Week 3

Water 7 Saga🌊

Ideation

Tell us about your assignment's idea for this week. Why do you care about this idea? What inspired you? (Please include images or links to sources of inspiration)

Inspiration

I got inspired by the design in the photo — a smart little desk piece that holds a phone on one side, business cards on the other, and pens in the middle. It was originally guarded by samurais 🗡️, but to save material and add a creative twist, I’m replacing them with One Piece graphics drawn directly on the holder for a fun anime touch!

Tool Chain

Which software/machines/materials did you use in the assignment? Why?

Fusion 360

For 3D Modeling

Software Used: Fusion 360

I designed the model using Fusion 360, applying a parametric approach to define key dimensions and features. The solid modeling tools were used to create and modify the geometry with precision and flexibility.

For Laser Cutting

Software Used: RDWorks
Printer Model: El Malky ML149 CO₂ Laser Cutter
Material Used: 3mm Plywood

I used RDWorks for design, the El Malky ML149 CO₂ Laser Cutter for cutting, and 3mm plywood as the material—it’s sturdy, clean to cut, and perfect for detailed designs.

El Malky ML149 CO₂ Laser Cutter

Design/Preparation Process

Explain the design and/or preparation process of your assignment. How did you use the tool or software to design and/or prepare your assignment before fabrication/implementation?

Back Face Design

To create the back side, I used Fusion 360 to model the part in 3D. I started by sketching the shape using a combination of lines, arcs, and other geometric tools, ensuring that all dimensions were accurate and well-defined. After finalizing the sketch, I extruded it to 3mm, which matches the thickness of the wooden sheets we'll be using.

I intentionally designed this side to be longer than the average pen length (13.12 cm) to enhance the overall aesthetic and functionality of the final product, making it more appealing to users.

I also accounted for T-slots and X-slots to allow for proper assembly with the base and adjoining sides. Additionally, I included slots for M3 bolts, carefully positioning them so they wouldn't interfere with other parts or compromise structural integrity, especially in longer sections where weakness could occur.

Front Face Design

To create the front side, I used Fusion 360 to model the part in 3D. I began by sketching the shape using a combination of lines, arcs, and geometric tools, ensuring that all dimensions were precise and well-defined. After completing the sketch, I extruded it to 3mm, consistent with the thickness of the wooden sheets we’re using.

This side was intentionally designed to be shorter than the back, creating a 30-degree slope. This slope is both visually appealing and functionally beneficial, enhancing user interaction by making it easier to place or remove pens—especially since the height is lower than the average pen length.

As with the back side, I included T-slots and X-slots to ensure seamless assembly with the base and adjoining sides. I also added slots for M3 bolts, carefully placing them to maintain the structural integrity of the design and avoid interference with other components, particularly in areas where the material may be thinner or more extended.

Side Face Design

To create the side face, I used Fusion 360 to model the part in 3D. I began by sketching the shape using a combination of lines, arcs, and geometric tools, ensuring that all dimensions were precise and well-defined. After completing the sketch, I extruded it to 3 mm, consistent with the thickness of the wooden sheets we’re using.

This face has a sloped side of 30 degrees to match the difference in heights between the back and front faces, and includes T-slots so it can be mounted with the base and X-slots (with different dimensions for each side, matching the one they would be mounted on) to attach it to the front and back faces.

Base Design

For the base sketch, I used the projection of the assembly I created for the front, back, and side faces. I took into consideration the T-slot openings where the bolts will be inserted, as well as the mounting openings for attaching parts.

I used Fusion 360 to model the part in 3D. I began by sketching the shape using a combination of lines, arcs, and geometric tools, ensuring that all dimensions were precise and well-defined. After completing the sketch, I extruded it to 3 mm, matching the thickness of the wooden sheets we’re using.

Pen and Phone Holder Assembly

Drawing Installations

After creating and validating the parts, I wanted to add the one-piece sketches. I followed these steps:

Download the desired image — preferably black and white for better results.
Install Inkscape, use the Trace tool, and export the image without a background.
Convert the image to a .dxf file using any free online converter.
Import the file either directly into RDWorks or into Fusion 360, depending on what works best for you.
For me, RDWorks was the easier choice.

Development/Implementation Process

Explain the development/implementation process of your assignment. How did you use the machine/tool to manufacture or implement the design of your assignment?

For Laser Cutting Preparation

After exporting the sketches as DXF format, I imported the file into RDWorks. I set the appropriate parameters for each line and adjusted the settings to:

For Cutting: Speed 40.0 and Power 45
For Speed Cut: Speed 300.0 and Power 25
For Scanning: Speed 300.0 and Power 20

Finally, I exported the design as a .PLT file and sent it to the El Malky ML149 CO₂ Laser Cutter for fabrication.

Pen and Phone Holder [Dxf] Files

For Laser Cutting Implementation:

To implement the laser cutting part of the assignment, we first downloaded the design file to the laser machine and selected it from the interface. Before starting the cut, we made sure to attach the stabilizer and carefully adjust the distance between the laser head and the board—a small detail that makes a big difference in the final result.

Once everything was set up, we started the cutting process, and the machine followed the design precisely.

WhatsApp Video 2025-08-09 at 12.09.10_01b5a44d.mp4

Final Product

Overcoming Challenges

When you got stuck, what/who did you turn to? At what point did you have to pause to research or learn more before moving on? What are some mistakes, pitfalls, or challenges that others can avoid if they were doing this assignment?

Drawing Installations

During the Drawing Installations process, the main challenge I faced was the installation and tracing of certain drawings. When I used the Trace tool in Inkscape, some drawings were not fully traced, had errors, or produced strange configurations when extruded.

To solve this, I experimented with different tracing methods: brightness cutoff, edge detection, color quantization, autotrace, centerline tracing, and multiple scans—switching between them until I achieved the desired result.

One example of the issue is shown in my work. Unfortunately, due to the limited time and restricted tool options, I had to proceed with a less-than-perfect output. Others can avoid this by allocating more time for testing different tracing methods and preparing alternative image formats before starting the tracing process.

Assignment Design Files

Pen and Phone Holder [Plt]

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