MAXMAKE CNC Blog

🛠️ Project Overview

• Project Name Geometric Rotating Hexagon Organizer
• Machine Used HiMill D1S Desktop CNC
• Design Highlights Two-tone contrast, rotating mechanism, minimalist geometric
• Difficulty Level ⭐⭐ (Tests CAM nesting & assembly)
• Machining Time Approx. 2 Hours
• Primary Materials Walnut (Dark layer), Beech (Light layer)

📋 1. Preparation & Materials (BOM)

The core concept of this project is "modularity." We need to machine multiple identical hexagonal modules and string them together on a central axis, almost like making a wooden kebab!

🪵 Hardware & Materials

• Wood Stock: Prepare two contrasting types of solid wood boards (dark and light) with a consistent thickness [e.g., 10mm-12mm].
• Center Dowel: A [e.g., 6mm] wooden dowel or metal rod to act as the central axis connecting all layers.
• Top Finial: A wooden ball knob (used for locking the stack and adding a decorative touch).
• Finish: Wood wax oil (to bring out the rich contrast between the light and dark wood grains).

🧰 Tooling Recommendations

• Primary Workhorse: [e.g., 1/8" / 3.175mm Flat End Mill or Spiral Bit].
• Why? This bit is highly versatile. It can drill the center dowel holes, clear out the large pockets for the pens, and profile the outer contours seamlessly.

💻 2. Design & CAM Nesting

Step 2.1: Modular Design

I designed two variations of the hexagonal units:

1. Organizer Layers (Top): Features a small center hole for the dowel and [e.g., 3] large 30mm diameter holes to hold the pens.
2. Base Layer (Bottom): A solid hexagon with just a center hole and a shallow pocket to lower the center of gravity, ensuring overall stability.

Step 2.2: Batch Nesting

To minimize material waste, I utilized a tight nesting layout in my CAM software.

• The HiMill D1S Advantage: Despite being a desktop machine, the D1S has an effective work area large enough to nest and cut [e.g., 4-6] hexagons in a single run. Cutting them in batches rather than one by one significantly boosts production efficiency.

⚙️ 3. CNC Machining Process

Watching the CNC carve out perfect geometric shapes one after another is incredibly therapeutic.

1. Machining Light Wood: Cutting the base and a portion of the middle layers.
2. Machining Dark Wood: Cutting the upper organizer layers.

Key Takeaways:

• Center Axis Hole: The dimensional accuracy of this hole dictates how smoothly the organizer will rotate. The perpendicularity of the holes drilled by the HiMill D1S is phenomenal—the wooden dowel slides right in without any need for manual reaming.
• Large Hole Excavation: Use a Pocketing toolpath strategy to clear out the material for the pen slots.

🎨 4. Post-Processing & Finishing

Once the parts are cut, it’s time to elevate them from raw pieces to a premium boutique product.

1. Edge Sanding: Hexagons have sharp corners. Lightly sand and break the sharp edges (chamfering) to give the wood a much softer, more comfortable tactile feel.
2. Oiling (The Magic Step!):
   • When wood wax oil is applied to the Walnut (dark wood), the rich grain instantly pops out, giving it a deep, luxurious look.
   • The light-colored beech wood becomes warm and lustrous.
   • The visual contrast between the two woods is absolutely striking.

🧩 5. Assembly

Stack them up like building blocks!

1. Secure the Base: Anchor the wooden dowel into the bottom light-colored base layer.
2. Alternate Stacking: Slide the layers onto the dowel, alternating "dark-light-dark" or following any custom sequence you prefer.
3. Adjust the Angles: Since each tier is independent, you can twist and stagger them to create a dynamic, random spiral shape.
4. Cap It Off: Finally, secure the top layer with the decorative wooden ball knob to lock it in place.

🎉 6. Final Result & Summary

Project complete! This isn't just a pen holder; it serves as a piece of interactive desktop art.

HiMill D1S Review & Thoughts:

• Batch Production: Handcrafting repetitive geometric structures like this can be exhausting, but with a CNC, it’s as effortless as "copy and paste."
• Alignment Precision: Even after stacking multiple layers, the outer edges remain perfectly flush. This is a great testament to the machine's outstanding repeatability (repetitive positioning accuracy).