This assignment inception of digital fabrication,in earlier assignment we learn about 2D designing with different tools, So its time to fabricate your design on FAB LAB machines. I am going to use Vinyl machine for making Vigyan Ashram sign board and second thing I am gonna try laser cutter machine for fabricating casing for light measuring device.

Pre requisite

Before start using any machine,Follow safety rules and understand machines, connections, Do's and Don'ts. Wearing shoes is very importatnt when you are in FAB LAB (Please carefully read fab lab charter for more information)

My suggestion if you will use linux (Ubuntu) then it will help to make your academy easy. Then your operating system ready with FAB Modules otherwise you need to install all individual printer and machine drivers.

About assignment

In Dr.sticka plus software you will find one Grid on work sheet.Grid size define as 1sq.cm, so this will be make easy to understand text hight and width,when you finished with your design then placed border outer side of text.It will help you while removing letters radium paper.

Vinyl Cutter Machine

Vinyl machine is 2D cutter, you can cut vinyl paper, copper adhesive tape, radium paper apart from this you can used as ploter to draw on paper (You just need to replace blade to Pen marker or pencil)Before fabricating anything on machine you can adjust force,speed as per your need or material you are using, either you can do all setting manually on machine or you can edit in fab modules

Insert radium paper in machine check roller should be on position refer white strips to fix roller position else you will get bad position error, you need to check sensor should be covered if not then machine will show Unloaded sheet error.After all set up and loading sheet give print command to machine

After cutting remove radium paper and seperate letters from it, this will take bit time.Now final task just use masking tape to remove cutted letters and stick board.

Laser cutter machine

This machine is also 2D cutter but with laser beam. Laser beam will cut object you design. Here you have to take care of many settings before printing. Nesting of object is important part to learn.Here I have design one pree fit box in inkscape for light intensity measuring device

Required software- Inkscape for laser machine

When you want make some press fit model,then use Inksacpe software it's very easy to use

1)Open Ink scape window.

2)File - Document properties - change "px" into "inch" put horizontal 24inch and vertical 12inch

3)Draw something otherwise open downloaded file in inkscape Ungroup the file and placed object inside the frame.

4)In downoaded format we have three files.I compress design almost 50% and made in single file

5)Select object right click on it and adjust fill & stroke properties by using right click of mouse

6)Fill - NO, stroke paint - yes, stroke style - 0.010mm.

For cutting select only Vector, Engraving select Raster and if you want both then select combine

7)While Print page set up adujust all parameters as per material (for ref.Download laser print chart from www.epiloglaser.com)
-I am using card board so I have adjust vector properties with speed(7),power(100) and frquency(5000).

After all this set up I have started work on laser machine.I followed all safety rules before working.
I started exhaust blower, then compressor and laser machine and send to print command machine got started.

I have cutted one container with press fit design for my LUX METER

Vector.

Speed - 12%

Power-70%

Frequency-5000

Followings are the images

After laser cutting. While taking snap of model I forgot to remove paper cover on it

Top view of LUX Meter box

Box afetr assembly