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1. Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is a process where a laser beam is used to cut materials such as wood, plastic, and metal. The laser beam is focused on the material, which causes it to melt, burn, or vaporize, leaving a clean cut. Laser cutting is a precise and efficient way to cut materials, and it is commonly used in manufacturing, prototyping, and art.

1.1 Laser Cutting Machine​

The laser cutting machine in the CaiHuo FabLab is AWC708C LITE

machine1

The information of the machine is as follows: machine2

First I need to read the manual of the machine. machine3

1.2 Parmeters for Laser Cutting​

  • Speed: The speed at which the laser moves across the material.
  • Power: The power of the laser beam.

1.3 Materials for Laser Cutting​

  • Wood: Wood is a popular material for laser cutting because
  • Acrylic: Acrylic is a versatile material that can be used for a variety of applications.

1.4 Designing for Laser Cutting​

I caculated the deviation of the laser cutting machine by designing a serrated object with teeth spacing gradually decreasing from 3.6mm to 3.0mm, scaled at 1mm intervals.

Based on the identified error margin, I designed a snap-fit component that allows multiple pieces to interlock seamlessly. However, due to the presence of errors, I had to account for the tolerance by adjusting the spacing at the connection points. Without this adjustment, the snap-fit components would fail to connect properly.

According to the group assignment, I got the deviation of the laser is 1.1741mm.

So, I designed a snap-fit component that allows multiple pieces to interlock seamlessly.

First, I need to measure the actual tickness of the Wood.

c1 Then, I need to design a snap-fit component that allows multiple pieces to interlock seamlessly.

2.76 - 1.1741 / 2 = 2.17mm

c1

Copy 4*4 pieces

c1

1.5 Cutting​

First, I need to load the design file to the laser cutting machine. ds2

Then, I need to set the parameters of the laser cutting machine as follows:

  • Laser Power: 90%
  • Laser Speed: 30mm/s

Finally, I need to cut the object.

c1

1.6 Assembly​

The assembly of the snap-fit component is as follows:

c1

1.7 Resources​