Mt Whitney CNC

Playing around with generating some gcode myself, programatically. This is the tool path for a low resolution version of my Mt Whitney model

Here's the corresponding low resolution mesh (the gcode isn't generated from this mesh, they're both generated directly from the USGS data)

And here's the result, rough cut in some scrap wood, with a high resolution 3d print of the same data for comparison. Next step is to increase the resolution!

Double the resolution. I’m sure Red Cedar is nobody’s idea of a good material to be milling, but it sure does smell good.

Another iteration, this time using Fusion 360 to rough out along contour lines (using pocket clearing). Much slower than my code, but looks a little nicer.

First cut at marking the trails

Highest resolution yet, using a 0.25in bit to rough out the shape and a 0.0625in bit to finish. Total cutting time about 2hrs. Ready to scale it up!

Scaling up requires finally tackling “feeds and speeds”. Spent some time on the theory and now I’m running experiments

Mt Whitney at 1:24,000 scale, my biggest yet, same as the USGS 7.5 minute map series. I think this might be the version I cut in a nicer piece of wood and put on the mantle.

Mt Whitney at 1:24,000 scale, cut from a glued up block of birch plywood. I love how the layers highlight the contour lines