MAXMAKE CNC Blog

Every CNC hobbyist needs a neat tool organizer on their desk. Learn how to transform a solid wood board into a tiered, aesthetic, and practical tool holder that fits both cased and bare bits!

Tired of searching through a messy drawer for the right end mill? Today, I'm sharing how to use the MAXMAKE HiMill D1S desktop CNC to machine a beautiful, tiered solid wood tool organizer. It not only neatly stores standard end mills in their plastic cases but also has dedicated slots for bare bits. Say goodbye to a cluttered workbench! Read to the end for a hardcore guide on avoiding tear-out and burn marks when machining solid wood.

🛠️ I. Project Overview

• Project Name Tiered CNC Tool Holder Organizer
• Equipment Used HiMill D1S Desktop CNC
• Core Processes Tiered Pocketing + Profile Cutting + Counterboring
• Features Holds 12 cased bits + 12 bare bits + Anti-slip base
• Difficulty Level ⭐⭐ (Beginner-friendly, focuses on basic solid wood parameters)
• Cycle Time Approx. 5 Hours
• Main Material 10mm Basswood (or hardwoods like Walnut, Maple)

📋 II. Preparation: Materials & Tooling

If you want to machine solid wood without edge tear-out or burn marks, your tooling and workholding are the key.

1. Hardware & Materials (BOM):

• Stock: 10mm thick Basswood board (Hardwoods offer great texture, resist warping, and engrave beautifully).
• Accessories: 3mm anti-slip silicone pads (Optional, attach to the bottom to prevent sliding).
• Workholding: Woodworking toe clamps.

2. Tooling Recommendations (For Solid Wood):

• Profile Cutting & Pocketing: 3.175mm Single Flute Spiral End Mill.
  Reason: Single flute offers smooth chip evacuation, preventing wood from burning and leaving a clean finish.
• Outer Profile / Holes: Flat bottom counterbore (or use the 3.175mm end mill with a helical toolpath).

💻 III. Design & CAM Strategy

This design balances both aesthetics and practicality:

• Functional Zoning:
  • Top Tier: 12 square pockets (Sized for standard end mill plastic cases, approx. 13x13x18mm deep).
  • Bottom Tier: 12 round counterbore holes (4mm & 3.2mm diameters, 18mm deep, for bare bits).
• Edges: Filleted corners (R15mm) to prevent sharp edges and improve the tactile feel.

CAM Pitfall Avoidance (HiMill D1S Parameters)

The biggest fears when cutting solid wood are "tear-out" and "burnt bits". Here are the exact settings you need:

• Tiered Pocketing (Square Slots):
  • Step Down (Depth per Pass): 0.5mm
  • Spindle Speed: 13,000 RPM
  • Feed Rate: 600 mm/min
  • Strategy: Climb Milling (This is crucial for significantly reducing edge tear-out).
• Outer Profile & Bare Bit Holes:
  • Strategy: Helical Milling (Much smoother and safer than direct vertical plunging/drilling).
  • Spindle Speed: 13,000 RPM
  • Feed Rate: 600 mm/min
• Final Profile Cutting:
  • Spindle Speed: 13,000 RPM
  • Feed Rate: 600 mm/min
  • Stock to Leave: Leave 0.1mm for a final Finishing Pass.
  • Key: Always use climb milling for the final profile cut and ensure your bit is razor-sharp!
• Chamfering:
  • Tool: 4mm Chamfer Bit
  • Spindle Speed: 13,000 RPM
  • Effective Cutting Diameter: 20mm

⚙️ IV. CNC Machining Process

The powerful spindle of the HiMill D1S handles solid wood effortlessly. Watching the wood chips fly out evenly is extremely satisfying.

1. Workholding: Secure the stock firmly with woodworking clamps. Note: Solid wood machining can generate vibration; double fixing prevents the stock from shifting.
2. Machining Sequence:
   • First, machine the outer profile and the stepped tiers.
   • Second, machine all square pockets and round counterbore holes.
   • Third, chamfer the outer edges.
   • Finally, perform the full outer profile cut to release the part.

Note: Remember to clear wood chips promptly during the process to prevent buildup, which can affect machining precision.

🎨 V. Post-Processing & Finishing

This is the crucial step to elevate the texture of your project!

1. Part Removal: Carefully remove the machined organizer and brush off the surface dust.
2. Sanding: Rough sand with 180-grit sandpaper, then fine sand all surfaces and edges (especially the fillets) with 320-grit until buttery smooth to the touch.
3. Oiling: Apply a coat of wood wax oil (or walnut oil). Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe off the excess with a clean cloth. This makes the wood grain pop and provides protection.
4. Assembly: Once the oil is completely dry, stick the anti-slip silicone pads to the bottom.

🎉 VI. Final Showcase

When you place all your end mills neatly into the organizer, your workbench instantly becomes clean and professional.

HiMill D1S Advantages for this Build:

• High Precision: The square pockets are perfectly sized. The plastic end mill cases slide in snugly with no wobbling.
• Smooth Cuts: Almost zero tear-out on the solid wood edges; it requires minimal sanding to achieve a perfect finish.
• High Efficiency: Machined the 10mm basswood in one continuous setup.

Setup Suggestion: Place it on the workbench right next to your CNC machine. Having your most-used end mills within arm's reach greatly improves workflow efficiency. You can even customize the design to add more tiers for a larger capacity!