I reviewed the Carbide3D discussion.  It is very lengthy and seems focused on Carbide Create (I think) with no mention of OpenSCAD that I could find.  Why not just design these parts with parameters in OpenSCAD, export them as STL files, and then create them on a CNC machine using MeshCAM?  This approach (which I use) seems much more straightforward. Jon On 4/12/2022 11:05 AM, William F. Adams via Discuss wrote: > ForwardedMessage.eml > > Subject: > [OpenSCAD] Made a bamboo box w/ hinged lid out of cutting boards > From: > "William F. Adams" <willadams@aol.com> > Date: > 4/12/2022, 11:05 AM > > To: > "discuss@lists.openscad.org" <discuss@lists.openscad.org> > > > The BlockSCAD project is here: > > https://www.blockscad3d.com/community/projects/1385418 > > OpenSCAD file is here: > > https://github.com/WillAdams/Design_Into_3D/blob/master/blindmiter_boxjoint/Design%20into%203D_%20Box%20with%20Lid.scad > > Discussion at: > > https://community.carbide3d.com/t/as-funny-as-a-3-dollar-box/43013 > > and some images: > > https://community.carbide3d.com/uploads/default/original/3X/a/d/ad2484e9284ab447e481409d8a1810a149e0e130.jpeg > > https://community.carbide3d.com/uploads/default/original/3X/a/1/a1ca5b442990afc89a1d6aa27229e7dc3661328c.jpeg > > https://community.carbide3d.com/uploads/default/original/3X/2/d/2db5ea01286bcf1172d3c61fc808bedec7037a84.jpeg > > Current work-flow is: > >  - design in BlockSCAD >  - export to OpenSCAD where the Customizer is wired up, and the > projection() command is added >  - use OpenSCAD's customizer to adjust parameters and select features >  - export DXF/SVG to import into Carbide Create (other Computer Aided > Manufacturing (CAM) programs would work as well) to create toolpaths >  - cut using a CNC >  - any necessary post-processing (the hinged lid has a jig as part of > the design to allow drilling holes for the hinges) >  - glue-up > > The awkward aspect is the layout of the various cutting > depths/toolpaths --- they have to be represented as separate areas of > the DXF/SVG, then composited together manually, then toolpaths > assigned --- is there a 3D aspect to DXFs which could be used for > this? Could OpenSCAD be extended to allow exporting thus if so? > > Or, of course, it would be awesome to be able to just write out G-Code > in a more direct fashion, w/o the need for later post-processing. > > William

jon wrote: >I reviewed the Carbide3D discussion.  It is very lengthy and seems focused >on Carbide Create (I think) with no mention of OpenSCAD that I could find.   See: https://community.carbide3d.com/t/a-different-sort-of-box/36882 and  https://willadams.gitbook.io/design-into-3d/blind-miter-box-joints >Why not just design these parts with parameters in OpenSCAD, export them >as STL files, and then create them on a CNC machine using MeshCAM?  >This approach (which I use) seems much more straightforward. To my knowledge, MeshCAM doesn't support cutting out this geometry using V endmills. I'm not aware of any CAM program which will generate a reasonably efficient toolpath using arbitrary tooling (V endmills, square, and roundover bits) which fits together w/ the accuracy necessary for joinery from an STL. If someone knows of a tool which would be better suited to designing this sort of joinery and making files for cutting it out, I'd be glad to know of it. William

William: Thanks for the response! You are correct that MeshCAM only supports "tapered end mills" and "tapered ball ends".  As to "efficiency", I would never accuse MeshCAM of that.  But I like that I can take STL files and have them milled out at all. Jon On 4/12/2022 3:24 PM, William F. Adams wrote: > jon wrote: > > >I reviewed the Carbide3D discussion.  It is very lengthy and seems > focused > >on Carbide Create (I think) with no mention of OpenSCAD that I could > find. > > See: > > https://community.carbide3d.com/t/a-different-sort-of-box/36882 > > and > > https://willadams.gitbook.io/design-into-3d/blind-miter-box-joints > > > >Why not just design these parts with parameters in OpenSCAD, export them > >as STL files, and then create them on a CNC machine using MeshCAM? > >This approach (which I use) seems much more straightforward. > > To my knowledge, MeshCAM doesn't support cutting out this geometry > using V endmills. > > I'm not aware of any CAM program which will generate a reasonably > efficient toolpath using arbitrary tooling (V endmills, square, and > roundover bits) which fits together w/ the accuracy necessary for > joinery from an STL. > > If someone knows of a tool which would be better suited to designing > this sort of joinery and making files for cutting it out, I'd be glad > to know of it. > > William >