What would you make with a desktop CNC milling machine
The MTM Snap is an open source CNC desktop milling machine designed at the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms. The frame, milling head and bed are milled from 1/2" HDPE and are designed to snap together around the other required hardware for fast and easy construction.
It's designed primarily for use manufacturing PCBs but the project site lists waxes and plastics as other materials that it can be used to machine.
I've been given one to play with, if YOU had access to one, what would you use it to make?
It's designed primarily for use manufacturing PCBs but the project site lists waxes and plastics as other materials that it can be used to machine.
I've been given one to play with, if YOU had access to one, what would you use it to make?
















![mtm_snap-lock[1].jpg](/files/deriv/F8O/XL6B/GY4R8OMY/F8OXL6BGY4R8OMY.LARGE.jpg)

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Attempt to print a desktop milling machine within a desktop milling machine within a desktop milling machine within a desktop milling machine within a desktop milling machine upon my desk.
I'd probably take it for walks too.
CNC milling is not for the faint hearted, lots of things to learn. But going through all that I well worth the trouble..
I make puppets, and I'm always trying new joint designs. I find my hand tool skills are not the best, but I like to think I can design pretty well.
Also, there's an artist that does some great stuff for mapping - builds 3 models of landscapes in layers. I'd love to do something like that (reprographics.com, I think). For one, as an economic development officer, the communities I work with could benefit from being able to see clearly what's happening with a given project.
For another, I'm a map-building geek, and it's coooooolllll....
Where are the Instructables???
I SHALL MAKE AN INSTRUCTABLE FEATURING PUPPETS within 6 months. Perhaps ithe puppets will describe how to make things, perhaps they will be the things made.
Okay, they'll be the things made.
Man, am I ever easy to get to do things...
Also, just to say, if I get a CNC router, I'll be able to make loads of scenery, and will make LOADS AND LOADS of instructables.....
THAT HAVE PRETTY DARN GOOD SPELLING.
I want to create proofs on concepts, functional finished products, artwork, jigs and templates.
And then my focus would probably turn to geeky jewelry.
I don't know how much control the z axis has, but I would love to try making bas-relief sculpture panels carved from wood. If shallow 3D didn't work it could still be awesome for carving wood for wood block printing. The precision would make perfect multi-color prints. Any time I see new technology I think about how it could be used to make art.
PCBs made in shapes that are part of the design (like the xmas tree shape with LEDs concept) would be a good use because I could prototype, test, prototype, test; instead of waiting for custom PCBs to be shipped. I haven't worked with this as an element of my designs because it's hard for me to stay focused when I have to wait so long between iterations.
That final image in the video looks like part of a ball-bearing-in-a-channel maze toy. I want to make one of those, now, too.