302 cutter file - Right click on ‘profile’ and select disable.

Go to the bottom of the left pane and click Save Gcode

Save the file as ‘coasters-302.nc’

To save the 102 Cutter file

• right click on ‘detail-vcarve’ and disable that toolpath.
• right click on ‘trim-vcarve’ and disable that toolpath.

• Enable the ‘profile’ toolpath.

• Go to the bottom of the left pane and click Save Gcode
• Save the file as ‘coasters-102.nc’

Machine Setup.

Insert your #102 cutter (1/8” square endmill) into the spindle, then tighten the collet nut to secure.

1. Secure the material to the machine.
2. Home the machine and clear all offsets
3. Jog to the center mark
4. Zero the X/Y
5. Touch off the Z-axis (move the cutter down to the top of the material)
6. Zero the Z-Axis

Running the Job

Load ‘coasters-302.nc’ - this is the 60 degree v-cutter file. The info screen will tell you some information about the job (extents for all 3 axis).

Click Run and start the job.

After the coasters-302.nc file finishes, the machine will move to the back center position.

1. Change the tool to the #102 square endmill.
2. Home the machine
3. After homing, click JOG then select Rapid Coordinates.
4. Click Last X/Y (this will move your machine back to X/Y zero)
5. Touch off the Z-axis (move the cutter down to the top of the material)
6. Zero the Z-Axis

Click Run, then Start the job.

Finishing