Nando Cabán–Méndez » CAM http://nandocabanmendez.com Creative Journeyman Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:01:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 SketchUp Design: Counter top Display http://nandocabanmendez.com/2010/02/sketchup-design-counter-top-display/ http://nandocabanmendez.com/2010/02/sketchup-design-counter-top-display/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:04:16 +0000 Nando http://www.nandocabanmendez.com/?p=340 Austin Countertop counter top displayWhen a client needed a counter top display (funny enough, to display counter top substrates) I used a combination of skills and tools to design and illustrate a solution. The display I designed consisted in three identical modules, routed out of the same solid surface material the samples were made of. The shape of the display enables showing fewer samples (to allow for changes in available materials) without appearing “incomplete”. Ergonomics were also considered, to allow for the easy removal of samples.

Austin Countertop counter top display Austin Countertop counter top display Austin Countertop counter top display

]]> http://nandocabanmendez.com/2010/02/sketchup-design-counter-top-display/feed/ 0 3D Design and Modeling: The Bridge Street Plaque http://nandocabanmendez.com/2010/01/three-dimensional-solutions-the-bridge-street-plaque/ http://nandocabanmendez.com/2010/01/three-dimensional-solutions-the-bridge-street-plaque/#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:04:57 +0000 Nando http://www.nandocabanmendez.com/?p=299 I love the challenge of spatial problems like this one. While working for a sign company, we were faced with executing an idea by a design firm. It looked like this:
Bridge Street sign design

The monument sign was not a problem, but the dimensional plaque was outside the areas of expertise of my employer at the time. At the time, I was involved in a CNC hobby, and suggested we carve the logo plaque out of HDU foam. HDU foam is very stable, machines easily, and can be finished to simulate many materials, including the statuary brass specified for this project.


Based on the 2D image, I created a domed 3D model of the plaque. This is not some kind of software feature, mind you, but a time-consuming task that required many skills akin to sculpting. I was able to export this three-dimensional model and import it into the CNC software. Here, I produced three-dimensional toolpaths. The series of photos below show the machining progress as material is routed away from the HDU block.

And this is the final piece, before hand finishing:
Bridge Street finished piece

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