Computer-Controlled Cutting

Third week Assigment

For this week, the assignments to be accomplish are:

Cut anything in the vynil cutter
Make a joint in the laser (group)
Use parametric design to cut pressfit
kerf check and explain with different setting
Make Module parameters to make something

1. MAKING THE FILES AND USING THE VINYL CUTTER

Vinyl cutter is one of the equipments in the Lab that I always wanted to learn how to use, but never had the escuse to use it.
I hope I can learn as much as I can to be able to teach it to others.

I started by preparing a file to cut

I went looking for some nice image that I wanted to make an sticker from, and Voila! DarthVader is more than cool enough right?
So, I download the image and open it Illustrator, vectorized by going to Top Menu -> Object -> Image Trace -> Make and Expand and YES!
I have just converted the image in to lines that laser cutters, Vinyl cutters and many other machines can understand (read the file).

Although, you might be able to just export the file as it is, first you need to Ungroup or eliminate any compound path, I personally like to get rib of the fill (color) too so I can see clearly how the output will look like.

Bringing the face out of the drawing grid you can see if some other colors, in this case white, might have not been erase.
once this was done, I exported the file to DXF.

Lastly to avoid reading compatibility I ensure to exported the lowes version, I alwas use 2000/LT2000

Downloads

Image File dowloaded on line
Illustrator (before dectorized img)
File DXF format (vectorized)

2. USING CAMEO3

Once you have the DXF file you can bringing it to the Vinyl cutter's interphase software.

You can import/open your file just like in any other design software, the menu on top of the picture let you draw as well as change the setting of your cut including adding the size of you vinyl/paper so you can cut within the boundaries.

in the Cut setting you can wether to cut edges, perforate of cut the by following the line's path.
After that you need to add what kind of material are you using, so, you can choose the blade. Since is my first time I just use the "Automatic Blade" (for beginners) and play with the "knife deepness" "speed" "strenght" of the blade. by 1,5,10 and the failure below was the out out.

This is definately the first time using this equipment and this picture proves it.
This happend because I loaded the paper wrongly, the picture on the right is highlighting a lever that holds the material and its place (so remember to haven well secure), I did a bounch of "Test Cut" (where you cut a square and a triangle) that help me to find out the best speed, knife deepness and strength to use for this sticker vinyl.

I didn't put all the failure pictures but It wasn't as difficult as I expected.
As you can see I did succeed the settings at knife deepness at 7, speed at 2 and strength at 16.(strong material)

I took the parts that I did not need, since the cut was not 100% perfect the small parts from the mouth piece come off, but to my furtune the lines that left the uncut part where clear enough for me to put the small parts in their original location without distortioning the shape of the sticker.

After that as my instructor suggested I used masking tape instead if transfer paper (since we didn't have any left) and make the job beautifully.

I love the sticker!!

3. USING FUSION360 TO MAKE A PARAMETRIC DESIGN TO CUT IN THE LASER

Last week invested time in Fusion360 gave me a lot of freedom with the software, it felt very interactive and I had less fustrating situation.

Making a Parametric Design

Using the skiils that I adquired last week I used the same parameters and constrains tp create the model. First buy making only a joint cut and then making a circular pattern adding 4 more cuts that will be conected to the original slot.

For the second piece I used similar fuctions, I make the first slot and then mirrow it to the other side and ensure to keep it in place by adding some constrians. After extrude the shape I tested.

Time to check if the parameters works correctly, so I set up different thickness in this case the "variable"

By changing from 3mm to 5mm and then vice versa the design's response was as I expected.
for exporting file from Fusion360 is very simple, right-click to the sketch and click to "save as dxf".

Downloads

Circular Parametric 3mm

Long Parametric 3mm

4. LASER CUTTER

The video below was my first job in the lab (including editing video) now, we use to guide the user on "how to use the laser", although I have been using the laser for quite some time, I learnt more that I expected.

Following the steps on the video

Import the file/load/open the file similar to most of the design programs, change the layers so you can control the order on how the lines will be cut, NOTE: always cut from inside -->out (meaning if you have a circle within a circle cut the inner circle first).