Your cart is empty.
Your cart is empty.From the Publisher
Design Globally, Manufacture Locally!
By Anne Filson and Gary Rohrbacher
Digital fabrication has been in the public eye for quite a few years. With 3D printers and desktop machines getting most of the spotlight, the increasing accessibility of large format CNC machines, and availability of user-friendly CAD and CAM software has been relatively unnoticed. When you combine machine and software accessibility with the growing number of digital design files online, nearly everyone has what’s needed to precisely fabricate long-lasting, useful, beautiful goods from local materials.
It’s not a leap to imagine that locally manufactured goods could become part of the locavore equation, just like supporting local business and dining on locally farmed produce. As more individuals design for CNC fabrication, or fabricate designs with the CNC, it’s easy to envision a world where distributed, networked CNC workshops provide a locavore alternative to the traditional centralized factory.
The more that makers, designers, and fabricators design for CNC, the closer we’ll come to this world where we share designs globally and manufacture locally.
Tips for Better CNC Projects
- CNC fabrication is more like baking than cooking. Take your time to think, prepare, measure, setup, and stage — then let the machine perform its magic!
- Laser cutters are great for quick, mini-prototypes of a CNC project. Study a new design, try out decorative patterns, and practice putting flat parts together before you go full scale.
- Partial prototypes are the key to cutting perfectly flush plywood joinery with a CNC router. Use a small test piece to coordinate your material, machine settings, and digital file.
Kindle Customer
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2023
If you watched less than 10 youtube videos about cnc woodworking, this book might be for you. If you watched 10 or more, you probably know more than the book offers.
Jeffrey
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2021
It's a fine book my only real gripe is it spends alot of time discussing the specifics of using certain cad and can software. I would have rather spent less time on specific tutorials and more in theory and joinery.
Tyrell Keith
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020
Good starter book
Manchester Lad 68
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2019
great ideas
YBou
Reviewed in Canada on November 23, 2019
Very interesting book to read
Customer
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2018
Very good
Leonard Gump
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2018
Interesting projects. Makes flat and hard furniture. But I expect to learn how to use these manufacturing techniques for needs.
E. PARSONS
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2018
This is the book you want if you are past the basic level or want to jump right in. It has detailed technical descriptions without being a textbook. The author gives insight into design theory, toolpaths, woodworking, engineering and CAD. All of it geared toward getting professional results.
Fulano Juan
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2017
I've been waiting for someone to compile a book like this! Very in depth and not just a cursory glance at CNC theory nor just a gallery of cool CNC produced furniture. It is a project based book that goes into the DETAILS! Love it. I bumped into the authors at the NYC Maker Faire in a couple months ago and was lured to their booth where they had joinery examples and a copy of the book. Bravo on this!
Si Dunn
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2017
You get six how-to furniture projects in this book, but, more importantly, you get an excellent introduction to designing projects for digital tools, especially CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machines. The book offers numerous pictures, illustrations and diagrams, as well as well-written text. And you definitely do not just grab wood and start marking and cutting. As the authors note: "This book is an introduction to the fundamentals and techniques for designing in two and three dimensions, with the aim of fabricating furniture projects with large format CNC routers. This book also serves as a jumping-off point for further explorations in CNC machining, design, materials, and software workflows." But the authors also caution: "As a comprehensive introduction, this book is not an exhaustive or exclusive resource on CAD or CAM software, CNC routers, CNC machining, CNC joinery, or woodworking techniques." Instead, they have chosen to stay in the world of 2D machining methods for their projects, creating flat parts that are then assembled into 3D furniture. They emphasize the importance of learning "CNC fundamentals and perfecting digital craft through 2D machining," first. The authors caution that "3D machining is significantly more complex than 2D, typically requiring a different workflow and often a separate CAM program and more advanced modeling software." However, in this book, you do get exposed to some "practical design thinking and digital fabrication concepts" that you can carry forward once you are ready to move deeper into CNC machining. "Make: Design for CNC" can help a wide range of Makers, teachers and others who want to learn how to use CNC routers and what it takes to design projects that can be fabricated using CNC machining.My thanks to O'Reilly Media for providing an advance reading copy of this book.
Recommended Products