Final LaserCut Result
This week, our assignment was to work on the Laser cut and vinyl cut machine to produce some work.
Vinyl cutting is a process of cutting the vinyl based on the vector lines and nodes passed to the software. This machine only accepts vectors as the the reference points to cut the desired shape on the vinyl.
I wanted to make a logo for myself, which I will use on the all upcoming assignments, well I designed the logo in Photoshop and imported it in Inkscape. As photoshop is raster designing software, so you have to make it work in vector which can be processed later.
Importing logo in inkscape
Tracing the bitmap outlines
After we found the vector trace of the logo, I saved the file in .dxf format so that I can further work on it in Rhino.
Importing logo traces in Rhino
Once the model was ready in Rhino after any addition, I saved the model with .AI (adobe illustrator format) so that it can be opened in the CutStudio.
Ready for cut.
Once the model was ready I cut the logo on the vinyl. There are a few cutting parameters which were required to set, like the height and width but I used the machine calculated values. The Machine Roland GS-24 has the functionality it can calculate the size of the paper.
Cut Settings
Cut Settings Properties
Once the machine was ready I started the cutting process, since the cuts are too small we need a microscopic eyes to literally see them
Cutting the model
After the vinyl was cut now it was time to stich it on my computer. First I cut the sticky material of the same size as my vinyl model so that I can use it for the getting the vinyl sticker.
Getting ready for vinyl.
I removed the layer from the sticky material, and put my vinyl on top of it.
Getting ready for vinyl.
Putting vinyl on top of sticky material.
Now slowly separate the paper from vinyl and it will be ready to stick.
Separating paper from vinyl.
Robo Vinyl on my pc.
I always wanted to make a Bulb Lamp which I can stick on the wall. I always had a design in mind so I started directly to work on that. As due to the last week practice on the 3D Modelling softwares, I had quite a good grip on Paramateric 3D Modelling softwares.
I started using Fusion 360 as it is quite easy and I had a quite good grip on it.
First of all I set all the parameters which I will use for the lamp model like height, width and length and also material depth.
Parameters to be used for Lamp
I draw the circle so that I can further add designs over the circle
drawing base
I used patterns to repeat the design in circular pattern and this is the final result which came out.
Circular Patterns
Then I designed the bottom part where I will attach the bulb.
Bottom Part
Now it was the time for desigining of the supports which will join the top and the bottom parts together. I designed the round type of arms which will hold both parts together. And once it was ready I made its 20 copies as I needed 20 supports for my lamp.
Arm Part
Everything ready and Nested
Once everything was ready I exported the file in Iges format as Fusion360 directly cannot lasercut, we need Rhino for that purpose. I exported the file in IGES format and imported it in Rhino.
This is a big issue, I mean I wasted my whole day just to find a way to export file from fusion to Rhino and finally came up with a way. If you export it in iges only then will you be able to work on the model in Rhino
What I got in Rhino is a 3D file instead of a design (.dxf) file. So now I have to first convert this file in drawing then I will be able to laser cut it.
Imported in Rhino
I used the Make2D command to convert the 3D model in 2D.
Applying 2D command
After command was applied, I selected the current view (front view) to get only single view result which I am currently viewing. and the rest of the paramters will be removed
Selecting the views
Finally I got the design now I am ready to cut, as I didn't had anything to engrave on the lamp I used only single layer to keep all the items together
Finally drawing ready
Once the model was ready to cut, I used "print" command to send the file for cut on JC (software for TROTEC Laser Cut Machine).
Print Menu
Once the properties button was executed I was presented with the following screen where I had to select the size of the Stock (material on which I am gonna lasercut), and the material which I am gonna use.
I selected wood and then Plywood from the menu
Print Properties Menu
After pressing print button my file was sent to the laser cut software, where I have to set the settings (power, speed and frequency) for the lasercut.
I have set the power at 50 and speed at 0.75 and frequency at 2000 pphz.
JC Trotec laser cut properties
Everything ready and set for cut
JC Trotec laser cut properties
Trotec Finished its work, now its time to assemble
Assembling Finished
Hero Shot
This was our first interaction with the laser cutting machine. We were very delight to know how useful this machine is in a variety of differnt ways. The object of this group assignment was to study the tolerence levels of the machine and to experiment with differnt values of laser power and speeds. For this assignment we made a basic pattern of rectangles. The parameteric design was prepared in Fusion 360 and then imported to Rhino in .igs format
Fusion 360 paramateric design file
The file was imported is rhino and processed for laser cutting job.
Rhino making the file ready for LaserCut
The job is sent to printer by simply clicking print icon. The print area and other properties can be configured using the following window
Ready for lasercut job
Different objects with different printing parameters can be combined in a single job the of can be configure by placing the objects on different layers and assigning different laser power and speeds to each layer. The menu used for this configuration is illustrated below
Lasercut settings
We started the print job by placing the stock on the print bed and setting the stock dimension in the Rhino Print options. Caliberation of laser z-axis must be performed with the help of metallic stub. After double checking everything print command was sent to the printer and it beamed away swiftly
Lasercut in process
Following tolerances were considered -0.2mm, 0mm, 0.2mm and 0.4mm. The laser power cutting is set at 70. The results are illustrated below
Joining based on various spaces and various powers
Since the tolerances are in sub millimeter scale the results are not prominent. However objects with lower tolerance would not fit tightly.
For engraving we tried different laser power and speeds. The results of engraving process are presented below
Checking the engraving based on different power given
From our experience we come to conclude that although laser cutting is an effective way of cutting numerous items including paper, card-board, accrylic and plastics. However the laser power and speeds must be carefully choosen to avoid material melting or catching fire
