Laser cutting

Eames Cards Design Project

Taking into account your material and the manufacturing process is important when designing products. Here is a link to the original Eames Cards. Your cards will be cut out and etched by the laser cutter and we will laminate an image on the other side. The cards should be themed in a way that makes sense to anyone. This also makes generating content fairly easy because you have a set of criteria that define the set and relates each card.

1. Your task is to design a module that has at least three connectors. The original Eames Card has 6 and is a rounded edged rectangle. Check the link above. They are about 4x6in, your card should be no larger than that. 

2. Each card needs to have something etched on the outside of it. 

3. These designs can be unique or distinct but should relate to the topic your cards explore.

   • these images are black and white (saved as png with bg turned off)

4. The pieces will have collage on the other side.

   • these designs should be related to the theme you choose.

   • these are color images

5. In the end, your pieces will need to connect. 

   • The cards need to have the appropriate scale so that they fit together. Your file name should also have the size of the material you intend to use.

     • 1/4in material is ~6mm thick or .25in

     • 3/16in material is ~4.5mm thick or .1875in

     • 1/8in material - 3mm or .125in

     • This is important to know because, the laser when it cuts the material removes a thin slice, so your design may be perfect in the program, but the physical element it produces will be slightly imperfect. 

6. Your cards need to be arranged in such a way that they minimize the amount of waste material.

   • See the examples below

     • Spacing should be such that none of the pieces overlap or touch.

     • Also, consider the bounding box of your png images to be etched. Sometimes those will also be cut if the box is given any width.

7. You will not cut your pieces without me being present because of the risk involved with you using the laser cutter. 

   • We will go over the steps to prep your file.

   • We will go over the steps to cut and etch your file.