Page Comparison

Material choices

(image)	METHOD	MATERIAL	COST ($/sf)	TIME: file prep	TIME: fab	TIME: assembly	TIME: total	GREEN QUOTIENT
Image Added	CNC milling - smooth terrain	white foam	$7.80	7	2	0	9
Image Added	CNC milling - smooth terrain	plywood	$39.58	9	2.25 (no buildings yet)
Image Added	CNC milling - smooth terrain	hardwood (poplar)
	CNC milling - smooth terrain	high density foam	$82.78	7
Image Added	CNC milling - stepped terrain (fine)	white foam	$7.80
	CNC milling - stepped terrain (1/16" contours)	white foam	$7.80

File preparation: Rhino

1. Generally, the rhino file prepared for milling must contain the following layers:
   1. Stock: a box, at the world origin, representing the size of the block of your milling material.
   2. Topography: a single NURBS surface for smooth terrain, or a series of flat surfaces for stepped terrain.
   3. Features: layer(s) with NURBS surfaces for roads, water, etc.
      1. For each features layer, there should be another layer with boundary curves for each feature surface.
   4. Buildings: If buildings are to be milled with the base, include a layer with NURBS surfaces at the tops of buildings.
      1. A layer with boundary curves for each building top surface.
   5. Buildings too large or too small to be milled with the topography need pockets. Include a layer with curves outlining the bases of these buildings (at the z depth you want the bottom of the pocket cut).
   6. Final contour: a layer with a curve tracing the four outside edges of the topography layer, and the same curve projected to z=0.
2. This file can be imported directly into Mastercam.

File preparation: Mastercam

1. See the CNC tutorial for more detail. In general, you will need to use a template MasterCAM file, import your geometry, assign it to pre-defined toolpaths and adjust the toolpath parameters for your material.

Related articles