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
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
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: