Glowforge Laser Cutter

How to use:

1. Use the Auto Layout plugin and select all items that should be affected.

2. Mess with the settings to set the layout how it's wanted.

How to use:

(recommended to use Auto Layout before importing items into Kiri Moto)

1. Press insert new tab > Applications > Kiri Moto

2. Click Files and import to import your extrudes for your part studios (it should automatically pull up the items when creating a new Kiri Moto tab)

3. Click Setup and Machine to set settings and what machine will be used. (For class the laser machine will be selected for the glowforge laser printer.

4. Click start and export to turn the model used into a blueprint the glowforge laser printer can understand.

This approach centers around making each part individually, one after the other. Each part relies on a sketch that either includes a dimensions that is the thickness of the material or extrudes the sketch to the thickness of the material.

Advantages

• Simple, step-by-step process

• Allows more customization

Disadvantages

• Takes more time

• Can be hard to imagine what the finished product will look like

Steps

1. Choose a starting piece. Create a sketch and extrude it to the #Thickness variable dimension.

2. Create additional sketches on the base piece. You can use the same method as before, or create a thin sketch with one of the dimensions as #Thickness. Extrude to desired length.

3. Continue working off previous pieces using the same methods. Using Extrude-Up To Face is a good method when the length of your extrude needs to go through another piece and is defined by the separation of other pieces.

4. Use the Laser Joint tool to create joinery. You may need to break it into multiple features to make it work correctly.

This approach centers around making a 3D object using parts where only the flat faces will actually include material. The flat faces are then made into individual pieces using the thicken tool and the original part is deleted.

Advantages

• Takes less time overall

• Easier to see how the product will come together.

Disadvantages

• Less flexible - May not be able to make every piece this way

• Steeper learning using a method more different than previous

Steps

1. Create a part(s) that represent the finished product. Ensure that all the faces that will be made into pieces are flat.

2. Use the Thicken-New tool to create individual pieces that can be laser cut. Use your #Thickness variable to set the thickness and make sure the pieces overlap the original object.

3. You may thicken multiple sides at a time as long as they do not overlap.

4. Delete the original part(s) so that only the laser cut parts are left.

5. Add any additional pieces or modify existing ones using the Individual Part Approach as necessary.

6. Use the Laser Joint tool to create joinery. You may need to break it into multiple features to make it work correctly.

Laser Cut Box Video - Individual Part Approach

Laser Cut Box Video - Thicken Approach

How to add Slot Joints (for overlapping parts)