Computer Controlled Cutting | Week 04

Group Assignment:-


  • This week, we worked on Laser cutting and scanning group assignment. We divided ourselves in 3 groups and conducted various trials on laser cutting machine.

  • What is Laser cutting:-

  • Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to cut materials, and is typically used for industrial manufacturing applications, but is also starting to be used by schools, small businesses, and hobbyists. Laser cutting works by directing the output of a high-power laser most commonly through optics. The laser optics and CNC (computer numerical control) are used to direct the material or the laser beam generated.

  • What is Kerf in laser cutting:-

  • When a laser cuts through a piece of material, the lasers own width displaces a little extra material than is specified in the original design. The amount of material that is burned away is known as the kerf in laser cutting. The size of the kerf depends on the laser being used and the material being cut. It not only changes as per each material, but it changes based on speed, beam power, cutting geometry, assist gas and a few other factors.

  • lasercut Material use this Week

  • MDF
  • Carboard
  • Plywood
  • Acrylic

  • Objectives of this Group Assignment:-

  • Understand the Laser cutting machine, its specifications
  • Understand how to operate the machine
  • Learn safety precautions while operating the Laser Cutting Machine
  • To find out the optimum speed and power values along with calculating the Kerf value for various materials



  • Carboard scanning:-

    Preparations:

  • We used a 3 mm thick cardboard sheet. To find out how the machine would work in scanning/engraving with different speed and power settings, the team used the same dxf file that was used in marking dots, modified it to edit the text for the settings. It was then imported in RDWorks.

  • Results and conclusion:-

  • Below is the snapshot of final part with engraving done. Looking at the results, we concluded that for a 3 mm cardboard sheet, the machine was able to engrave properly with 200 - 250 mm/s speed and 10% - 13% power. As we increased the power and reduced the speed, it resulted in deep engraving with not so good quality of engraving.



  • cardboard kerf Photo





  • Group Assignment:- Link
  • Indivisual Assignment:-


    Cut something on the vinylcutter design, lasercut, and document a parametric press-fit construction kit, accounting for the lasercutter kerf, which can be assembled in multiple ways


    Tasklist

  • Varying cutting settings and slot dimensions.
  • Make lasercutter test part(s).
  • Cut something on the vinylcutter design, make, and document a parametric press-fit construction kit


  • Vinyl Cutting:-


  • A vinyl cutter is an entry-level sign-making machine. Vector files with patterns and letters created on a computer are directly cut on a roll of vinyl that is mounted and supplied into the vinyl cutter by USB or serial cable. Signs, banners, and advertisements are all made with vinyl cutters. Vinyl cut letters are frequently used in advertisements on cars and trucks. These machines were made to cut vinyl, but they can also cut through computer and speciality papers, as well as bulkier materials like thin magnet sheets.




  • Photo and MANUAL Refernce Link






    vinylcutter Force and Speed setting

  • Force:- 130gf
  • Speed:- 1cm/sec

  • How it works:-

  • Design Creation
  • Tracing
  • Cutting
  • Transfer tape

  • Quality of Vinyl:-


  • It is available in 80 - 120 GSM
  • It comes in a variety of colors, including yellow, red, blue, green, and others.

  • Process of Vinyl Cutting:-

  • Setup Machine Steps
  • Lever Load.
  • Refill the roll.
  • Set the position of vinyl Roll/Sheet.
  • Press Power Button.
  • Loading Vinyl.
  • Select Roll/Sheet.
  • Machine automatically measure the width.

  • Software Side


  • Open Mods CE from the 'FABLAB PC' folder.


  • Import the file with the '.SVG' or '.png' extension.

  • After Cutting

  • Cut out that cutted part.
  • Put the tape on it.
  • Make a distinction between the negative and positive.
  • Put that positive where we'll need it.

  • Logo Cutting

  • Vinyl has provided excellent service in the creation of logos. I just created the logo in Inkscape and printed it.



  • Vinyl Cutter Blades types


    30 deg

  • blade is used for very thin material.

