6061 Aluminum
Project case study
Candlestick Holder Set
A CNC lathe machining project focused on creating organic, seamless candlestick holders for standard candlesticks while building experience with large-diameter stock, long stickout, and live-center-supported turning.
- Ownership
- Personal project
- Skills Developed
-
- CAD design
- Design for manufacturing
- Live-center support
- Assembly
- Result
- Built a set of three elegant candlestick holders, each with a single-piece main body for a seamless appearance and reliable compatibility with standard candlesticks.
Overview
What I made
I designed and manufactured a set of candlestick holders to experiment with machining larger components on a CNC lathe, pushing me to manage long stickout.
I wanted the final set to feel both functional and sculptural, with smooth organic profiles and a seamless appearance. This drove the use of a single-piece main body for each holder.
- Haas CNC TL-1
- Grinding wheel
- Misc. hand tools
- Base
- Body
- Candlestick bore
- Main body threads
Process
Defined design geometry.
Researched candlestick holder geometries to gain inspiration for the final design. I selected a recessed bolt-hole connection between the base and main body to maintain a clean, seamless appearance while keeping the assembly secure.
Modeled components, built CAD assembly.
Designed the candelstick holder base and body using Fusion, ensuring critical fits and alignment.
Created CAM workflow, turned components.
Used a CNC lathe to produce the base and body components. A live-center was used to support the main body workpiece during machining.
Assembled components, polished.
Secured the base to the main body using the recessed bolt connection, then applied a felt sheet to the bottom of the base to conceal the bolt head and protect the contact surface. I polished the final assembly to achieve a high-shine finish.