Assignment #3 Computer-Controlled Cutting

Introduction

I have used Laser cutter before, the thing was that I was responsible for the design not the operation of the machine, so I think this assignment will help me learn more about dealing with the machine.

I started by searching the web to understand more about the Press Fit concept, which lead me to sketch the first idea that crossed my mind

I started to draw using Inkscape after it became familiar to me, you can read more about my experience with it from here

I faced some breakdown problems with my current version of Inkscape, so I shifted to using Adobe Illustrator instead as i have some experience in it.

It came to my mind that i should make the thickness of the opening = 2.9 mm, as I am using 3 mm thick wooden sheets, so this difference will tighten the connection more, I also deleted the accessory lines to reduce cutting time.

I started to draw the other shapes, and i find out later that i need to reduce the width of the bars more to make it bend without getting broken.

When i finished i exported the file as a dxf file to start cutting it, and of course whenever i faced a problem that i couldn't solve, i search the web to find a solution.

Unfortunately I couldn't find any plug in for Illustrator to help me make the design Parametric
I redraw the design on Inventor

We set the parameters on xlsx sheet that then got imported into the software as to be referenced

Using Coral Draw was easier than i thought, the most important parts is to make sure that your measures are still the same using the ruler tool, adjusting the power and speed of the laser beam to the right combination "I used 9 speed and 75 power" and to make your lines hair line thickness so it won't cut the same line more that once.

Name the file with the name you want and hit download to check for the frame track or how much it would take to cut it, if you don't want to do that you can hit start and start the magic immediately :D

When it finish cutting, TAKE CARE...DON'T take out the sheet immediately, fix the sheet at it's place and with the other hand try to check if it cut the shapes to the full depth, if it didn't you might need to recheck the focus, power or speed of the laser.
Right now you can re-do the cutting task so it can fully penetrate the sheet.

After i finished the testing of my measurement, I replicated the shapes and i cut them again.

I followed that by playing and making cool stuff like desk light and the mobile phone holder.