GENERAL OBJETIVE:
Computer-Controlled Cutting
Cut something on the vinylcutter
Design, make, and document a parametric press-fit construction kit
The first thing to do is cut in vinyl plotter, the first thing to consider is the characteristics of equipment to use, in this case a PUMA III will be used with the following characteristics:
• Workspace: 1.20 m wide and the length is variable according to the material
• Maximum cutting speed: 24 cm / s equivalent to 609.6 mm / s
• Maximum cutting force: 400 g
As you can see one of the formats accepted by the cutter is the * .PLT format we can get from various softwares one is CorelDraw, this software has several advantages one of which is the vectorization of images and thereby create the file to cut Vinyl.
In Figure 1 an image vectorize shown to be cut in the vinyl cutting plotter
Figure 1 Up vectorized
This procedure can also be performed with Fabmodules; however, the format compatible with the vinyl cutting plotter and is not obtained, but have different formats that may be useful for other teams and even to get the compatible format.
Figure 2 vectorization Fab Modules
Making use of the image is obtained CorelDraw vector and colors, CorelDraw working in order to obtain the contours and to generate the * .PLT, thus cutting the vinyl.
Figure 3 Vectoring in CorelDraw
Figure 4 clean tables with colored image
The file is entered into sofrware cutting plotter commands and you get cut
Figure 5 Great Cut (Setup Workspace)
Figure 6 cutting parameters (strength, speed, width and length of the material)
Figure 7 Preview Cut and address of Vinyl
Figure 8 Review of fasteners Vinyl
Figure 9 Alignment Vinyl
Figure 10 Screen for measuring the material placed
As shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9 must be careful in February essential to place the vinyl on the cutting plotter aspects, the first fasteners must match the roller slide and align the vinyl on one side with the help of the guides for this stay straight and the cutting is performed correctly.
As a result the cutting of vinyl which Epilate (remove what does not belong to the drawing) is obtained, then it sticks to the transfer paper and already this is transferred or paste in the final space.
Figure 11 Removal of Vinyl cut
Figure 12 Vinyl with Transfer
Figure 13 Vinyl with transfer ready to place
Figure 14 Placing Transfer Vinyl and Retired
Figure 15 Final Result
You can also use this file created in CorelDraw for printing and cutting to decorate spaces in high relief, this exercise was conducted with the majestic help of Eng. Jose Florencio Marin Rodriguez is part of the FabLab Mexico City team and the advice of MSc. Gonzalo Perez (Academy instructor 2016), the steps were:
1. Vectoring image and generate image outlines
2. Generate the print image with the same size of the laser to reference it and be able to match printing with cutting.
3. Generate contours file and export it in * .dxf or even from CorelDraw send the court after hitting the impression material to be cut (in this case 3mm MDF).
4. Print and paste the printed image to the canvas.
5. Insert the laser the canvas with the pasted image and send the file considering cutting the laser performs a safety margin of about 5 mm in "X" and 3 mm in "Y".
6. Cut in the laser and the images are obtained in high relief to decorate a space.
Figure 16 cut in high relief with print Images
Figure 17 View of printing and cutting of the pieces together
Also as part of the exercise should be performed a parameterized file and the file in this case was done in AutoCAD, to cut a box assemblies in which only four parameters are requested:
• High
• Width
• Thickness or material thickness
• Assembly size (long you want to join)
Video can be seen as only these parameters are changed and the box is created with the entered dimensions.
NOTE: Always give first the length and width of the box and then the thickness and size of the assembly to prevent give us an error regarding measures entered.
These parameters are related to generate a cubic box automatically which only have to accommodate the material to be cut and longer with this file can be generated boxes of various sizes, with various materials and with various surfaces assembly according to the needs.
Figure 18 materials and measuring instrument (Vernier)
In the materials used are shown together with the vernier to determine the thickness thereof:
What was done was to measure the thickness of each material (acrylic, MDF and cardboard) using a vernier so you can enter it in the file parameters and so cut to corroborate if the measurements were correct and the compensation must be made according to the properties of the laser being used.
• MDF
Thickness: 3.1 mm
Figure 19 MDF Thickness Measurement
• Acrylic
Thickness: 2.4 mm
Figure 20 Acrylic Thickness Measurement
• Cardboard
Thickness: 3.6 mm
Figure 21 Measuring Thickness Cardboard
Once measured the thickness of each material entering the parameterized AutoCAD file and the thickness value is entered, if desired you can modify other parameters to change the height, width and length of the assembly.
Because of the ease of changing sizes and settings for assembly can be performed several tests in less than 5 minutes with different materials and making adjustments thick and assembly to see the indicated and that works best according to the needs.
Figure 22 Cut Acrylic
Figure 23 Cardboard Cut
Figure 24 Cut MDF
Figure 25 Pieces for assembly
Figure 26 Cuts for assembly in acrylic, cardboard and MDF
Figure 27 assembled boxes
Figure 28 armed Ensambles
Figure 29 Second Test changing box size
Figure 30 Final Result (Creating boxes in 5 minutes total time)