CNC Cut Controller Paddles v1

In August of 2023 We first cut fiver Controller Paddles on the CNC Machine. I had been hesitant to set this up because of the difficulty of clamping the work in place.

I finally worked out a method with a new cutting jig (base) fixture on the CNC bed. I use MDF to create jigs for clamping stock to be cut. I also fashion my own clamps to secure the work. Up until this point I had been using a cut paddle template; marking the outline with a big black sharpie and cutting on the jig saw. This was followed by a labor intensive and time consuming sanding/de-burring process. The results were not very uniform and I sometimes scratched or stained the parts in places.

This new process produces uniform pieces with minimal cleanup. It is a two phase job. Once I switch the base into place on the CNC, I position and center the Polyethylene sheet and clamp it along the X edges. I run the first job, which pre-drills holes at positions where I placed threaded inserts in the jig. Once this stage is done, I insert M4 round-head bolts through the sheet to secure it in place for cutting the paddles. The next phase cuts the paddles.