Embedded Files
materials
Fusion 360
Illustrator
CNC machine
0.75" plywood
Spray paint
masking tape
Design
Design
First, I determined the closest font to the one that Bungie used for the original game. I then used said font to write the letters "ODST". Next I found a good ODST helmet to trace out. I had found a piece of fan art that depicted an ODST morning a fallen comrade by draping their helmet on the butt of their battle rifle in place of a head stone. Taking inspiration from this I placed the tracing of the helmet and placed in on the T. I then surrounded it all with a raised border. After I had everything how I wanted it I translated it into a .dxf and sent it into Fusion 360
3D sketch
3D sketch
I took the DXF file taken from Illustrator and opened it in fusion 360. I then used the extrude tool to make It 3D. This proved more difficult than I thought as, when I tried to extrude different parts to different heights I found that I was unable to remove some parts of the letters from the back plate. This problem was eventually solved when I used the live art tool and the live paint bucket to isolate parts that I wanted to extrude.
Set Up
Set Up
In set up, I set the wood dimensions and set the origin. I also set the name of the file. I had to change this as the first time I went to cut the sign I had it oriented on the table wrong and had to rotate it.
2D contour/pockets
2D contour/pockets
I used the 2D contour tool to set the outline of the sign. I then used the 2D pocket tool to cut out the inner part of the sign, the indent for the visor, and the letters. I set the machine to use both the 1/4" and 1/8" bit. I originally made a mistake and had the machine cutting air for over and hour. This was solved and it took the time from over an hour and a half to 24 minutes
Final Product
Final Product
Having done all of the work in Illustrator, CAD, and CAM work, I put it into Post processing and sent it to be cut on the CNC machine. After cutting it all, sanded to the best of my ability and spraypainted all of the letters grey. After the paint had dried I masked the uncovered T and sprayed the it a dark grey. Once that had dried I masked the helmet and letters and pray painted the rest of the sign black.
Reflection
Reflection
I think that my sign turned out better than my first one. For starters, I think that the addition of spray paint will result in it looking better. I think that my Illustrator files went the best over all. It went the smoothest and once I solved the few problems I had I think that the design turned out splendid. I still do think that I need to pay even a little bit more to detail. I once again made a easily avoidable mistake when I brought the project in to post. If I were to do this project again, I would have spent a little more time and made a cardboard stencil with the laser cutter to add details to the helmet. I think that it would add another layer of complexity to the sign as well as giving it more of a well rounded and finished look
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