@ Class 3 - Computer Controlled Cutting

Assignments

Setting up Fabmodules

Fabmodules is a set of software tools, integrated together, under a single UI. Fabmodules can be used for digital fabrication (- the driving concept of Fablabs) using various machines.

Following is the description of experience while setting up machines at Fablab, Vigyan Ashram (Pune Officce).

Installation of Fabmodules

Index

Setup Parameter

Details

1

Target Machines

Roland CAMM – 1, Roland Modela

2

Operating System

Ubuntu 13.04, 64 bit

3

Software tools

Fabmodules


Following installations, prepare the target machine (PC) for Fabmodules to run successfully.

a) sudo apt-get install python-dev python–numpy python-pip python-wxgtk2.8
b) sudo apt-get install gcc g++
c) sudo apt-get install libpng3 libpng12-dev
d) sudo apt-get install libgif-dev giflib-dbg
e) sudo apt-get install bash
f) sudo apt-get install okular
g) sudo apt-get instal libboost-thread-dev libboost-system-dev

h
) sudo apt-get install make cmake

Following instructions install the Fabmodules on the target machines.

1) Download the fab_src.zip.
2) Unzipping this same, should provide with a folder named “fab_src”.
3) Using Terminal
cd to fab_src
4) Assuming the machine is prepared already, following commands are to be executed in order to setup fabmodules.

a) make fab This commans builds the fabmodules using the source code from fab_src folder.
b) sudo make install while, this is not a
must command, this will allow a user to execute “fabcommand from any place, through Terminal.
c) sudo fab to test if fabmodules is installed correctly. “fabis an enctry-point for rest of the modules to be accessed, easily. Following screenshots show a successfully installed fabmodules.



Image 1 – Fabmodules, as it runs the first time.

Why “sudo fab”

eventually (meaning not at the entry point), fabmodules access system device – COM Port, and even before that during “make.path” it does somehting (could someone explore this?) for which root permissions are desired to be granted. Hence, not initiall, but during its course, to allow fabmodules ti execyte to the fullest, it is necessary to do “sudo fab”

With Vinyl Cutter

We found it a bit tricky to set-up Vinyl Cutter. While, the setup above, did work with Modela with no modifications and/or settings further (hence, talked about later in this document), Vinyl Cutter did not work in the first go.

a) Pressing “send it” on the fabmodules threw up lpr: The printer or class does not exist error.

b) After a few random trials (such as setting up the PRINTER="vinyl" variable and using lpr command directly) we ended up in a realisation that a printer named "vinyl" should be present on the machine in order to succeed ahead.

c) So, using Ubuntus "Add Printer" facility, a "Generic" printer named as "vinyl" was added.

d) Only once – we came across this error lpr: Transport endpoint is not connected and never afterwords.

d) After doing this "send it" did work!


With Modela

Image 2 – Fabmodules and Modela

Image 3 – We had company..

He was a scared puppy, who slept for long in the lab, while we worked. But the next day, till now, he is not around in the campus.

We hope to meet him soon.

Image 4 – FabISP Milling in action

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Laser Cutting

It was a huge struggle for me, to identify some object that I would be happy (capable?) to draw and carve out using Laser Cutter. Painfully, I did not complete this in time. Hence, back then in the 3rd week, worked out a simple press fir box - Just a quick link here.



Image 5Press fit Enclosure
Finger joint has been tried out here. A Dovetail Joint seems interesting and is the next approach.

The Press-fit box was fabricated in an external facility. Hence, as such Cutting myself remains pending.






This week (Feb 20 – Feb 26), though, I could take out something that I would be happy (not sure if capable ...) to make. A Table Lamp with press fit joints. Ofcourse, the ideas come from internet .. still the design and assembly was extremely interesting and enriching experience.


Image 5Table Lamp – Concept Design

Note – The 4 joints is a mystry for now, as I am willing to do a movable press fit joint.

Way long to go ahead!!

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Image 6
Table Lamp – Connecting Bars



Note – These are not actually fixed to each other yet. A suitable joint is still being thought over.


Image 7
Table Lamp – Assembly

The hole at the top will help routing the power cable


Image 8
Table Lamp – Assembly Inside


Image 9
Table Lamp – Broken Bar!!



NoteWhile taking these photographs last night (Feb 25, 2014) one of the bars was broken. Seems the support structure is not spaced to suitable distances or the length can be decreased.


1) SVG File
2) PNG File

For a long time now, Finger Joint based Press-Fit objects, had been my only resort. For first time, any other shape than a box has been tried by me! Inkscape was, as usual, of great help. Following are the techniques I used, again for first time ever, and hence, I am enjoying the process (let me recognise the lamp is still in making...)





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