3. Computer Controlled Cutting

During Week 3 of computer-controlled cutting, I reviewed the safety guidelines for the laser cutters used at Moonlighter FabLab. The machines we use are manufactured by Full Spectrum, and I am already certified to operate the Full Spectrum laser cutter line.

As I explored the training materials more deeply, I revisited the focusing protocol for the laser’s focus head, which involves using the focusing guide tool attached to the head itself. I also reviewed the key parameters of speed, power, and current.

Speed and power are the primary settings typically adjusted when programming cuts. I was already familiar with the concept that higher speeds reduce the amount of time the laser interacts with the material, while higher power increases the cutting force exerted by the laser.

Current, however, was a newer concept for me. I found it particularly interesting to learn that current influences the difference between producing dotted cuts versus continuous lines.

Vinyl Cutter

I opened the Sure Cuts Alot software on the vinyl cutter computer and imported the design files to the cut area.

I tried to layout the drawings in a way that it would minimize material wastage. This will take make practice to maximize my layout effectiveness. Onece that step was done, it was time to start cutting. This was a quick cut, apart from the time the vinyl sheet fell through the cutter when it was calibrating. Thankfully the cutter blade had no damages.

Using transfer paper, I was able to successfully apply my vinyl-cut logo design onto the container lid used for my project.

Laser Cutter Kerf Test

Parametric Push Fit Kit

Using a PCB layout similar to a keyboard, each tile will act as a key clicked with each player move. The cells will be numbered to follow a typical chess board I will need to study keyboard and key assemblies. The general idea is that the key assembly would allow the tile to click smoothly while the RGB LED shines through uninterrupted.

Link to YouTube

followed the tutorial

place polygon

create a 12 in numb slider to radius

create a 0 to12 numb slider for segments

following along with the explode and evaluate curve

I did it wrong. this is the correct segments

adding a rectangle and a numb slider to change dimensions

adding a construct domain

adding negatives so the rectangle scales in 2 directions and duplicating the commands for the x size

creating the planes

aligning the vectors

I set the square to the dimensions I want to cut and made the slots the width of my cb

region difference to get the final shape

made a surface

publish to remote panel and make a grasshopper tab in the rhino side panel

Bake the shape into rhino

export the selected object as DWG

import into illustrator and set stroke to .25

export as pdf

Laser Cutting Push Fit Kit

importing the drawing into they laser cutter interface

I want to fit more pieces on my material so I'll make them smaller

importing the new drawing

the drawing are ready and I set the speed to 100 power to 50 and 1 pass

I run perimeter to make sure the material is in the right place

my measurements seem to be ok. the problem must be with the drawing

Placing my cardboard

making sure the cardboard is aligned

starting the cut

stopped it because the scale was off

slots are way too big

I just remembered that the slot width is a radius. to correct it I need to enter half the desired dimension

I fixed it

I fixed the size issue and sent it to cut

the corrected design cut perfectly

I felt very proud of the correction and even more excited to assemble the parts.

the assebled parts

the assebled parts