Latest revision as of 17:24, 28 August 2015

Laser Cutter notes

Modelhw: Gweike

Suggested settings:

Material	Speed	power	corner power
Pressed cardboard 4mm	25	80	25
Org 5mm.	10	50-80	25-50

I like to make designs in Sketchup and then export to svg/dxf for the laser cutting plotter.

Make Sketchyp design. Keep the final details in one plane.
Save as SVG file. One way is to use "Export to SVG" plugin. Note, that the number 161 could be different for you.
- Menu -> Edit -> 161 Entities -> Export to SVG file
- Enter the output file path
- Export Face(s) as: Paths
- Measurements: Millimeters

Open the SVG file in Inkscape
- Edit as needed (move for a better fit, add/convert text to paths)
- File -> Save as: Desktop Cutting Plotter (AutoCAD DXF R14)(*.dxf)
  - Choose "Base unit" as PX (do not choose mm!)
  - use LWPOLYLINE type of line output

(Optional) Open with LibreCAD for verification of the DXF file. Measure some dimensions as needed to make sure.

Open the DXF with the Laser cutter software, move to the print area, arrange as needed, and download to the Laser cutter.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{TocRight}}
 MakeRiga is a Makerspace in Riga with laser cutter, various 3D printers, and other tools for making great things!
 =Laser Cutter notes=
+== Hardware ==
+Modelhw: Gweike
+* Settings: Laser at 50%/100%
+* Software Lasercut 5.3
+Suggested settings:
+{| border=1
+! Material || Speed || power || corner power
+|-
+| Pressed cardboard 4mm
+| 25
+| 80
+| 25
+|-
+| Org 5mm.
+| 10
+| 50-80
+| 25-50
+|-
+|}
+== Design with Sketchup ==
 I like to make designs in Sketchup and then export to svg/dxf for the laser cutting plotter.
 * Make Sketchyp design. Keep the final details in one plane.
-* Save as SVG file. One way is to use plugin at
+* Save as SVG file. One way is to use "Export to SVG" plugin. Note, that the number 161 could be different for you.
- Menu -> Edit -> 161 Entities -> Export to SVG file
+** <code> Menu -> Edit -> 161 Entities -> Export to SVG file </code>
 ** Enter the output file path
 ** Export Face(s) as: Paths
@@ Line 14: / Line 39: @@
 * Open the SVG file in Inkscape
 ** Edit as needed (move for a better fit, add/convert text to paths)
-** File -> Save as:  Desktop Cutting Plotter (AutoCAD DXF R14)(*.dxf)
+** <code>File -> Save as:</code>  Desktop Cutting Plotter (AutoCAD DXF R14)(*.dxf)
-*** Choose "Base unit" as PX
+*** Choose "Base unit" as PX (do not choose mm!)
 *** use LWPOLYLINE type of line output