Week Assignments

• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4
• Week 5
• Week 6
• Week 7
• Week 8
• Week 9
• Week 10
• Week 11
• Week 12
• Week 13
• Week 14
• Week 15
• Week 16
• Week 17
• Week 18

Week 3 - Computer-Controlled Cutting
Assignments
* Group assignment:
- Do your lab's safety training
- Characterize your laser cutter's focus, power, speed, rate, kerf, joint clearance, and types.
- Document your work on the group work page and reflect on your individual page what you learned.
* Individual assignments:
- Design, laser cut, and document a parametric construction kit, accounting for the laser cutter kerf, which can be assembled in multiple ways.
- Cut something on the vinyl cutter.
Individual Assignment
Laser Cutter
1. Laser cutting is a technique that utilizes a laser beam to cut through materials, commonly employed in industrial manufacturing. The process involves guiding a high-power laser through optical components to achieve precise cuts.
2. In our lab, we use a CO₂ laser, specifically designed for cutting non-metal materials. We used the SIL laser cutting machine in our lab.
Specification:
1. Cutting Material: MDF, etc.
2. Laser Power: 100 Watt
3. Laser Type: CO₂ Sealed Glass Laser Tube
4. Cooling Method: Water Cooling
5. Engraving Speed: 0-64000 mm/min
6. Working Voltage: AC 230 V ± 10%
7. Positioning Accuracy: 0.1 mm (Max)
8. Cutting Speed: 0-30000 mm/min
9. Working Area: 600 x 900 mm
10. Temperature: 0°C ~ 45°C
11. Control Software: Laser CAD
12. Supported File Formats: DXF, AI, PLT, BMP, JPG, PNG, etc.
Kerf:
Kerf refers to the width of material removed during a cutting process. It depends on factors like the laser beam diameter, material type, and cutting speed.
Formula: KerfWidth = (CutWidth − DesignWidth) / 2
Focus:
Focus in laser cutting refers to the precise positioning of the laser beam's focal point for optimal cutting accuracy. Proper focus ensures minimal kerf width and clean edges.
Design the Model
1. I used Inkscape to edit a model.
2. I created a chess pawn model in Inkscape.
3. The design of a chess pawn was completed.
Importing to Laser CAD
1. Open the Laser Cut software.
2. Import the chess pawn model.
3. After importing the file, set the settings for the laser cutting machine to cut the material.
4. Once done, upload the file to the LaserCut Machine.
Setting the LaserCut Machine
1. Before turning on the LaserCut Machine, ensure that the machine’s Chiller Box is ON and set to the right temperature.
2. After the Chiller Unit has reached the right temperature, switch on the Laser Cutting Machine.
3. Check if the right design was uploaded from the computer, then set the origin to start the process.
4. Switch ON the Laser, Exhaust, and Light Buttons to begin the process.
5. Close the Laser Cutting Machine and start the process.
6. After completion, remove the parts from the machine.
7. Assemble the parts, and that's it.
placeholder -->