4. Computer controlled cutting¶
Assignments for the week¶
Laser Cutting¶
Group assignment¶
- Characterize your lasercutter, making lasercutter test part(s), making test part(s) that vary cutting settings and dimensions.
Individual assignments¶
- Cut something on the vinylcutter
- Design, lasercut, and document a parametric press-fit construction kit, which can be assembled in multiple ways. Account for the lasercutter kerf.
Vinyl Cutting¶
- Cut something on the vinylcutter
Requirements¶
Laser Cutting¶
- Explained how you parametrically designed your files.
- Shown how you made your press-fit kit.
- Included your design files and photos of your finished project.
Vinyl Cutting¶
- Explained how you drew your files.
- Shown how you made your vinyl project.
- Included your design files and photos of your finished project.
Group assignment¶
See 2019 Fablab Taipei Group site Week 4
Individual assignment¶
Parametric Design And Laser Cutting¶
FreeCAD can’t handle a duplicate parameter. (see week 3)
And Fusion 360 has a BUG:
Something should not be modify is also changing.
Laser Cutter and the material¶
updated 6.19.2019
The machine we operate is Universal VLS4.60. Link
It is a CO2 laser cutter with 610 x 457 mm working area and 229 mm max thickness.
The paremeter was test to be 100% power and 3% to cut 3mm MDF by many previous user (myself included).
MDF board is the most available and affordable material here,
and Formaldehyde in the material is regulated to trace,
so It wound not be a considerable health issue.
Draw¶
Set up user parameters by click the “+” mark.
Draw a hexagon with a parameteric radious.
Draw a center ractangle with parameters.
It accepts calculation.
Extrudes the hexagon with ractangle.
Choose the 3 surface of notches to make a circular pattern.
Select axis to make a circular pattern.
And quantity of circular pattern.
Make a new sketch of the shape that will be cut.
Change a parameter.¶
Change the number of edges.
Laser cutting¶
Save the new sketch as DXF file.
Cut it and done.
Vinyl Cutting¶
updated 6.19.2019
vinyl plotter and the material¶
Vinyl plotter that cutting this week is Graphtec CE6000-60. Link
The most important cutting parameter here is cutting pressure.
The fastest speed dosenot be test,
but It is faster then laser cutter for sure.
The meterial vinyl sticker is a sheet or roll of a plastic,
with stick back and the back paper.
I guess the word ‘vinyl’ means PVC,
and some manufactor says its product is PVC,
but there are no a document to confirm my guess.
Cut something.¶
Outsourssing for a good drawing. SVG download from here at flaticon.com
This time I try Inkscape. to edit the picture, and try to use it to Screen Printing.
Open the file downloaded in Inkscape.
Modify it to what needed: delete It’s fills, set lines to be cut, etc.
Modiication done.
Sent to cutter and cut it.
Need more adjustment, change cut pressure from 12 to 15.
Pick needed parts.
Transfer to screen by helper.
Apply the paint and print.
Done. The paint is too dry to make a good print.
Notes¶
updated 6.19.2019
Parametric design.¶
When I change the deepth of fitting,
It change the angle as well,
which should be still.
Then I try same drawing in another new file,
It change the center of hexagon, which also should be still.
Maybe user should avoid building a sketch on a parametrically object.
Laser cutting.¶
Compare with other tools in the lab,
Laser cut is the most fast and easy option with widely usage.
Vinyl Cutting.¶
I prefer to mane it paper cutter or plotter.
It is faster then laser cutter without the demand of air purifier.
However, It can only cut thin sheet, that limit It’s usage.
For the User without experiment, It’s easier and cheaper to learn then laser cutter,
but the limit of machine makes it not so attractive.
