Fablab Seoul
JIN`s Fab Academy 2018:
How to make almost everything
week4: Computer-Controlled Cutting
1. learing Vinyl Cutting
The vinyl cutter I used was the cameo3 of the
'silhouette'.
Cameo is light and small in size among vinyl cutters. And it is highly utilized.
Maximum working area: 30x60 cm: cutting on paper, textile, felt, film, etc.
30cm x 3m Vinyl sheet, transfer paper, label paper and other media without cutting mat
Maximum cutting length: 2mm
Maximum loading thickness: 2 mm
Maximum cutting pressure: 210g
Functions: Automatic adjustment blade, cutting, sketching, multi-task, ink dot, post-printing cutting, pick scan.
You can use your vinyl cutter to make your own artwork and do various paper crafts.
I decided to cut the heart, which is the symbol of my final project.
The vinyl cutter uses proprietary software. The software is simple to use.
1. Open the DXF file.
2. Set the file size and position.
3. Enter the cut setting.
4. Set the cut mode.
5. Select the tool
6. Select the material type.
7. Select the blade
8. Set Speed and Thickness.
9. You must make a test cut !!
10. Click send to sillhouette.
As a precaution, you should know the speed and thickness of the material you cut through the test cut.
So you can do your project well by saving the material.
I used a thin sheet of paper and worked with Speed: 3, Thickness: 8.
I used 'Automatic Blade' but it was easy.
However, the 'Automatic Blade' was broken in the middle, and the work was delayed a little.
I still get the results I want. I`m so happy. This is a symbol of my project.
You can learn how to use cameo through 'this link'. However, it is Korean.
2. Testing with Laser Cut Press Fit
I made a press kit through a laser cutter as a group assigment.I used parametric design in fusion360.
In the middle, we set the main length, -1 on the left, and +1 on the right.
After that, I tried to test with laser cutting, and when it failed, I worked again with parametric design.
But there is a problem here. I have converted from fusion360 to DXF file and imported it from laser cutter software.
At first I did not know why. I found that the text configuration on fusion360 was not good.
Text files can only be recognized by a laser cutter when the explode text is set to a vector file.
The 'laser cutter'
is a very useful machine. It has an error of less than 0.1mm, and it is very fast and easy to use.
And it is possible to engravings. The laser cutter in Fablab seoul is 150w and is 1300x900 mm in size.
It is very powerful. So the thickness can be cut up to 10mm.
Usage is simple. As with the vinyl cutter, open the DXF file in a dedicated program for the laser cutter.
1. Divide the layers to be cut with colors.
2. Adjust the cut mode, speed and power for each layer.
3. Lay out the layer that cuts the outline line last.
4. Send the file to the laser cutter.
5. Start by focusing on the laser cutter.
As a precaution, it is good to send the file to the machine and start laser cutting.
Because it is not caught in origin when starting from the computer, there is a high probability of making a mistake.
And in the machine
1. Find the file
2. Set where you want to work and set the origin.
3. Check the job size via frame.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to remove the material.
5. Let's get started!
So I used a caliper to measure the thickness of the MDF. And I completed the design. But there was a problem.
I measured the thickness of the MDF poorly. So I did not understand the press fit and continued to fail the press kit for flywood ...
Trees, I'm so sorry ... I have to keep in mind. When measuring dimensions, you must minimize mistakes several times.
So you can do better work without mistakes.
At last I finished! I made additional acrylic and flywood through parametric design.
The result of the discussion was that the kerf was about 0.4 mm.
I think it will be possible to make various designs by using press fit in the future
I had a problem when I was using laser cutting. Suddenly the laser power has weakened. So I tried many ways to find the cause of it.
1. Check water cooler
2. The laser and the z-axis of the material
3. Confirm the second mirror focus
4. Cleaning mirrors and lenses
5. Whether air is coming out from the air compressor
But it did not work out. It turns out that there was a problem with the third mirror on the nozzle.
It moved the mirror while the fastening screw that fixed the focus was released.
It is important to use the machine well, but it is also important to check it well!
This easy-to-use laser cutter can be used with an extremely large number of equipment.
1. computer
2. laser cutting machine
3. smoke extraction
4. compressed air supply
+ water cooler
And a total of five equipments are required.
When using a laser cutter, it is necessary to check the equipment for safety and periodic inspection. The laser cutter can be used safely.
Improper use may result in fire or machine breakdown.
A simple equipment check
1. Check that the smoke extraction and air compressor are working
2. The lens and mirror are clean
3. Whether the water cooler's distilled water has been changed every 4 months
4. Smoke extraction tube is clean
A simple safety guideline is
1. Two people should not use the equipment together.
2. It must be in place when the unit is operating.
3. Locate fire extinguisher
Equipment inspection and safety precautions must be observed.
3. parametric press-fit construction kit
I wanted to make an interesting construction kit. So I looked a lot of information.
I looked at at least 70 students at the Fab Academy in 2017. It could be almost 100 people ... but I could not find my own design.
I was surfing the internet so regular icosahedron was visible. It is a soccer ball shape.
I do not know if I can succeed, but I wanted to try it.
I made a polygon shape with a parametric design at fusion360.
And the pentagon and hexagon were assemble to each other. Here is a link to learn how to assemble 'this link'.
But there is a problem here. I did not know the angle of each other's faces.
I tried mathematically but failed ... so I set the angle to the parametric setting in fusion360.
In this way I saw the angle at which the different sides meet, 37.5 dgree. The way to look like this is wrong, but the test was successful.
The joint was made 180-37.5 = 162.5 degree and the hole was calculated by press fit kit.
And I cut the cardboard paper with a laser cutter as a prototype. I also inserted a joint.
I felt good. But ...
The acrylic was cut and the joint was shortened in length. I could not think of the thickness of acrylic.
And I made it again and assembled it. But there was another problem. It was just thin and the joint was weak and even broken.
I made the joint design again. This time it made it bigger and harder.
And I started assembling. It was difficult to assemble ... I started to regret why I did this.
I finally finished it. I was really thrilled. I had a lot of problems and I doubted if I could succeed.
In the end, it was a success. It seems to be making because of such joy.
The last is Rodrigo Instructor's volley pose. I felt better because he praised me.
Thank you!!
Homework
Good- Explained how you drew your laser cut files
Good- Shown how you made your press-fit kit (group assigment)
Good- Included your laser cut design files and photos of your finished project
Good- Shown how you made your vinyl project
Good- parametric press-fit construction kit