Week 3 — Computer-controlled cutting

This week’s topic: Computer-controlled cutting.

Individual assignment

Your personal work for this week — notes, photos, design files, and reflections.

Group assignment

Guangzhou (Chaihuo) — group documentation: laser-cutter characterization, joint tolerance tests, and GitLab-based collaboration.

Abstract

After completing the lab’s laser safety training, the group documents how the local laser cutter behaves in practice: focus setting versus cut quality, usable power levels, speed for cut versus mark, pulse frequency or effective scan rate (as applicable to the machine), measured kerf, joint clearance for press-fit or slot joints, and material types the site approves. The report adds a laser tolerance study—for example a comb test or equivalent spacing sweep—to find reliable gaps for finger joints and inlays. Photos and short video of representative cuts and tests are committed through the lab GitLab workflow (fork → branch → merge request), and the Chaihuo group site shows how that review and versioning ties to the physical lab work.

1. Safety training and approved use

Summarize the training completed, who signed off, and any lab-specific rules (ventilation, materials ban list, fire watch, supervision).

2. Machine characterization

Record focus, power, speed, frequency/rate, kerf, joint clearance, and materials in a table; note how each was measured (calipers, test coupons, microscope photos, etc.).

Parameter	Notes / method
Focus	Relate focus setting to edge quality; record nominal vs. best visual cut.
Power / speed / rate	Ranges used for cut vs. mark; align with control UI labels for your machine.
Kerf	Measured from test cuts or comb coupons (calipers / photo overlay).
Joint clearance	Press-fit or slot joints: gap that fits reliably on this cutter.
Approved materials	List materials allowed at Chaihuo for laser processing.

Lab photos (cutting workflow)

Plywood stock placed and aligned on the laser work area — Figure 1: Stock placed and aligned on the work area.

Laser machine powered on at the bench — Figure 2: Power-on and bench state.

Laser cutter control software or panel showing job parameters — Figure 3: Operator UI — verify power, speed, and job parameters for your machine.

3. Tolerance testing (e.g. comb test)

Describe the test file, parameter sweep, and how the group chose “good” slots/fingers; use the photos below to annotate kerf, joint clearance, or comb coupons.

Laser cutting job in progress — Figure 4: Cut in progress.

Finished laser-cut part on the bed — Figure 5: Finished part — add caliper readings or close-ups of tolerance coupons.

4. Collaboration: GitLab and the Chaihuo site

Briefly document fork, merge request, review, and where the narrative or embeds appear on the group documentation site.