Creating a Christmas Advent Wreath with the Genmitsu 4040 Reno

The idea for this project was to surprise my wife for the upcoming Christmas holidays. Christmas decorations are currently a popular theme for hobby CNC machines, so I decided to share my experience with the Sainsmart community. The project was created using the Genmitsu Reno 4040 CNC machine, and I used two types of wood (cherry and beech) and two types of bits: a 6 mm end mill and a 3.175 mm V-bit. The entire process took about 4 hours, including design, cutting and finishing.

Preparation and Design

I designed the project myself, starting with two concentric circles containing a star. The star was duplicated three times and rotated around the center. To ensure perfect joints, I rounded the internal corners with a 6 mm radius so the bit could process them accurately. The result was four segments that fit neatly between the four stars. Each star includes a slot for a candle, and I chose red candles as a symbol of the Advent season.

Cutting Process

For the stars, I used cherry wood approximately 17 mm thick. The surface was leveled before cutting. The candle slots were milled to a depth of 6 mm using a 6 mm end mill bit. The cutting parameters were set to a speed of 1600 mm/min with a depth of 2 mm per pass. These settings produced very clean edges. I added three 2x2 mm tabs to each star to ensure stability during the cutting process.

The connecting parts were cut from 12 mm thick beech. I used the same cutting parameters as for the stars, and the process was very quick. The Makita spindle speed was set to level 3 on the potentiometer. At this speed, the cutting was quiet, vibration-free, and produced coarse sawdust — which helps cool the bit and prolong its life.

Adding Decorations

To further enhance the wreath, I decided to add wooden bows. The material was prepared with a band saw to a thickness of 2 mm. I used the 3.175 mm V-bit from the Genmitsu Reno CNC package. First, I engraved the bow outlines to a depth of 1 mm, then cut out the entire shapes. In the end, I chose to leave the bows in their natural wooden state rather than painting them red.

Final Touch

All the pieces were sprayed with a lacquer finish to achieve a smooth surface and highlight the natural beauty of the wood. The final result was an Advent wreath with red candles, adorned with elegant wooden bows.