• First I found a cursive font I liked and expanded the letters

• Next I offset the path to create the backer 

• After layering these on top of each other I used the pen tool to create the 6mm outline for the LED strip to fit inside

• Creating the holes for the wires

  • I imagined how the leds would flow around the sign and then I put a measured the end of the LED to see how big the holes needed to be

This step includes moving your design to Fusion 360 to finish the designing process. When your design in Adobe Illustrator is complete, export the finished file as a DXF. Open the file in Fusion 360 from your downloads. Start off importing a sketch on the x - y plane. Make sure to select the correct layer you are cutting (Cut 1). Once your sketch is visible, use the extrude tool to your desired depth of wood (0.5 inches).  

Figure out how big the piece of wood you are cutting is. You can use the size of your artboard for this. Then, create a new sketch for it to go on. Select the bottom of your piece that you wish to create your sketch on, then size down the rectangle to fit your design. Round and then finish by extruding up. Change the extent tense to TO OBJECT. Select something at the top of your sketch, change the operation to New body, and make sure it is cutting.

• • Set up 

  • Stock Tab

  • Mode - FROM SOLID

  • Body 2 solid stock select

  • Setup up tab 

  • Box point - Click on corner for 0,0,0

  • Model — Body 1

• Select tool 6 

• Geometry 

  • Select Bottom surface

• Passes

  • Turn off stock to leave

  • Turn on multiple depths

    • Verify to make sure it is the correct depth

• Select Tool 8 

• Geometry Tab

  • Select bottom edge

• Heights Tab

  • Bottom heights 

    • Offset -.02 

• Passes Tab

  • Multiple Depths 

    • Verify

  • Simulate 

• Post process

  • Export as a NC file

  • Name file 

• Email to Makerpace@dawsonschool.org

• Running the job

  • Download Gcode on CNC Computer

  • Mount plywood on CNC using green tape and CA Glue

  • Load job into control software

  • Set X,Y,Z zeros

  • Make sure the air compressor is on

  • Run job

Sand down so that it is smooth all of the circles are cut through

• First cut the letters out on the wood 

  • Object expand all of the blue LED lines and change all cut lines to have a 0.001 stroke 

  • Select material and load on to laser cutter

  • Make sure the fan is on and the job is focused

  • Run job  

  • Clean any burn marks with asetone

• I created a code so that when the lights are plugged in you can press button A and purple lights will appear and when you press B on the micro bit the lights will turn rainbow

• To test if this works plug mircobit into the computer and download the code 

• Next, we soldered all of the wires from the 5V board which we plugged the micro bit into

• We also added an attached that connects to a switch to turn the lights on and off

• Once we measured where the length of the LEDs we found the nearest cooper pad and cut a small part of the rubber back so that we could open the LED and access the copper bad in the middle so that we would have room to solder on both sides

• Next, we cut wire and soldered onto copper pads and then soldered wires together

• Once the LEDS were connected we threaded all of the connecting wire through the holes to the back of the board 

I spray-painted both sides of the sign and sanded in between coats for a smooth finish. Once it was dry I used two coats of clear coat.

I used the sander to cut some of the the acylic part smaller so that it would fit on the white acrylic. Then I used acrylic glue to place the first part of the stand off and screwed small screws which connects the stand off to the wood. 

I first threaded the LEDs through the sign and aligned the leds. Next I added the center part for the letters O,L,A and superglued and sprayed with adhesive then I laid out where I wanted to place the letter and pushed down lightly on the acrylic part of the stand off.

Next I screwed the cap part of the stand off into the backer and pushed everything together. 

I made the holes bigger on the board and screwed in using small standoffs so that I can access the buttons that change the color of the sign.