#MakeBlocks Collaboration - CNC or by Hand

I am new to the CNC. I have a video series on my YouTube channel that shows me and my six-year-old son Vance learning this machine. Secretly for Vance's Christmas present, I created these blocks. DOn't tell him!! :) But this is a file share so others can download my plans, make the blocks for free and, more importantly, make their own modifications to upload to the file share for the community to use. Post videos and media about it! Use #MakeBlocks and let's see how far this can go!

Watch the video or continue reading for more info. The only rule is please don't sell your blocks or plans!!! This is all in the spirit of gift-giving and sharing, not making money. Be cool.

Instructable maker Paul Jackman has already made an additional block and share it in the file share. Links and more info are in this Instructable. Please play along!

File share: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0o7W4Y8MocpUEVV...

Paul Jackman: https://www.youtube.com/user/JackmanCarpentry

Me: http://www.timsway.net

Step 1: The SVG Code

In the file share (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0o7W4Y8MocpUEVV... you will find my original SVG file of the pieces as well as any mods people have made, and a few text files with some helpful information.

I also made an 8.5"X11" printable paper template for those without CNCs to cut blocks out by hand. BY HANDERS NOTE: you can just cut 90-degree angles and ignore the circular fillets and rounded edges. those are only there for the CNC machines to be able to make the cut.

Step 2: Make Some Practice Cuts and Go!

HELPFUL INFO! I created the file in VCarve for my small Piranha FX. I sprayglued a backer board under my material to help keep the pieces from flying free and screwed and clamped the whole thing down.

The shapes are based on 1/2" plywood. The plywood I used was actually .46" thick so the pockets and tabs are made to that size. Resize accordingly.

I did all my cutting "outside the line" with a 1/4" upcut bit. On my machine, they came out a little too tight for kid hands, so i adjusted the outside cut of the female pieces only X about -.0186" to make a slightly looser fit. Paul needed no adjustments on his machine. experiment accordingly before batching them out. But you CNC pros probably already know this. I had to waste a few pieces of plywood to learn :(

Step 3: Not Just CNC

As I mentioned you can also use power tools (scroll saw, jig saw, band saw, heck a tablesaw sled and a SAFE jig...) or hand tools (dovetail saw, coping saw, hand drill and chisels...) to make these. They fit both parallel and perpendicular to each other and are a lot of fun. What can you do to add to these? Create a game from them? Color schemes? Create new shaped pieces? Change the scale? Have fun and please share!! #MakeBlocks.

Thanks and be good,

Tim