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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

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

robot.svg

For the Vinyl Cutting Machin will use Roland GX-24

rolanddga.com

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

  • For designing will use Fusion 360 and open new file start with defining the parameters

  • 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

  • Create New sketch from Project

  • Now you can export DXF file from the new sketch

Files

Laser Cutting

  • Before cutting we need to change line color in the DXf file to red in order to be cut by the laser cutting

  • Export the file the laser cutting software and duplicate the file to create a kit

  • For creating a kit I’ll use 3mm cardboard

  • Set the Cardboard Setting in the laser cutting Machine.

  • Start the cutting

  • Remove the cutting parts from the machine

  • Assemble the kit


Last update: October 26, 2021