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CNC Guidelines

Submitting Your File:

All files submitted for CNC cutting should be emailed to modelshop@otis.edu. Once the files has been reviewed by a staff member, we will schedule a day for you to bring in your material. We will not accept material before this date, as we do not have room to store it.

Cost of Cutting:

Flat rate of either $20 or $40 depending on size and complexity of file.

Payment:

Payment will be made through your PaperCut account, accessed online or through the 4th floor computer lab.

File Types:

3D Geometry

CAD file: Rhino or STL file (stereolithography) if file is double sided, each half can not exceed 2.5” in height

2D Geometry

Vector file: Adobe Illustrator, Rhino, DXF, or AutoCad

Use 2D drawings for 2D cutting (thru cuts, pocketing, dadoes, etc).

2D geometry should be closed or made into polylines wherever possible.

It is NOT possible to cut square interior corners with a CNC router.

Holes

Holes smaller than 1/2 in. will be drilled as pilot holes, which will establish the position of the hole.

Holes larger than 1/2 in. can be cut at any diameter.

Guidelines:

All CNC files MUST be reviewed and approved by Model Shop techs. If you are inexperienced designing files for CNC fabrication, talk to us first. We can help you avoid common mistakes. Allow at least ONE WEEK (sometimes two) lead time for CNC jobs. This is one week from the time we receive your clean, ready-to-cut file, plus materials (also ready for cutting). Rhino files strongly preferred. AutoCAD and Illustrator is okay for 2D files. All other files types must be converted to .stl and reviewed for compatibility.

Maximum size for the CNC is 48” wide x 96” long, and 2.75” depth.