Section 1- Sketchup: drawing press fit tabs with 1/8 (.3175 cm) material

Transcription

1 Laser Cutter Tutorials (FULL SPECTRUM) Contents: Section 1 - Sketchup: drawing press fit tabs Section 2 Sketchup: How to export a file for the laser cutter, put it on the server, and open in Adobe Illustrator Section 3 Illustrator: How to size a file imported from Sketchup Section 4 How to print a file with the Full Spectrum laser cutter (from Illustrator) Section 1- Sketchup: drawing press fit tabs with 1/8 (.3175 cm) material Step 1: Start by making the drawing you want as a solid. Remember that the laser cutter cannot do miters so all tabs should meet at 90 degrees. Step 2: Holding the option(alt) key, push pull one of the sides 1/8 (.3175 cm) into the shape. Step 3: Decide on the width of your tabs. In this example the tabs are 1 from the sides of the shape. Create construction lines by using the tape measure, clicking on the sides of the shape and dragging toward the center.

2 Step 4: Draw the first tab between your construction lines as shown below. Step 5: Holding the option key, push pull another side of the shape 1/8 (.3175 cm) into the shape. You should now be able to see how one part of the shape will fit together. Step 6: Repeat this process for all sides of the shape, deleting any extraneous lines when you finish. You may want to color code the sides of the shape (as shown below) so that you can better see how the tabs will fit. Feel free to look at a finished example on the server.

3 Step 7: The laser cutter can only cut flat surfaces so you must now paste each side of the shape into a separate document so that they are flat. Paste everything inside a box as shown below(12 x 18 or smaller). You may have to use the rotate tool to get all shapes to be on the same access. Put shapes as close together as possible (but not touching) to conserve material. Final Step: In order for the tabs to be tight you must extend them slightly. You do not need to extend the receptacles, only the tabs. Select the edge of the tab, and use the move tool to extend one side of the tab.0075 (.019cm). Do the same thing for the other side of the tab. Do this on all tabs. Section 2 Sketchup: How to export a file for the laser cutter, put it on the

4 server, and open it in Illustrator BEFORE YOU START: Draw a box around your shape (12 x 18 or less) so that you can easily resize the file when you get to Illustrator. In the image below there is a 11 x 17 box around the drawing. Step 1: From the menu at the top of the screen Click Camera >Standard >Top to see the flat top view of your drawing. Step 2: Zoom to fit image on the screen = press shift + Z Step 3: Choose parallel projection: from the top menu go to camera > parallel projection Step 4: When exporting, your drawing will change size. You need to write down the length of one dimension of the outside box so you can resize when you export from Sketchup and reopen in Illustrator. Step 5: Export the file as a EPS: Choose File> Export > 2-D Graphic then choose EPS from the format drop-down menu a. b.

5 Step 8: Click Export Step 9: Connect to the server and upload your file to the student storage (You can also use a USB thumb drive). You can access you file from any PC computer by using the server. To connect from the Mac: Click on the desktop Click go from the menu at the top of the screen and from the drop-down menu choose connect to server. Type dublin for the server address username: electronics password: electronics Inside the Electronics share you can put your file in the Student files folder. Step 10: Choose any WINDOWS computer and download your file from the server. Step 11: Open ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR and open your file. Do this by choosing file > open and selecting your file. Section 3 ILLUSTRATOR How to size a file imported from Sketchup Sketchup Illustrator Step 1: Open your file (file > open) into Illustrator. You should have written down the value for at least one dimension of your shape before you export from Sketchup. In this example I will use the left side of the shape as a reference. In Sketchup the line is 4 inches but when it is opened in Illustrator the same dimension is over 5 inches. Step 2: Select everything for sizing. Either go to SELECT >SELECT ALL or

6 hold the control key + press A Step 3: At the top of the screen you will see the word TRANSFORM highlighted in Blue. Click on it. Step 4: Make sure the chain is clicked (to preserve proportions) and enter the new height or width into the appropriate box. Press ENTER on the keyboard. Your drawing should now be the correct size!!! Section 4:Using the LWHS 18 x 24 Full Spectrum Laser 1. Open Full Spectrum Software (Retina Engrave) Vector cutting: To prevent machine from double cutting Illustrator shapes should have an outline of.01 or less and NO FILLS 2. Print from Illustrator Engraving: Put the engraving on a separate layer and send one layer at a time to Retina Engrave. Before printing, click on the eye next to a layer to hide it. Layers can be found under Window > layers

7 3. Choose Full spectrum Engineering from the list of printers and choose the correct media size: FSL Professional 24 x18 4. A larger raster (engraving) job, takes a long time to send. If you are only cutting click NO when you get the dialogue below. If you are engraving click YES. 6. Turn on machine Red switch, right hand side. 7. Make sure machine is recognized (software: lower left corner) Before After

8 8. Home machine 9. Click on vector or raster tab 10. Put material in machine 11. On the laser cutter, use the F/S button to get the Fast XY or Slow XY function on the LCD. Then use Blue Arrows on control panel to position head over material 12. Use Retina Engrave software to set Auto set Z height (if not already set) (Have hand on stop switch! If plunger misses material, shut off

9 immediately!) 11. Set Speed and Power 12. Turn Ventilation and water cooler on (power strip on wall) 13. Press Play (in software) Vector Cutting Settings: Cardstock Speed 40 Power 40 1/8 MDF Speed 80 Power 80 1/8 Acrylic Speed 83

10 Power 100 1/4 Acrylic Speed 47 Power 100 1/4 Plywood Speed 37 Power 100 ½ Plywood Speed 22 Power 100 ½ MDF Speed 22 Power 100