4. Computer controlled cutting¶

Computer control cutting online definition: - A subtractive manufacturing process that typically employs computerized controls and machine tools to remove layers of material from a workpiece and produces a custom-designed part.

Note: Additive manufacturing processes, such as 3D printing, or formative manufacturing processes, such as liquid injection molding. While subtractive processes remove layers of material from the workpiece to produce custom shapes and designs, additive processes assemble layers of material to produce the desired form and formative processes deform and displace stock material into the desired shape.

Week 04

Learning outcomes¶

Computer-controlled cutting and our expected learning outcomes are:

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

Student also expected to completed 2 category of weekly assignment.

Group assignment:

To characterize your lasercutter’s:

focus
power
speed
rate
kerf
joint clearance and types

Individual assignment:

To cut something on the vinyl cutting
To design, laser cut, and document a parametric construction kit

Accounting for the laser cutter kerf, which can be assembled in multiple and for extra credit include elements that aren’t flat

Individual assignment¶

Vinyl Cutting¶

A vinyl cutter is mostly used for trimming Vinyl and other materials into many shapes or letters.

The machine is not a very big device rather, it is almost the same size of a computer printer. Which can be connected to a computer with a cable.

You can say that the vinyl cutter is a computer controlled cutting device.

The control of this machine is specifically handled by a computer which makes sure that the sharp blades of the vinyl cutter moves properly to form the shapes you desire.

At the NIHERST Fablab we had access to:

ROLAND CAMM-1 GS-24

Software: Cutstudio + Driver for Roland
Maximum cutting area:
- Width :22.9 in (584 mm)
- Length: 984.25 in (25000 mm)
Cutting speed: 19.69 in/s(10-50 mm/s)

For my Vinyl cutting exercise, I knew exactly what I wanted. I’ve always been a huge Star Wars fan ! - A quick internet image search (star wars vector) and came across a nice image of Darth Vader and download it.

Setting up in software - Open download image in and Gimp modify size and exported it as jpeg

Import darth vader image into cutsudio and created an outline off the image which would be cut by “left click on the and select outline >Extract contour line.

Setting up Vinyl cutter - After loading the vinyl the machine measured the piece of material (length & Width)

Then from software pull the measurements for the print preview. I align accordingly and began the cut process

Ops 😅 first attempt the blade pierce the vinyl.

Second attempt ,I adjusted the pen force from +1 to +0.5

Applying sticker

Remove excess vinyl using a stencil knife

Apply vinyl cut out to a boring white tea cup which instantly became my new favourite jug 😀

Download link Darth Vader

Group Assignment¶

The Group Assignment page is as follows Link

Group Members:

Nervene Bhagwandass
Christopher Proute
Terrence Carew
James Khan
Marvin Holloway
Ravi Baldeo

Laser Cutter¶

Laser cutters use a thin, focused laser beam to pierce and cut through materials to cut out patterns and geometries specified by designers. Apart from cutting, laser cutters can also raster or etch designs onto work pieces by heating up the surface of the workpiece, thus burning off the top layer of the material to change its appearance where the raster operation was performed.

At the NIHERST FABLAB we had access to:

Model :Epilog Fusion M2 40 laser 120 W CO2.
Software: Corel draw + Driver for Epilog
Work Area: 40” x 28” (1016 x 711 mm)
Maximum material thickness: 13.25” (337 mm) (2” lens)

Engrave and Cut Setting:

While doing some research I came across this very useful material setting data sheet from Epilog indicating engrave and cut settings for new machines for different types of materials.

Note: Because our machine has already being used for longer period of time (old) the results from the group project would vary.

Parametric Design with AutoCAD¶

Parametric drawing is a technology that is used for designing with constraints, which are associations and restrictions applied to 2D geometry. There are two general types of constraints:

Geometric constraints control the relationships of objects with respect to each other
Dimensional constraints control the distance, length, angle, and radius values of objects

Last week, I work in Autocad for 2D & 3D modelling. To create this week project I use Fusion 360 to design a parametric construction kit. After opening fusion and setting up the drawing (workspace, units, limits etc)

I click the Modify tab and selected the “fx Change Parameters”

I start with define parameters for square - choose Modify - change Parameters.

Began design my construction kit using the parameter I set out in my previous step. Fusion was much more user friendly when compared to parameter design in Autocad.

Export to Corel Draw¶

To export to a DXF file - I downloaded an Add on from the Fusion 360 App store name “DXF for Laser Cutting” - DXF for Laser Cutting add on compensates for the laser kerf when exporting the dxf

Download dxf1.dxf

Download dxf2.dxf