Cesar's Site

Computer-Controlled Cutting

assignment: design, make, and document a press-fit construction kit

For this assignment I decided make a Box for my electronics components
In this case I used these materials, tools and machine ...
  • MACHINE : Laser cutter-EPILOG mini 40W
  • Software: Inventor , Corel Drow , flatfab
  • Material : cardboard , MDF
  • Basic TOOlS:
first I had to calculate the levels of speed power and frequency for each material with that I worked, for this I searched the value table of the Epilog machine, I changed some values...
  • cardboard : speed=40 power =100 frequency=500
  • MDF(3mm): speed=10 power =100 frequency=500
then I tested some designs for build my box, but I had an mistake due the kerf
for calculate the mistake , I did a simple design for assembly. for this assignment I did my CAD design on INVENTOR, I exported in DXF format to coreldrow for send to cutting and laser engraving
in these step I had a compatibility problems, so with some help, I realized my mistake , I needed DXF(2004) format for coreldraw 2005
after I did the cutting without the kerf correction and with the correction , I had these results

Video 09-02-2015 08-41-55 a.m. from cesar on Vimeo.

MVI 2331 from cesar on Vimeo.

then I designed my box on INVENTOR with parameters to change the values in each types of materials
then I exported to CORELDRAW, I did my proofs with cardboard
then I did the changes of dimensions for cutting and laser engraving in MDF
after this experience I tried to design the main block of my project, like my first diagram on Inventor
I'll improve my design in base of this
in the end, I did some experiment with software FLATFAB and 123Dmake , I did some changes on basic examples , it was result interesting , so I'll continue to use then
design files l( DOWNLOAD )
finally, I make a sticker at vinyl cutter machine(picture 1),first I need an image in PNG format (picture 2) the size is 200mmx70mm, then, I prepare the fabmoduls,I choose the machine and PNG format (picture 3) the parameters, force 25 and velocy 5 , I check the parameters in the machine and the size of vinyl (picture 4)
design files l( DOWNLOAD )
I hope the cutting process(picture 5), after that we have the peace of vynil and we have to remove the remains (picture 6 and 7), we have to be careful in this operation
in the end, we put the sticker on my laptop