Token Project

Introduction

Before MetroCards and OMNY fare payment, the MTA had little gold tokens that you would drop into the turnstile in order to gain access to the Subway. These token gave you one fare, which at the time was $1.75 and had different variations all made of brass from 1953-2003.

These are the five variations of tokens that used by the MTA from 1953-2003.

Objective

With this project, I was assigned to "make a redesign of this MTA token". In other words, my task was to make my very own token using the programs Rhino and Adobe Illustrator, as well as using a laser cutter to make my token design come to life.

Sketching Process

Some inspiration I had taken when sketching my token were from cars rims from the video game, Grand Theft Auto 5. These rims caught my eye due them having shapes that revolve the center of the rim itself, creating a perfect circle. With that mind, I was able to make the sketch for the shape of the token that I wanted to create.

Inspiration: Spooner Rims

Inspiration: Cairngorm RIms

The picture below is my first sketch.

Design Process

Rhino

Rhino is the main CAD Software that used in the Design and Engineering classroom at the STEAM Center. We use because it's a very flexible and easily accessible software as you can use it to multiple different 2D and 3D Models. As part of the Token Project requirements, the size of each token is 3 inches. With this in mind, I created one circle to make the base of my token. Then, I used the "BoundingBox" and "Dim" in order to make a circle that was 3 inches. Next, I made 4 more circles in the inside of the 3 inch circle to further progress my design. After this using the "ArrayPolar" command, I made 20 ovals that went around the outer part of the token and 10 pentagons that went around the inner part of the circle. Lastly, I put each component of the token into layers with different colors to represent the operation I wanted to the laser cutter to perform. (Red and Cyan to Cut; Blue to Score; Black to Raster)

Screenshot of Token #1 and Token #2 in RHINO

Token #1

Token #2

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is an edit and design program that is used to setup my token for the laser cutter. First, I started this process by exporting my Rhino file into an Adobe Illustrator file. Next, I set the colors to their correct layers. Though it doesn't matter what colors because how the UCP (Universial Laser Systems) works but to avoid confusion, I set the colors first in Illustrator before laser cutting anything. Since I have to two different tokens, the ovals were set to Red in order to be cut first. The pentagons varied based on the token which in the first token, they were set to Red to be cut out like the ovals and to Black in the second token to rastered. The letters of my name were set to Black to be rastered as well. The outermost and innermost circle were set to Cyan to be cut last. The remaining circles were set to Blue to be scored or engraved. For the very last setup, I changed the line weights to 0.001 in since that is nessecary in order to laser cut.

Universial Laser Systems (UCP)

UCP is the software responsible for the process for setting up the laser cutter. The laser cutter is a CNC which means a computer is needed to control and program its operation. You start this process through Adobe Illustrator first.

Print Setup in Adobe Illustrator

This is the correct way to setup a file to laser cut in Adobe Illustrator. Once, everything here is correct, I clicked on "Setup" in order to continue in UCP.

Token #1

Token #2

In UCP, the colors are set into a specific order that goes from Black, Red, Green, Yellow, Blue, Magenta, Cyan, and Orange. This order is important because it shows what operations will be done first to last. Since I used only Black, Red, Blue, and Cyan, I just "Skip" the operation of the other colors.

Key Notes to Remember

Each operation has its own requirement
The Power and Speed depends on what Mode you are on
Raster (Power - 20% | Speed - 12%)
Vect [CUT] (Power - 80% | Speed - 6%)
Vect [SCORE] (Power - 20% | Speed - 12%)
PPL stays on 300 for each Mode
Colors that aren't used are set to Skip

This photo was taken during the laser cutting of the second token.

This photo was taken after the laser cutting of the second token.

Final Product And Reflection

Here are some photos of my finished tokens.

Big Takeaway

After finishing this project, I realized how much I was able to learn. I was able to work in Rhino with commands that I both did and didn't know prior to this project. I was able to collabarate with my peers throughout the design process. I refined from my skills in programming and setting up the laser cutter in order to cut. I'm willing to take everything I have accumulated from this project in order to something big with the laser cutter in the future.

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