Computer-controlled Cutting¶
assignment for the week¶
laser cutting¶
group assignment
characterize your laser cutter’s focus, power, speed, rate, kerf, and joint clearance
individual assignment
1. design, lasercut, and document a parametric press-fit construction kit, accounting for the lasercutter kerf, which can be assembled in multiple ways, and for extra credit include elements that aren’t flat
learning outcomes¶
- Demonstrate and describe parametric 2D modelling processes.
- Identify and explain processes involved in using the laser cutter.
- Develop, evaluate and construct the final prototype.
have i¶
- Explained how I parametrically designed my files
- Shown how I made my press-fit kit
- Included my design files and photos of the finished project
characterizing the laser cutter’s focus, power, speed, rate, kerf, and joint clearance¶
This exercise was done as a group. Below are all design files generated (except for ThroughCutandFlexures.f3d, that was downloaded and modified) to perform various tests on the laser cutter.
(SpeedPower.f3d)
(ShadeCard.f3d)
(PressFitComb and Kerf.f3d)
(Thickness.f3d)
(Thickness w Offset.f3d)
(ThroughCut and Flexures.f3d)
Point-wise summary of test cuts performed:
- For 2 mm thick cardboard, optimum speed is 30-40 mm/s, and power is 30-40%.
- For 6.42 mm thick cardboard, optimum speed is 30-40 mm/s, and power is 40-50%. Kerf for the same material is .52 mm.
individual assignment¶
For this part, I decided to build to build a geodesic dome. I also wanted to make something with living hinges, and was looking for some inspiration. A former student from Fab Lab Barcelona had made a fruit bowl, and I liked it. I made my own design for the same in Fusion 360 and cut it in acrylic on the laser cutter. Here are my design files for both:
(PartsGeodesicDome small.f3d)
(LivingHingesFruitBowl v2.f3d)