3. Computer controlled cutting

This week I worked on learning how to make shapes on fusion and using the laser and vinyl cutter.

How it went

I started by drawing up the idea of a parametric design. I wanted to make a tree originally but that didn’t print well and wasn’t really parametric. Then I tried to make circles that would be on a stand but I had trouble figuring out how to make the circles all connect and this also didn’t match when I printed it. Then I talked to my teacher to try to get a clearer understanding. Then I came up with my final design which is squares with four slots and rectangles with four slots so they can all interlock. The way I got the slots to fit was by adding an offset in fusion, I used the equation -kerf/2 so that when I put it in Illustrator and printed it, it would be actually the size I wanted. I had set parameters so that it would be easier to size each shape. I then printed them and put them together and honestly, you could make a bunch of random things with it. For my sticker, I made a Pokeball in Illustrator. I made three separate parts, one for the black, one for the red, and one for the white. Then I made svg files of all of them and printed out each color which I put on transfer paper for my friend to use in the future.

Struggles

I had to make three seperate designs before getting one that worked. I struggled with caculating the kerf for each shape so they could interlock. At first I thought I should add kerf to one side and subtract it from the other but this left the slots being loose. Later i figured out to use offset which would make sure the diameter of the shape was correct so the whole shape was the right size. I also struggled with making my pokeball because i wanted to make a cutout but I didn't know how but I figured out from google that if you make the pathfinder window pop up, you can make a hole in another shape.

Gallery