Challah Mezuzah

The first CNC project I am tackling is a Linkmezuzah shaped like challah bread. As the first foray into 3D carving I was looking for something small yet with enough detail to be interesting.

I modeled the mezuzah in Solidworks, the main challenge here was that I planned to use a 1/4" ball end mill for the entire cut without tool changes and had to design the piece in such a way that the end mill could produce. If all goes well and as I build more confidence in the machine and my CAM skills a 1/8" bit would have allowed for a more detailed design but also much longer machine time.

CAM work was done in the excellent Fusion 360 with three operations: a pocket to clear away most of material, a scallop to carve the 3D shape and then a profile to finish separating the mezuzah from the stock.

The first mezuzah was made out of oak I had laying around but I plan to explore other more exotic hard woods in the near future.

Tools Used: SolidWorks, Fusion360, CNC Router This is challah bread, the most delicious bread in the world and the inspiration for this design.

This is challah bread, the most delicious bread in the world and the inspiration for this design. 3D design of the somewhat abstracted braid.  The design was done in SolidWorks.

3D design of the somewhat abstracted braid. The design was done in SolidWorks. I have done some very basic cam profile cutting in the past but this is my first foray into 3D carving. The part is produced in three passed: first the material around the finished piece is removed in a pocket clearing operation, then a spiral scall

I have done some very basic cam profile cutting in the past but this is my first foray into 3D carving. The part is produced in three passed: first the material around the finished piece is removed in a pocket clearing operation, then a spiral scallop cut carves out the 3D surface, and lastly one more pass is made around the profile to separate the finished piece from the stock. The first cut almost finished before hitting an oopsie.  CNC oopsies are a little more dramatic than 3D printing oopsies and involve loud noises and smoke from burning wood. It took a little time to find the cause of the problem but it was a b

The first cut almost finished before hitting an oopsie. CNC oopsies are a little more dramatic than 3D printing oopsies and involve loud noises and smoke from burning wood.

It took a little time to find the cause of the problem but it was a bad connection of the z-motor to the board which caused it to keep plunging into the piece. Thankfully nothing on the machine broke and the bit survivied.