  • 45 deg

  • 45 deg blade is used for general vinyl cutter.

  • 60 deg

  • 60 deg blade is suit for thick material like copper sheet, mirror sheet, sand blast regist sheet.

  • I used a Blade of 60 deg.

  • Photo Refernce Link





  • I printed my design differently because I had to print my design in different colors so I printed my design on different paper and put the 1 after 1 part on my laptop.

  • Final Vinyl Cutting Output



  • kapwing:-

    What is the kapwing?


  • Kapwing is a simple tool that allows you to edit your photos in the way you like. While there are a variety of ways to modify photographs, Kapwing is quick, free, and works right in your browser.

  • Download link Kapwing:-https://www.kapwing.com/



  • Laser Cutting:-

  • Laser cutting is a technique for cutting materials with a laser. It is most commonly employed in commercial manufacturing, but it is increasingly being used by schools, small enterprises, and amateurs. Laser cutting works by directing the output of a high-power laser through optics, which is the most frequent method. The material or laser beam created is directed using laser optics and CNC (computer numerical control).

  • laser cut nozzle digram:-

  • Photo Reference Link

    Task:-

  • engraving
  • marking
  • raster
  • press-fit construction
  • parametric design
  • Parameter testing


  • lasercutter machine Link:-https://silasers.com/laser-engraving-and-cutting-machine/

  • The Vigyan Ashram Fablab is equipped with a SIL 80-watt CO2 Laser Cutting Machine. Here's a photo of the machine, along with some information about it:


  • Model No.:1325-1318
  • Laser Type:CO2 DC Glass Laser Tube
  • Wave Length:10.6 μm
  • Cooling:Water Cooled
  • Laser Power:80 Watts
  • Supply Voltage:AC 230 V ±0.05%
  • Bed Size:600mm x 900mm
  • Cutting Speed: ~ 30000 mm/min
  • Engraving Speed: ~ 64000 mm/min
  • Reposition Accuracy:0.1 mm (Max)
  • Work Environment Temp:0 C - 45 C
  • Humidity:5% ~ 95%
  • Graphic File Support:PLT, CDR, AI, DWG, DST, DXF, BMP, JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PCX

  • Desiging Softwares for laser cutting

  • Fusion-Comb Making
  • Rhino(Grasshopper)-Paramatric Press-fit Kit.
  • AutoCAD-Make Replica of Same object.
  • RD Works-Interface between Design and Machine.

  • How to Operate and use Laser cutting Machine

  • Switch On the chillar
  • Machine Power ON.
  • Switch On for all accessories.
  • Exhaust Switch On.
  • Set Material Inside.
  • Set Focus (Its all about 7mm-8mm far from surface)
  • Make Sure your File has been ready.
  • Open RD works with Suitable Extension.(.DXF)
  • Select object and set Power and speed as per Material.
  • Material Index - Which material is allow or not allowed.
  • Set Priority, If there is different shape and curves.
  • Select Object.
  • Press Download Button.
  • Set Origin (After Selecting File in Machine)
  • Check for Frame.
  • START.

  • This Image Shows Modes, Power, Speed, Priority, etc



  • Precaution While using Laser Cutting Machine

  • Do not put your hand in front of the lens.
  • The door should be closed when cutting.
  • Smoke from burning sheets should not be inhaled.
  • Polycarbonate (PC, Lexan), any chlorine-containing substance, PVC (Cintra), Vinyl, Glass, Fibreglass, Carbon fibre, and similar materials should not be used.
  • Use material that is up to 6mm-8mm thick; do not attempt to use thicker material.

  • Paramatric Design:-


  • Parametric design is a design process in which complicated shapes are defined by algorithms and input parameters, such as in the design of buildings and technical components. The method is founded on algorithmic thinking, in which the relationship between design intent and design response is determined by parameters and rules.

  • Press fit Kit

  • Try Press fit kit design in Fusion 360


  • I started with Fusion 360 for Parametric Design. In Fusion 360, I create a comb out of a 3mm sheet.


