Week 3. Computer controlled cutting¶

In this process we are going to carry out the first steps to verify when the laser focus to the surface is at a good height and observe what is appropriate for the subsequent cut.

Assignments¶

Group assignments:

Characterize your lasercutter’s focus, power, speed, rate, kerf, joint clearance and types.
Document your work to the group work page and reflect on your individual page what you learned.

Individual assignments:

Design, lasercut, and document a parametric construction kit, accounting for the lasercutter kerf, which can be assembled in multiple ways.
Cut something on the vinyl cutter.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate and describe parametric 2D modelling processes.
Identify and explain processes involved in using the laser cutter.
Develop, evaluate and construct a parametric construction kit.
Identify and explain processes involved in using the vinyl cutter.

For that design an object of different height dimensions to do the test

Step 1: Step 1: We enter the Onshape program and observe the designed object.

Step 2: In front view we see the different dimensions of the design.

Step 3: Already observing more closely we see the difference in height of 2 millimeters.

Step 4: Once again the design view object showing the different dimensions in millimeters.

Step 5: Preparing the designed object to be exported as a DXF.

Step 6: We place in the next window the name of the file to export it and see the type of file chosen.

Step 7: We open the CNC Laser program to then import the generated file

Step 8: In this image we can see the exported file made previously in Onshape

Step 9: In this image we can load the default values to continue for the cut.

Step 10: Once the values for the cut have been loaded, we proceed by pressing OK.

Gallery Design of a parametric drawing, cutting and assembly¶

In this week’s homework I will show the advanced parametric design of a rectangular figure, working with the design in onshape software, and then printing it with a laser cutter.

Initially, I was beginning to design the lateral part of the figure with the measurements that are observed in the onshape program.

In this second image you can already see all the dimensions of the sides of the figure that will go on the side.

This figure will fit on both sides of the first figure that has been designed

Here we already have it with its dimensions already completed from the second figure to be assembled.

This figure shows the design from the top view of the two figures already designed with their respective measurements.

The design of part 3 that will cover the assembly of the previous two.

Here it is shown that the third finished piece with its assigned measurements

After experimenting in the first phase we begin to design how the final product will look:

Designing in the first scketh of my design drawn in onshape using symmetry to help in the design.

Already the finished design with symmetry has only had to be designed on one side and fifty percent has been implemented alone.

In the process I made errors of giving wrong values on one of the sides and consequently it has been fixed properly on only one side and the other one was updated automatically.

This is the screenshot after finishing designing 3 elements that would cover the box, testing the assembly.