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🛠️ Project Overview

• Project Name "Collecting Beautiful Moments" - Glowing Cat Jewelry Stand
• Equipment Used HiMill D1S Desktop CNC
• Core Principle Edge-lit Acrylic Technique
• Finished Features Earring storage holes + Necklace hanger slots + Ring holder tail + Night light functionality
• Difficulty Level ⭐⭐⭐ (Requires understanding of acrylic engraving and cutting parameters/feeds and speeds)
• Machining Time Approx. 30 minutes
• Primary Material 5mm High-transparency Acrylic Sheet (Cast Acrylic recommended)

📋 1. Preparation

Achieving crystal-clear edges on acrylic without frosting or whitemarks boils down to critical tooling selection.

Hardware Bill of Materials (BOM):

• Stock Material: High-transparency Acrylic Sheet (Cast Acrylic yields superior engraving results compared to extruded).
• Base: Solid wood illuminated base (You can CNC machine the slot custom, or purchase an off-the-shelf USB LED base).
• Workholding: Strong double-sided tape (Acrylic surfaces are slick; secure adhesion is vital to prevent part shifting during machining).

Recommended Tooling (Acrylic Specific):

• Cutting/Drilling: Single Flute Spiral End Mill (Recommended diameter: [1.5mm]).
  • Reasoning: Single flutes provide large chip evacuation channels and rapid heat dissipation, which prevents the acrylic from melting and welding back onto the cutter.
• Surface Engraving (Cat features/Text): V-bit Engraver (e.g., 20° or 30° included angle) or Ball Nose End Mill.
  • Technique: V-bits create finer, sharper lines that are highly effective at refracting light for the glow effect.

💻 2. Design & CAM Strategy

This design balances aesthetic appeal with practical utility:

Functional Zones:

• Cat Whiskers: Designed with recessed slots intended for hanging necklaces.
• Cat Belly: Features an array of 34 small holes specifically for organizing stud earrings.
• Cat Tail: Designed with a slight upward curl suitable for holding rings.
• Text Area: "collect beautiful moment" engraved at the bottom section.

Step 2.1 CAM Best Practices & Pitfall Avoidance (HiMill D1S Parameters)

The primary risk when machining acrylic is material melting or "chip welding" onto the cutter tool due to friction heat.

• Engraving (Lines & Text):
  • Depth of Cut (DOC): A shallow cut of [0.2mm - 0.3mm] is sufficient. Excessive depth risks material breakage, while insufficient depth results in poor light refraction for the glow effect.
  • Strategy: Trace / Profile on Line.
• Drilling (Earring Holes):
  • Method: Peck Drilling. This cycle ensures periodic tool retraction, which is essential for efficient chip evacuation and heat dissipation.
• Cutting/Profiling (Outer Contour):
  • Spindle Speed: 13000 RPM
  • Feed Rate: 600mm/min (Crucial Point: Maintain a high feed rate. Slower feeds increase dwell time and friction, significantly increasing the risk of melting the material).

⚙️ 3. Machining Process

Witness the HiMill D1S's whisper-quiet operation as acrylic chips dance like snowflakes during machining.

1. Workholding: Remove the bottom protective film from the stock material and secure it securely to the wasteboard using strong double-sided tape.
   • Note: It is recommended to leave the top surface masking layer intact initially; this protects the face of the acrylic from scratches caused by swarf during engraving.
2. Machining Sequence:
   • First, execute the engraving toolpaths for internal features like text and expressions.
   • Next, perform the drilling operations for the earring holes.
   • Finally, run the profile contour cut-out (performing the cut-out last ensures the part remains securely held by the stock material throughout the prior operations).

🎨 4. Post-Processing & Illumination

This is the most satisfying stage—masking removal!

1. Masking Removal: Peel off the surface protective paper to reveal the crystal-clear acrylic body beneath.
2. Cleaning/Deburring: If there are minor burrs on the cut edges, gently remove them with a scraper or deburring tool. If static dust clings to the surface, wipe it down with a damp cloth or an anti-static wipe.
3. Assembly: Insert the finished acrylic plate into the slot of the solid wood LED base.
   • Note: The slot width must match the acrylic thickness accurately (maintain a tolerance of approximately +0.2mm) to ensure a snug, stable fit.

🎉 5. Showcase

When illuminated, light flows along the engraved toolpaths. The cat’s silhouette and the text instantly appear to float in mid-air, resembling a suspended neon sign.

HiMill D1S Fabrication Advantages:

• Crystal-Clear Edges: When paired with the recommended single-flute end mill, the cut edges are remarkably smooth and transparent, often eliminating the need for post-process flame polishing.
• Fine Detail Engraving: Even small, intricate cursive script like "beautiful" is rendered clearly with sharp definition and zero edge chipping.

Placement Suggestion:

Place it on a nightstand or vanity and adorn it with your cherished jewelry. It serves distinctively not only as an organizer but also as a warm, ambient night light.