  • What is the Grasshopper ?

  • Grasshopper is a visual programming language and environment for the Rhinoceros 3D CAD application. David Rutten of Robert McNeel & Associates devised the programme.

  • Components are dragged onto a canvas to form programmes. These components' outputs are subsequently connected to succeeding components' inputs.

  • Download link Grasshopper:-https://www.grasshopper3d.com/

  • Grasshopper tutorials Link:-https://www.grasshopper3d.com/page/tutorials-1





  • Grasshopper Use and Make shapes
  • Make different different shapes in Grasshopper









  • Final Output Photo


  • This is the photo, I made different shapes inside the grasshopper, then I cut this too, inside the laser cutting, I explored the basics inside the grasshopper.





  • Cardboard Kerf Photo






    What is Kerf in laser cutting:-

  • When a laser cuts through a piece of material, the lasers own width displaces a little extra material than is specified in the original design. The amount of material that is burned away is known as the kerf in laser cutting. The size of the kerf depends on the laser being used and the material being cut. It not only changes as per each material, but it changes based on speed, beam power, cutting geometry, assist gas and a few other factors.

  • I did not use kerf in my design.



  • Rhino


  • My final press-fit kit is made in Rhino.

  • Withi.n this design, I have used different commands which I am showing below

  • Use Command


  • Line
  • Circle
  • Mirror
  • Rectangle
  • Ellipse Center
  • HandleCurve
  • Distance
  • Trim
  • Export

  • Line


  • What is The Line Command?

  • One line segment is drawn via the Line command.
  • I have used the line command inside my design and put it inside a handle



  • Circle


  • What is the Circle Command?

  • Using a center point and a radius, the Circle command creates a circle.
  • I used the circle command inside my design and created different circles inside it and gave them differently sized.



  • Rectangle


  • What is the Rectangle Command?

  • A closed rectangular polyline is created with the Rectangle command.
  • I used the rectangle command inside my design where I created different small rectangles and gave them different shapes.



  • Mirror


  • What is the Mirror Command?

  • A mirror-image duplicate of an item is produced using the Mirror command.

  • I used a mirror command inside my design where I mirrored the different areas of my rectangle.



  • Ellipse Center


  • What is the Ellipse Center Command?

  • A closed elliptical curve is created via the Ellipse command.
  • I've used the Ellipse Center command inside my design, inside which I've created a circle.



  • HandleCurve


  • What is the HandleCurve Command?

  • Chained Bézier curves are drawn using the HandleCurve command in the manner of an illustration software.
  • I have used the HandleCurve command inside my design where I have created different curves.



  • Distance


  • What is the Distance Commadn?

  • The distance between two places is reported by the Distance command.
  • I used the distance command inside my design where I checked the sep and the distance of the different circles.



  • Trim


  • What is the Trim Command?

  • Trim allows you to remove and chop off certain areas of an item where it intersects with another object.


  • Export


  • You can save your file by using the export command.



  • Cutting Software Name RDworksV8


  • What is the RDworksV8 ?

  • RDWorks is a free application that allows you to easily perform laser cutting and engraving tasks.

  • Drawing points, lines horizontal and vertically, polylines, ellipse and circle, rectangle and square, Bezier curve, text, and formats for CAD models such as DXF, AI, and PLT are all supported by RD Works.

  • Download link RDworksV8:-https://rdworks.software.informer.com/8.0/

  • RDworksV8 Home Page



  • How to Import File this Photo



  • select folder location Then Select file and Open file



  • My File Open Photo



  • Array copy tool use and multiple copies make in RDworksV8



  • Transfer file in cut machine



  • laser cut display and set material and origin and then cut file


  • lasercut Cut parts Photo



  • Done laser cutting and collect the parts



  • Pressfit Assembly Images:-


  • Parts Assembly Photos







  • Original File All Software

  • Vinyl Cutting SVG file
  • lasercut DXF file
  • Shapes .gh File
  • Laser Cut .3dm File


  • Safety Switch by Parejiya Jaydeep is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0