Week 3 - Computer-Controlled Cutting

This week we start to understand how to use vinyl cutting and laser cutting for the first time and we will apply them inside fab lab to use them later for the final project , but in the beginning we need to know the basic rules and concepts separately. We start to use software called " Inkscape " which I faced some difficulties to install this software on my ubuntu operating system but finally i succeed to install it and use it directly.

* For Vinyl Cutting ( Inkscape )

This is the first time I use “ inkscape “ software so first I start to choose simple basic shape like " Rectangle " which is divided by diagonal line and highlighted each part with different colors and “ stroke “ the borders to print it easily as vinyl cutting printer recognize the borders for the shape by using “ Fill and Stroke “ tool on the right small window.

Then from main menu I add other basic shape which is “ Volute “ and colored the content along the curved path inside the shape and stroke the borders as last step.

After that I put other shape which is “ Star “ and painted the content with blue color and stroke the borders.

Then I add more complicated shape as 3D shape which is “ Cube “ and play with its dimensions and paint the cube content and stroke the borders.

After choose from main menu “ Text “ then “ Text and Font “ to add my name as a signature for the fab lab week 3 assignment beside to learn how to insert writing place to write any notes using “ inkscape “ software before sending the file to vinyl cutting printer.

Finally I export the drawing files from “ Inkscape “ as “ PNG “ extension to print this file as a sticker then send it to Vinyl Cutting Printer and remove the stickers separately which contains my name and other shapes as I design it then stick it to my lap top as final step which was so beautiful .

* For Laser Cutting ( Inkscape )

In laser cutting we will use it to cut harder materials like woods and creating more holes or circles or plates and compare them to each other then collecting them to one shape consists of many pieces together like pyramids , cubes or boxes. Here we will use the same software in vinyl cutting “Inkscape“ and adjust the dimensions scaled to either  millimeters or centimeters or any other units you prefer and start drawing , for me I will design a box by using wooden parts and cutting them by laser cutting , first we need to design one main side shape that has three headers like this

after we will create other shape from the first shape ( copy and paste ) like this

Then now we will rotate one object shape by selecting the desired shape then choose from main menu “ Object “ then choose “ Flip Horizontal “ or “ Rotate 90 degree “ then we will get this

Finally I will save this file as “ DXF ” extension on a flash memory then print it by using laser cutting into 4 shapes as total to create the wooden box.

* For Laser Cutting ( Onshape )

This time we will use other online software which is called “ Onshape “ as I use it in week 2 , that is very easy and can design any shape from front view or top view or any view easily and then use the needed dimensions like the thickness or height. Here we will sketch the rectangular shape that we will use it to subtract the main circle from the rectangle to get a partly holed circle which can be connected to similar other three holed circles to get a nice hand art by laser cutting and keep in mind that you should to adjust the dimensions setting units to “ millimeters “ or “ inches  or any units before start drawing.

First we will sketch a circle from the center in front view by choosing from main menu tools “Sketch” then insert “centered circle”.

Then we will choose to sketch “ Rectangle “ to use it for trimming the circle.

Finally we will use “ Trim “ command from main menu that you have to choose the main body which you want to trim from and second choosing for the trimming body that you have to use it to trim , now we can create the hole through the circle , to be able for connecting same circles together.

We will export the final drawing as “ DXF “ extension and print the file by laser cutting to get the final wooden circles.

* The Design Files :

Download Vinyl Cutting Design (Inkscape)
Download Laser Cutting Design (Inkscape)