3. Computer controlled cutting

This week I worked on computer controlled cutting : vinylcutter and lasercut

vinylcutter

we use the silhouette equipement with silhouette studio.

s1

you can draw your design for example with inkspace or looking for some illustation on internet.

i did that with a drawing of dog.

s2

copy the picture in silhouette studio

s3

open the trace panel

s4

trace

s7

move the original drawing and cancel it to discover the trace

s8

and it to the vinylcutter

s11

the vinylcutter v1 v2

introduction of the vinyl v3

the cutting because of too much details, i failed this first try fail1

so i did on again, simplier

dog1

the result dog2

lasercut

the projet was to cut a 2d design with a parametric configuration. this 2D design could be also assembled in 3d design.

So i had to chose one application with parametric functions.

the main parametric data are : the kerf, and the material thickness.

parametric2

parametric3

parametric4

Differents type of joints

joints

here, you have the same in freecad format : joints freecad

my idea was to be inspired by a roquet.

fusee

I used Fusion 360.

the design of the spare parts : fusee0

after that, i tried the cut this design. the result was not consistent ans therefore so disappointing.

fusee2

it was small and no respect of the parametric data.

after some reflection, i noticed it was a question of scale : the cut was 10 times smaller than the design. fusee4

after correction of that, the result is good, for the first spare parts. fusee3

So, i tried to respect the scale on the hand-drawing design.

the result is really ugly

ugly

So i did it again from scratch.

the principle of the construction of my design with fusion 360 is now only the respect the main dimensions and the shape of the design because fusion makes curve with 3 points but not more.

arc1

test of parametric changes.

problems and troubleshootings

the vinylcutter

first, i have chosen a design with too much details. we should stay modest.

the lasercut

problems of scale between fusion 360 and the lasercut software. Once you have tested that your parametric data are properly configured, you have to be confident in your job and looking for the conflicts between material and software.