3. Computer controlled cutting

Group assignment:

Characterize your laser cutter's focus, power, speed, rate, kerf, and joint clearance.

Understand the capabilities, precision and limitations of your laser cutter.

While doing group assignment on laser cutting Machine, i have learned much more to;

How to operate the laser machine.

Safety protocol with Safety materials.

How to assign different functions and parameters.

For the Group Assignment refer this LINK

Individual assignment

This week we will learn on Vinyl cutter Machine,Design and Laser cut Machine. More over we will be doing more hand on practicle this week.

Vinyl cutter

A vinyl cutter is a type of computer controlled machine.It works like the traditional printer where it receives data from a source and prints images onto a paper. The only difference is instead of having ink reproducing your work onto paper it relies on small blade to cut the pattern of image into the vinyl or other materials.

Vinyl cutter Machine (Roland CAMM-1 GS-24)

Front View of Vinyl Cutter Machine

Image source Fab Academy

Procedure to Operate the Machine

Step 1: Lower the loading lever.

Step 2: Load the vinyl on the machine and Move the pinch rollers to the edges of the material so that each one is within the grit marks

Step 3: Prepare the blade

Remove the blade holder by losing the yellow knob and checked the blade tip to ensure that it is in good condition or not. so to check the blade run your finger over it and the blade should barely be felt.

Raise the loading lever as given below

Image Source Download from Here

After checking the blade and loading vinyl on the machine, I followed the following workflow to produce my sticker;

Step 4: Turn on the machine and select Edge and hit enter on the machine’s interface

Basic Commands

Roll: Measures width of vinyl

Piece:Used when the vinyl is of short and small piece to measure width

Origin Set:Press and hold this command to set origin of the cutting tool

Edge:takes cutting tool position to starting point

Procedures to cut the stickers

For this, we were asked to use any raster image from online and edit in inkscape to vectorize, then cut using vinyl cutter.

Step 1: Firstly I have download any raster image from Google.

Step 2: Then Open your inkscape software.

Step 3: Go to file >> then Click on import and Choose the file you have downloaded.

Step 4: Go to path >> click on Trace Bitmap.

Step 5: Click on update and Apply as shown in image below:

Step 6: After you click on Update, there will be two image shown in your window so delete the blurred image.

Step 7: Go to file >> click on Document properties >> Click on Resize page as shown in image below;

Step 8: In my case i have insert 5mm margin in one corner and click on lock button to update in all corners equally.

Step 9: Go to Extensions and click tp Roland CutStudio, so it will Open in CutStudio as shown:

Step 10: In Cutting setup, I clicked on get from machine to get the material dimensions and machines cutting force settings (120). Then click on OK.

Final Processing

Step 1: After machine is done with cutting your image then turn off the machine power.

Step 2: Cut your image by the cutter.

Step 3: I set up my image for weeding with a tweezer.

Step 4: Use transparent sheet and squeegee to cover over your image carefully ensuring no air bubble gets trapped inside transprent sheet to your image as shown below.

Step 5: I Transfered the design onto my Laptop, pressed with a squeegee, and using the tweezer I remove the transfer tape.

Here is my final sticker pasted on my laptop.

Refer the user manual to operate the machine from this Link.

File Uploade

>Vector Image

Raster Image

Working With the Laser Cutter

Machine available in lab: Trotec laser Speedy 100 and speedy 400

Trotec Laser Speedy 100

Software used : Fusion 360

What is Laser cutting?

Laser cutting is the process of using lasers to cut different materials for both industrial and non industrial purposes. It uses a high-power laser which is directed through optics and computer numerical control (CNC) to direct the beam or material. Typically, the process uses a motion control system to follow a CNC or G-code of the pattern that is to be cut onto the material. The focused laser beam burns, melts, vaporises or is blown away by a jet of gas to leave a high-quality surface finished edge.

Source from Google

Operating Laser Cutter and Controls

1. Turn the key switch to the right into the vertical position to activate the machine.

To start the machine, turn the key switch to the right and hold it against the spring force. As soon as the machine starts, release the key switch.

2. Control pane function

Image Source

3. Move the processing head over the material to be engraved by means of the Laser head control button X/Y (2) on the keypad.

4. Setting up the z axis for proper focusing of the laser. To do that, take the focusing tool and place the square side of it on the edge on the laser head. Until the focus tool tilts to the side or falls off its position. Now the lens is focused onto the surface of the material.

5. After setting the z axis, I have used inkscape to design. By default a black fill will engrave and red lines will cut. Ensure to set the proper colors and ensure to set the stroke thickness to either hairline.

Then go to file >> Print >> in the dropdown menu select Trotec Engraver >> hit print.

6. In next menu, I have select the material setting as cardboard and hit on "JS" to send the design to the job center.

7. Once your design appears in working space, place its top edge to center of laser pointer denoted by plus sign as shown below. After placing correctly, press the play button to cut or engrave

8. After job is done, keep machine lid closed for few minutes to ensure that gases are vented out completely and then open and remove your work piece from bed.

PressFit Kit

PressFit means joining two or more shapes with the notches made on parts without using any glues. So firstly i had to design the shapes and the software I used was Fusion 360.

I had nothing in specific that I wanted to make, I just made some random shapes and for doing so I decided to use a square and a circle for the press fits. FIrst of I stared by making a square and a circle. Then I started setting parameters for different parts as show below.