Computer-Controlled Cutting
Phase one: vinylcutter
i have designed a logo tand wanted to use the vinyl to make it a quick stencil. and the machine we have in our lab is
checking the connection of the cables and put thr roll on the machine
and after checking the connection between the machine and the computer. i transfer the . svg file i have created into this program to send the command to cut to the machine .
Phase two design parametrical notches
returning to the stating point on how it works i will document the process starting from first our group assignment that has so much to do with testing the machine and routing and around it. then my assignment, that started from learning how to make notches
1. first step is you have to downloaded grasshopper plugin in Rhino software. then i open up rhino and draw a random size shapes to be my notches design . after that i opened grasshopper by typing into command bar **grasshopper** so then i starting referring a curve into it and renamed it; notch then i want to select the a side where to move the notch from . so starting with **BBOX**, and then **deconstruct** it and navigate a coordinate.
2. the second side of this is to create a base shape to attach the notches to it sides. so i wanted to learn the process so i started with the creating a basic rectangle and a basic notches with **domain** and **explode** it and select a frame of work with **horizontal frame** which is asking about the parameter which is similar to UV coordinate where each point is 0,0,0 and if we need to select a point in a half of the lengths we need to either put a slider of set a number of specific coordinate inside the parameter. as shown i used a slider for better control.note that you can put multiple slider for multiple points
and then is to map four of these notches into the frame where our points are. using an **orient** which i connect the geometry that i edited it with a **graft** command to duplicate it for each frame.
difference between grafting and flatten adding the **plane rotate** with radius (pi/2) for 90dgree rotation which i added inside the command.
I want to subtract the notches from the biggest geometry or curve, using a command called **Region Difference**
one more command to transfer it to laser cutter is to make a lots of them using array command **ArrRec** i put on the base geometry and the cell which is the rectangle itself and the number of arrays using the sliders from X,Ys .
and then the most important command is to bake the design by right clicking on the last command we have created.
know i have to know how to import another shape instead of square so i tried to import circle and here is the definition for the circle.
phase three : cut a test on cardboard to create a shape of a light fixture.
now the thickness of the material i want to cut let me adjust the rhino file from the size of the notch thickness now lets go to the laser machine and know exactly how to power it probably for a carboard test. our labs machine is trotec speed 400
turn on the machine by switching the key thats when the bed of machine drop down slowlly and prepare itself for cutting .
turn on the vacuum
correct the focus using mini pick while leveling up the bed
that it will drop when it touches the surface of the material.
prepare the line coloring to match the program trotec cutting color codes. which is in our case is red! so i make sure that the color of the cutting lines are red and the thickness of the lines are hairline with an appropriate scale.
print and send the file to the trotec program
now connect the trotec the program to the machine
select the material you are using and the thickness of it and preview the estimated time.
the result
