Week 3 - Computer Controlled Cutting

CHOOSE YOUR MODE.

[ MISSION: VINYL DECAL ]

Vinyl Cutter Calibration

Before starting, the physical machine must be properly set up to ensure the blade cuts correctly through the material layer.

STEP 01

Pinch Roller Levers

At the back of the machine, there are two pinch rollers. When the levers are down, they are secured; when they are up, they are free. You can slide them manually to any distance to match your material width.

STEP 02

Loading the Material

Raise the levers to insert your vinyl or material. Slide it through until it is correctly positioned, then lower the levers to press and lock the material in place.

STEP 03

Material Check

Verify the vinyl path is straight. If the material is crooked, the cut will eventually drift off the edge during long jobs.

STEP 04

Verification

Once the levers are lowered, the material should be secured and ready. It should look like the following image before proceeding to the digital setup.

STEP 05

Interface & Origin

Use the front panel on the right. To calibrate the Force (Pressure) and Speed, navigate the menu. Press the Origin button twice to set the starting coordinates.

STEP 06

Ready for Software

After the calibration is done, you can proceed to the software setup in the second button of the sub-menu.

Step-by-Step Cutting Guide

STEP 01

Vector Import

Open Inkscape and load a vectorized image. Ensure paths are clean for the blade to follow.

STEP 02

Resizing

Click the lock icon to scale proportionally. Remember to set mm as the unit option.

STEP 03

Alignment

Position your image on the canvas. The machine's origin is usually the bottom-right corner.

STEP 04

Document Properties

Press Ctrl + D and match the material size to avoid cutting outside the vinyl area.

STEP 05

Scale Verification

Press Ctrl + P to verify the scale and ensure the output matches your requirements.

STEP 06

Extension Setup

Go to Extensions > Export > Plot to open the specialized cutting interface.

STEP 07

Final Execution

Verify parameters one last time and press Apply to start the job.

[ MISSION: HEAT TRANSFER VINYL (HTV) ]

STEP 01

Cutting Material Orientation

Cut your vinyl piece following the previous tutorials. However, if using Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) for fabric, you must place the matte side of the material facing upwards in the machine.

STEP 02

Weeding the Design

Once the cut is complete, locate the side opposite to the glossy plastic carrier. Carefully remove all excess material (weeding) so only the intended image remains on the carrier sheet.

STEP 03

Fabric Requirements

With your sticker ready, you will need a heat press to adhere it. For optimal results, ensure your fabric is polyester-based or compatible with HTV.

Why these materials?

Material Composition: For Sublimation, a minimum of 70% polyester is required because the ink molecularly bonds with synthetic polymers. For Vinyl (HTV), cotton or blends work best as the adhesive "grips" the organic texture.
Thermal Stability: The fabric must withstand high temperatures without melting or shrinking.
Surface Prep: Always ensure the fabric is free of chemical coatings or moisture, which can prevent the adhesive from curing correctly.

STEP 04

The Heat Press

I utilized a specialized heat press model that applies uniform heat across its square plate. If a professional machine is unavailable, a standard household iron can also be used with caution.

STEP 05

Machine Configuration

Precision is key. We configured the heat press to a temperature of 110°C for a duration of 15 seconds.

Technical Logic: This temperature ensures the thermo-fusion of the adhesive without damaging the fabric fibers or causing "heat migration" in synthetic materials. The 15-second dwell time allows the heat to penetrate the carrier film uniformly, guaranteeing that the vinyl anchors deeply into the textile weave for maximum wash-durability.

STEP 06

Positioning

Once calibrated, place your sticker on the fabric. Crucially, the glossy plastic side must face up. This protects the vinyl during the press; the plastic will be removed at the end.

STEP 07

Applying Pressure

Align the heat press symmetrically over the garment. Lower the handle firmly until you feel a mechanical click. High pressure is required, so apply significant force.

STEP 08

The Press Cycle

Maintain the position for the set time. When the machine beeps, pull the metal safety latch (located in the center) toward you to release and lift the press back to its original state.

[ Troubleshooting: If video fails to load, check case-sensitivity in the file path ]

STEP 09

Cooling & Peeling

Allow the piece to cool slightly. Test the adhesion by slowly peeling the plastic carrier from a corner. If the vinyl lifts, repeat the heating process to ensure a permanent bond.

STEP 10

Final Result

After removing the plastic, a thin, durable layer of vinyl remains perfectly integrated into the garment. The result looks incredibly professional!

[ MISSION: LASER CUTTING ]

Equations & Parametric Design

In SolidWorks, equations allow you to change the dimensions of your entire project by simply editing a single value.

STEP 01

Accessing Equations

Open a sketch and press the Alt key. Go to Tools > Equations.

STEP 02

Global Variables

In the Global Variables area, type names for your variables and assign them numerical values.

