Brainstorm and Ideation
Idea 1
I have this strange window frame in my bedroom of my apartment that is closed off with drywall now because my wall used to be an exterior wall, but they have since expanded the building. I did my first year of college at the University of Washington in Seattle, so I would love to make that space look like my window looks out to the Seattle skyline with the Space Needle and Mt. Rainier. Unfortunately my “window” is 6 and a half feet tall, but I think I could potentially just make the top portion sky and have a separate piece of wood to complete it (not on the cnc).
Idea 2
I am really excited about this idea, because I have always seen map art like this and wanted to make one for my sister and her boyfriend but of their college campus.
And I would base this project on the campus and surrounding streets (and a few lakes) on the University of Notre Dame Campus
Idea 3
My parents live almost on the lake and love to have what my dad calls “cheese boards” which to everyone else is a charcuterie board. I think it would be very special to make a charcuterie board or Lazy Susan that is routed with my neighborhood or the surrounding lake.
File Work
I chose to move forward with my first idea because the map is better suited for the laser cutter (I am hoping to find time to still make that before thanksgiving rolls around!) and I have not worked with colored epoxy before for the charcuterie board.
For the file work, I worked in illustrator because I am more confident in my vector drawing. I drew outlines of “key” buildings in addition to the iconic Space Needle and Mt Rainier. I wanted to create a sense of depth because this will be set into an old covered window frame. So I chose to create 6 different layers from a full 3/4" sheet of MDF down to 1/8". Each layer within illustrator corresponds to a different color. This helped a lot with keeping things organized but also to process what should be more or less recessed.
It is a lot easier to see what will be cut at what depth is you view each layer individually.
Originally I planned to have each layer done as a pocket cut, but that proves to be a very expensive route for the size of the piece I am making.
Instead, Robin suggested that to do a profile/silhouette cut at the yellow vector line above the building/Space Needle/Mountain in the 1/8" layer. This almost cut the cost and time to cut in half!
This results in me altering the final layer into two layers. One that remains at 1/8" final height (Red) and one that is a silhouette cut out (Yellow).
So with this path I will either choose to purchase a separate sheet of MDF to put behind the cut and routed piece to paint like a sky or possibly just use paper or the sheetrock that is already in the window frame.
My file is set up so that within each vector line shape the CNC will complete a pocket cut inside the vector lines at varying levels. Technically, the orange layer will not have to be cut, it will simply be at the surface level of the 3/4" MDF. The layers will then be cut at an additional 1/8" (Magenta=1/8, Blue=1/4, Green=3/8, Purple=1/2, Red=5/8, Yellow=3/4).
Final Assembly
When I picked up the CNC cut piece from the XYZ lab I was very excited how it turned out. Some details weren’t able to be cut because of the size bit used to cut, and the fact that price was already getting pretty high for the project. I don’t mind those few parts missing, you are still able to see the Space Needle and Mount Rainier and understand that this is Seattle.
Planning Instillation
I originally wanted the piece to fill the whole 3 by 6 and a half foot “window” in my apartment. The price to cut that on the CNC was about three times as much as creating a profile cut of the background. So instead, I bought a separate piece of 4' x 8' piece of MDF. The one I was able to find at Home Depot was 1/2" thick. My dad and I then cut it down to the (close to) exact size to fit into my window frame.
My plan as I moved forward was to attach the skyline that was CNCd to this large sheet of MDF using screws from the back, and then to screw the large sheet into place. That way there will be no visible screw holes in the cut piece, and it can hopefully travel with me when I move.
Painting
I planned out how I planned to paint each layer/piece in illustrator before beginning so I could map it out and match the colors. I chose to keep the CNC cut pieces different tones of black, gray, and white to be reminiscent of how most people view Seattle, as gloomy and rainy. Although it is often overcast there, I also wanted to include a beautiful sunset for the background sky. I loved living in Seattle and want to remember the clear skies as well as the gray ones with this piece.
I purchased black, white, cyan, and magenta colored acrylic paint and began painting the CNC cut piece first. As I painted each layer I used painters tape to create a cleaner line.
Once the skyline was painted I moved on the paint the sunset in the sky. To save paint, I marked with a tape line where the sky needed to be painted to.
Installation
Once the two pieces were fully painted, my dad helped me screw the background sheet into the window frame.
Then I glued the cut piece onto the background sheet with loctite power grab.
Final Product
Here is what the final piece looks like.
