3. Computer controlled cutting¶

Instruction¶

characterize your lasercutter’s focus, power, speed, rate, kerf, joint clearance and types

The following is information of the Lasercutter used at Fablab Kannai.

Universal VLS 2.3

Lens: 2.0 inch (2.54 x 2 mm)
Z Axis resolution 0.1mm
Defocus +5.0, +4.5, +4.0, +3.5, +3.0, +2.5, +2.0 +1.5, +1.0, +0.5, 0, -0.5, -1.0, -1.5
material we used : card board

Set Z=0.6 as starting point(zero) and change z parameter by 5mm Unexpectedly, there is not a significant difference from the front viewpoint

However, looking at the back we find the board is not cut enough above 3.5mm

The data we used for power, speed, rate test

Only the column of power=40 is displayed and Command +P

Launch UCP software and select Medium Density Fiberboard at material database

Cut the cardboard in each setting

We found that the best setting for this cardboard is here Power=70, Speed=20, PPI=250

In order to measure kerf, we use the data below.

Cut the cardboard in the setting below Power=70, Speed=20, PPI=250

but the part of cardboard was not cut completely

So we try again to cut it under a little stronger setting : Power=70, Speed=10, PPI=250 This time I was able to cut it off completely.

lay them side by side and measure the total lengry by digital caliper

10 Kerf = 100 - 97.55 = 2.45 mm

kerf = 0.245 mm

Measure thickness of the cardboard 5 times and calculate the average for them

2.9 2.83 2.85 2.88 2.79

ave. thickness = 2.85

We use the data for joint clearance test

Set the result of experiment as parameter of thickness and kerf

Cut the comb

and we test which slit is the best fit

As a result, we get the final answer of the joint clearance as 0.1.

So I found value of the best slit width below

Thickness 2.85

-Kerf 0.245

-Joint Clearance 0.1

=2.505

Last update: February 16, 2022