STEP 03

Manage Equations

Right-click the tool in your Operations bar to find Manage Equations and continue editing.

STEP 04

Using the Variable

To use an equation, simply create a shape or dimension and pull out a Smart Dimension.

STEP 05

Linking the Dimension

In the measurement box, delete the value and type ="variable_name" and press Enter.

STEP 06

Confirmation

Select Yes when asked to create the new variable link.

STEP 07

Final Control

Your variable will now appear in the Equations menu for instant global adjustments.

[ MISSION: PARAMETRIC POLYGON ]

Creating a dynamic polygon that adapts using SolidWorks equations.

PHASE 01: SKELETON & GEOMETRY

LOG_P1_01

Reference Triangle Setup

Draw a construction line and a Midpoint Line to form the base triangle.

LOG_P1_04

The Master Equation

Apply: =360 / "sides" / 2 to ensure perfect closure.

PHASE 02: CIRCULAR PATTERN & ASSEMBLY

LOG_P2_01

Parametric Circular Pattern

Using the "Sides" variable to control the amount of instances in the circular pattern automatically.

LOG_P2_05

Final Extrusion

The thickness is linked to the material gauge, ensuring a perfect fit regardless of the polygon shape.

Tutorial C: How to use the hardware

Follow this 12-step protocol to safely operate the laser cutting machine.

STEP 01

Voltage Regulator

Turn on the automatic voltage regulator to ensure a stable power supply for the machine.

STEP 02

Main Power

Switch on the main power of the laser machine.

STEP 03

Emergency Brake

Release the emergency stop button by twisting it until it pops up.

STEP 04

Safety Key

Insert the ignition key and turn it to the "ON" position to enable the laser tubes.

STEP 05

Height Calibration

Loosen the laser head screw slightly. Place a USB drive between the nozzle and the material; the nozzle must sit flush against the USB to set a 5mm focal distance.

STEP 06

USB Input

Plug in the USB drive containing your formatted cutting files.

STEP 07

Control Pad / Origin

Use the arrow keys on the control pad to position the laser head. Set the starting point by pressing the Origin button.

STEP 08

Accessing Files

Press the "File" button, navigate to the "udisk+" option, and enter.

STEP 09

Read Disk

Select the "Read disk" option to display the files stored on your USB drive.

STEP 10

Copy to RAM

Select your file and choose "Copy to RAM". This stores the project in the machine's internal memory for better performance.

STEP 11

Frame Area

Press the "Frame" button to verify the cutting area. Ensure the laser path doesn't hit any clamps or exceed the material boundaries.

STEP 12

Execution

Switch on the laser tube you are using, set the power knob to max, close the safety lid, and press "Start".

FINAL RESULT

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: PROJECT CUT SUCCESSFUL.

[ SYSTEM LOG: AI COLLABORATION ]

LOG_01

"Individual layout for each vinyl cutting step. Fully translated to English."

LOG_02

"Fixed Tutorial C structure and Step 06 layout."

> STATUS: DEPLOYED_SUCCESSFULLY

💾

LASER CUTTING FILES UNLOCKED

Download SVG, DXF and CAD source files.

GET_FILES.ZIP

🎨

VINYL MISSION FILES UNLOCKED

Download SVG, DXF and CAD source files.

GET_FILES.ZIP

3. COMPUTER CONTROLLED CUTTING

[ GLOBAL MISSION: GROUP WORK ]

[ MISSION: VINYL DECAL ]

Vinyl Cutter Calibration

Pinch Roller Levers

Loading the Material

Material Check

Verification

Interface & Origin

Ready for Software

Step-by-Step Cutting Guide

Vector Import

Resizing

Alignment

Document Properties

Scale Verification

Extension Setup

Final Execution

[ MISSION: HEAT TRANSFER VINYL (HTV) ]

Cutting Material Orientation

Weeding the Design

Fabric Requirements

The Heat Press

Machine Configuration

Positioning

Applying Pressure

The Press Cycle

Cooling & Peeling

Final Result

[ MISSION: LASER CUTTING ]

Equations & Parametric Design

Accessing Equations

Global Variables

Manage Equations

Using the Variable

Linking the Dimension

Confirmation

Final Control

[ MISSION: PARAMETRIC POLYGON ]

PHASE 01: SKELETON & GEOMETRY

Reference Triangle Setup

The Master Equation

PHASE 02: CIRCULAR PATTERN & ASSEMBLY

Parametric Circular Pattern

Final Extrusion

Tutorial C: How to use the hardware

Voltage Regulator

Main Power

Emergency Brake

Safety Key

Height Calibration

USB Input

Control Pad / Origin

Accessing Files

Read Disk

Copy to RAM

Frame Area

Execution

FINAL RESULT

[ SYSTEM LOG: AI COLLABORATION ]

LASER CUTTING FILES UNLOCKED

VINYL MISSION FILES UNLOCKED