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Spring is a perfect time to create thoughtful and practical DIY projects that brighten your home. Our 3-in-1 Easter Egg Holder & Phone Stand combines creativity, practicality, and intricate CNC techniques to deliver a versatile centerpiece ideal for festive gatherings or everyday use. Follow this detailed guide to learn how you can create your own using the Carvera or Carvera Air CNC machines and Makera CAM software.
This project includes three components:
All designs and detailed video tutorials can be found here on our wiki site.
For the first of our spring example projects, we created a 3D relief on a solid piece of brass using an imported STL. You can find the tutorial video here, and the example files used on our wiki site here.
3D reliefs are a highly detailed project that takes advantage of the Carvera and Carvera Air's ability to machine intricate details with ease. It also only requires a few simple tool paths, which we've created in Makera CAM. Before we get into the CAM preparation side of this project, let's discuss the resources used:
To create this project, there are three toolpaths we need to create after we've set up a 3-Axis project in Makera CAM, and adjusted our stock parameters accordingly. We will also need to scale the model to fit into our stock. We dive deeper into all of the options and configurations for these parameters in our tutorial, but an overview is listed below.
And again, we show how to adjust all of these settings in greater detail in our guiding tutorial video linked above.
To manufacture this project, start by loading your stock onto a piece of waste board and securing it using the corner clamp and top clamp included in our tool kit. We can then load the G-code files created in Makera CAM to our CNC through the Makera Controller App.
We want to enable Scan Margin to check the position of our project, and Auto Leveling to measure the height of our stock across the work area. A clearance height of 2 and 3 probing points would work well for this material and size project.
Once manufacturing is complete, carefully remove the part and cut away the tabs. You can use sandpaper or a file to clean up the edges. And consider using a polishing wheel to bring out the best finish!
For the next spring example project, we created another relief, but this one is made using the 4th axis module through a rotation relief technique on wood. You can find the tutorial video here, and the example files used on our wiki site.
The optional 4th Axis Module allows you to machine geometrically complex designs by rotating the stock during the machining process. This allows your CNC to create a wide range of projects and parts using an even greater range of stock options with ease using Makera CAM! Let's consider how through this example project.
To create this project, there are two toolpaths we need to create after we've set up a 4-Axis project in Makera CAM, and adjusted our stock parameters accordingly. While this model fits our selected stock, you could scale it as needed.
But before we make the Tool Paths, we need to create our tabs to hold this part. This can be done in Makera CAM using the Create tools, and we created a cylinder with a 10 mm diameter to hold the bottom of the egg model, and a cone with a 5 mm and 15 mm diameter to hold the top. You could also import a model with tabs, but creating separately like this will give you a bit more flexibility as we design our cutting operations.
We dive deeper into all of the options and configurations for these parameters in our tutorial, but an overview is listed below.
And again, we show how to adjust all of these settings in greater detail in our guiding tutorial video linked above.
To manufacture this project, we must first install and configure the 4th Axis onto the CNC bed, as shown in other tutorials. After loading the stock into the 4th Axis, upload the G-code files created in Makera CAM through the Makera Controller App.
We want to enable Scan Margin to check the position of our project, and Auto Z Probe which will be set to a fixed height for the 4th axis operation.
Once manufacturing is complete, carefully remove the part and cut away the tabs. You can use sandpaper or a file to clean up the edges. And consider attaching this carving to the 3D Brass Relief we made earlier!
For our third and final spring example project, we created a wooden phone stand machined through a 2-sided milling operation. You can find the tutorial video here, and the example files used on our wiki site.
Thanks to the easy setup and calibration features of the Carvera and Carvera Air, and the intuitive design nature of Makera CAM, complex 2-sided projects are pretty simple to do. Learn how through this example project!
To create this project, we will need to create two Work Coordinate Systems with a series of Tool Paths to machine this part. But first, we can import the 2D DXF design file and position it onto our stock using the Quick Align Stock feature in our transform tools. You can also scale the design to fit your stock as needed.
We dive deeper into all of the options and configurations for these parameters in our tutorial, but an overview is listed below, starting with the top of the part.
This concludes the tool paths for the top of the project, so we can then create a new Work Coordinate System (WCS) for the bottom. To do this, add a WCS in the functions panel, and select the bottom right corner of the stock to be the new work origin. When the stock is flipped horizontally, this will become the top left corner of the other side.
We can then import the 2D DXF design file into our layers for the bottom WCS. As we did earlier, we can use the Quick Align Stock feature to center this design, or consider scaling it to match the top of the part if needed. We can also use the Mirror tool to mirror the design, so it reflects the design profile on the top side, as shown in our tutorial. Once prepared, we can begin to create the Tool Paths for the other side of this project:
And again, we show how to adjust all of these settings in greater detail in our guiding tutorial video linked above.
To manufacture this project, we can secure our stock over a piece of wasteboard that is thick enough to support the alignment pins. To secure thicker stock like this, consider using washers and top clamps, or instead use side clamps and a thicker corner clamp as shown in our tutorials. With the stock secure, we can upload the Gcode files created in Makera CAM to our CNC through the Makera Controller App.
After loading the Gcode for the top of the project, we can use the Config and Run window to enable Scan Margin to check the position of our project, and Auto Z Probe which will be set to a fixed height for the 4th axis operation. You could consider using Scan Margin as well, or consider moving the Z probing point to the center of your stock. Once set, click run to manufacture the top of the project.
After the top finishes, vacuum away any dust and unclamp the material. With the wasteboard still in place, insert alignment pins into the holes drilled. You can then flip the stock horizontally to match how it was rotated in our CAM file, then align it using the holes drilled with the pins, not the corner clamp. You can then use top clamps to secure the stock before heading back to the Makera Controller App.
After loading the GCode for the top of the project, we can again setup this job using the Config and Run window. For this, you can use the same settings as we did earlier for the top, and always ensure your work origin offsets are the same for the top and bottom when performing a flip.
Once manufacturing is complete, carefully remove the part and cut away the tabs. You can use sandpaper or a file to clean up the edges. And consider attaching this carving to the Egg Model and 3D Brass Relief we made earlier!
By following these detailed instructions, you can create a versatile and aesthetically pleasing DIY 3-in-1 Easter Egg Holder & Phone Stand using your Carvera CNC machines and Makera CAM software. These projects demonstrate the versatility of CNC machining and serve as practical and decorative items perfect for your springtime celebrations.
Enjoy crafting, and have a Happy Easter!
