Laser Cut Box

Skill Building

Training: Corel Draw

Lasercutter Training (Mandatory)

Age Requirement: 18+

Reservation of time: See reservation system for your makerspace

Materials

1/8 inch Birchwood

Software/Hardware

Corel Draw or other Vector Based software
Laser Cutter
Make a Box https://makeabox.io/

Overview

Makers will create a box/cube using the laser cutter.

Safety Considerations

Setup/Preparation

Procedures

Ask

What is the best design for a box?

How do the side JOIN together?

What are the different designs for boxes?

Google Image Search: "lasercut box" (link)

Research: "How do laser cut joints work" (link)

Brainstorm

Armed with the knowledge from above and your interests, brainstorm different solutions and ideas to create a laser cut box. Come up with as many ideas as you can. (In this tutorial we will look at one way.)

Ask others what they think!

Do this in a group or with a partner to get MORE ideas!!

Compare

Look at your list and ideas from Brainstorm. Think about and write about each one to help you decide which one you will choose. List pros and cons of each idea.

Ways to compare:

Which idea am I able to do, with my current skill level and knowledge? aka Feasibility

Which idea helps me solve a problem?

Choose

Choose one of the ideas from your brainstorming session. Don't second guess yourself. MAKE it and see what you discover. You will reflect and decide what changes need to be made on the next iteration later, and even as you make it.

Create your solution

Now is the time to start making.

Create a box using makeabox.io

Point your browser to makeabox.io

Set Dimensions

Enter the dimensions of the box you would like to create

Width: 3 inches

Height: 3 inches

Depth: 3 inches

Thickness: 1/8 inch or .125 CHECK THE THICKNESS of YOUR Material

** DOWNLOAD

Open your image in CorelDraw or other Vector Based Software

RIGHT click and select Open With -> CorelDraw

Select "Import text as curves"

GROUP objects

Why? Grouping objects helps to manipulate and move a group of objects

Left-Click and drag to select all the lines.

Group the objects together:

Object ->Group -> Group Objects

Create a New Layer and Put object group in it

Creating layers helps to manage the printing and

Select OBJECT MANAGER in the docker.

Create New Layer

Paste in new layer

Repeat with remaining Objects

Objects grouped

Prepare document for Laser Cutting

Set Artboard size to match material size for lasering.

Arrange objects for laser cut - optimize material usage

OPTIONAL: Place a cut line on material

Lines to be cut

MUST BE

"Hairline" Stroke

OPTIONAL: Import image to rastor

Select File -> Import

Select image to rastor

Arrange image

Print File

Go to Epilot Printer Setting by selecting "Preferences"

Select setting for the material you are cutting. In this case for 1/8" Birch Ply 24x12

• 24x12

Rastor: 70 Speed, 100 Power

Vector: 70 Speed; 50 Power; 500 Frequency

Place material and focus laser based on training for this machine.

Select Print when ready

Test your design

Does it work like you thought it would?

What could be improved or change?

What could you do next?

In the case of this design: The joints did not line up exactly.

• I need to check the thickness of my material.

• Now I know to examine the PDF created, as I think I know how the joints should go.

Communicate

Tell others about your box.

Exhibit your box on social media or other sharing platform:

Sidney Makerspace Trello Page

Google Sites

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