4. Computer controlled cutting¶
This week I worked on learning how to make parametric design and how to use laser cutting machine and vinyl cutter.
Group assignment:
characterize your laser cutter’s focus, power, speed, rate, kerf, and joint clearance document your work (individually or in group)
Individual assignments
Design, laser cut, and document a parametric press-fit construction kit, which can be assembled in multiple ways. Account for the laser cutter kerf. cut something on the vinyl cutter
Group assignment (Kerf Calculating)¶
Kerf = Width
Kerf is defined as the width of material that is removed by a cutting process. It was originally used to describe how much wood was removed by a saw, because the teeth on a saw are bent to the side, so that they remove more material than the width of the saw blade itself, preventing the blade from getting stuck in the wood.esabna.com
In this assignment I’ll measure the kerf for laser cutting machine.
I have started with Fusion 360 to design a rectangle and divide it by 20
Save the sketch design as DXG by right click in the sketch
For this assignment I used Trotec speedy 400 flexx laser machine.
Add 6mm Acrylic sheet to the machine and use the keypad to set the focus (AF)
Import the DXF file to the machine software and the set setting as following
Start cutting the Acrylic sheet
Remove the cutting parts and measure the size
To find the Kerf width use the following equation
Kerf = 0.195mm
Files¶
For more detail about the group Assignment check the Group Page
Individual assignments¶
Individual assignments have two parts - Vinyl cutting - Parametric press-fit construction kit
Vinyl cutting¶
For this assignment I will use Inkscape for designing and cut design which I made in Computer Aided design Week
For the Vinyl Cutting Machin will use Roland GX-24
For how to use the machine please read the User Manual GX-24
Also, here is very nice video tutorial in Vinyl Cutter Roland GX-24 - How to Use
Here is my fist cut using Vinyl cutting
I have some while removing the cut part and to fix this I used Application tape
Here is the final result
Parametric press-fit construction kit¶
For this assignments I’ll create parametric press-fit construction kit and cut it with a laser cutter
Parametric design is a process based on algorithmic thinking that enables the expression of parameters and rules that, together, define, encode and clarify the relationship between design intent and design response. Wikipedia
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For designing will use Fusion 360 and open new file start with defining the parameters
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Start new sketch and use parameters to set the dimension
Note: make sure that your design is constrain and all there are relations between the lines.
- Use Extrude tool and make sure use distance for the parameters
- Now use create Chamfer to make press fit easier to fit
- For testing the Parametric design change the thickness in the parameters the check the new design
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Create New sketch from Project
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Now you can export DXF file from the new sketch
Files¶
Laser Cutting¶
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Before cutting we need to change line color in the DXf file to red in order to be cut by the laser cutting
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Export the file the laser cutting software and duplicate the file to create a kit
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For creating a kit I’ll use 3mm cardboard
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Set the Cardboard Setting in the laser cutting Machine.
- Start the cutting
- Remove the cutting parts from the machine
- Assemble the kit
