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🛠️ Project Overview

• Project Name 3D Relief Chinese Zodiac Tiger Cookie Mold
• Equipment Used HiMill D1S Desktop CNC
• Core Challenges 3D surface finishing (restoring fine fur details) + hardwood milling
• Finished Features Strong deep relief dimensionality, smooth mold release, food-safe
• Difficulty Level ⭐⭐⭐ (Requires mastery of 3D toolpath strategies)
• Machining Time Approx. 3 hours
• Main Material [e.g., 20mm] thick premium Beech wood

📋 1. Preparation

When making food utensils, material selection is paramount.

Hardware Materials (BOM):

• Wood Stock: Beech.
  Why Beech? High hardness, fine grain, odorless, and durable wear resistance make it the optimal choice for making food molds.
• Finishing: Food-grade mineral oil (or walnut oil, beeswax).
• Cleaning: Bristle brush (for clearing deep-seated wood chips).

Recommended Tools (For 3D Relief):

If you want to carve details like the tiger's whiskers, standard flat end mills just won't cut it.

1. Roughing Bit: Single Flute Up-cut Spiral End Mill —— Used for quickly clearing out the bulk of the material.

2. Finishing Bit: Tapered Ball Nose End Mill.
   Function: Leaves an extremely smooth surface finish after machining, requiring almost no sanding.

💻 2. Design & CAM Strategy (The Secret of 3D Relief)

When creating molds, the most crucial element is a shift in perspective: the pattern must be machined as a concave (negative) relief so that the final cookie emerges as a convex (positive) shape.

Step 2.1 Model Preparation

• I generated the 3D tiger model using a grayscale height map.
• Key Setting: Ensure the model is inverted (recessed). Set the depth to approximately [e.g., 6mm - 8mm]. (If it's too deep, demolding becomes difficult; if it's too shallow, the relief lacks definition.)

Step 2.2 CAM Toolpath Settings (HiMill D1S Parameters)

Beech wood is relatively hard, so the machining parameters shouldn't be too aggressive.

1. 3D Roughing:
   • Strategy: Raster (Parallel) or Offset Clearing.
   • Stock to Leave: 0.5mm (leaving material for the finishing bit to cut).
   • Feed Rate: [600] mm/min.

2. 3D Finishing —— The Moment of Magic:
   • Strategy: Raster Angle set to 45 degrees (this makes tool marks significantly less visible).
   • Tool: R0.5 Tapered Ball Nose End Mill.
   • Stepover: CRITICAL! Set this to 8%-10% of the tool diameter (e.g., 0.1mm).
   ◦ The Principle: The smaller the stepover, the smoother the finished surface, requiring almost no post-process sanding. While this increases machining time, you can simply let the HiMill D1S run unattended—the results are well worth the wait.

⚙️ 3. CNC Machining Process

Time for the HiMill D1S to go to work!

1. Roughing Stage: The machine moves rapidly with chips flying. You won't recognize the tiger form just yet; you'll only see a deep pocket being cleared out.

2. Tool Change: Swap in the fine tapered ball nose end mill and re-zero the Z-axis origin point.

3. Finishing Stage: This part is incredibly satisfying to watch. The tool tip acts like a precision embroidery needle, peeling away the wood bit by bit. The tiger's nose, eyes, and even the distinct "王" (King) character texture on its forehead gradually emerge.
   ◦ Observation: Thanks to the HiMill D1S's stable spindle, there was zero charring or burning on the surface, even when milling hard beech wood. The resulting finish is incredibly clean.

🎨 4. Post-Processing & Food-Grade Finishing (Food Safety)

The mold might be slightly "fuzzy" fresh off the machine. Proper post-processing is crucial to ensure dough doesn't stick.

1. Cleaning: Use a stiff bristle brush to remove residual dust from deep crevices.

2. Sanding: Gently sand the interior of the mold using sanding sponges (400-600 grit). Be careful not to flatten the fine details.

3. Oiling:

   • Submerge the mold in food-grade mineral oil or apply a thick coat of beeswax.
   • The beech wood will darken after absorbing the oil, taking on a warm, lustrous sheen. This creates a protective barrier against mold and cracking.
   • Allow it to dry and cure for 24 hours before use.

🍪 5. The Final Test: Baking Tiger Cookies (Testing)

You won't know how good the mold truly is until it goes into the oven.

1. Recipe Recommendation: You must use a "no-spread" cookie recipe (moderate butter ratio, no baking powder). Otherwise, your baked tiger will turn into a "fat cat."

2. Molding Technique: Lightly dust the mold with flour to prevent sticking. Press the dough firmly into the cavity, give it a gentle tap, and a lifelike tiger pops right out.

3. Baking: Hot out of the oven!

Results:
Look at the photos! The tiger's fur texture on the cookies is clearly visible, and the eyes are sharp. The HiMill D1S perfectly replicated every detail of the digital model.

🎉 6. Conclusion

The true satisfaction of fabricating custom molds with the HiMill D1S lies in the ability to transform any design into a culinary creation. Whether it’s zodiac symbols, logos, or intricate totems, this machine can realize them all.

A Few Pointers for Novices:

• Tool Selection: You absolutely must acquire a "Tapered Ball End Mill." It is the ultimate tool for 3D relief carving operations.

• Patience: 3D finishing toolpaths have longer cycle times, but avoiding the need for manual post-processing of fine details makes the wait entirely worthwhile.

If you are also a baking enthusiast, fire up your CNC and launch your own bespoke bakery!