Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- lasercutter_tips_and_tricks [2021-08-16 10:30] – MirZa
+++ lasercutter_tips_and_tricks [2025-04-14 15:29] (current) – MirZa
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Page for useful/cool things to do with the laser cutter for new and experienced users
+===== Resources / Project Ideas =====
+  * [[https://www.thingiverse.com/tag:lasercut|Designs for laser cutting on Thingiverse]]
+  * [[https://www.reddit.com/r/lasercutting/top/?t=all|/r/LaserCutting on Reddit]]
+  * [[https://www.makercase.com/#/ | Makercase]], for creating boxes, including with organiser dividers
 ===== Material tips =====
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   * Steps:
   * Dither an image in Gimp or this online tool https://29a.ch/ditherlicious/
-  * use Gimp or ms paint to convert the image to a monochrome bitmap
+  * use Gimp or ms paint to convert the image to a monochrome bitmap, alternatively imagemagick using: **magick.exe in.png -monochrome -alpha off out.png** (Windows) or **convert in.png -monochrome -alpha off out.png** (Linux)
   * open the image in LaserCut and scale it so one pixel corresponds to one line of the laser engrave (the height of the image in mm should equal the height of the image in pixels multiplied by the scan gap)
   * You can preview the output by clicking on "Laser" -> "Simulate"
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   * Same can be done for wood: https://youtu.be/9WNd82-K09E
   * Multiple colours can be done with repeated spray painting and engraving the reverse side of clear acrylic https://youtu.be/SxNQgyL0dXY
+  * To make labels that do not rub off the surface, clear Acrylic can be engraved and painted with a mirror image of the design on the reverse side. Spray painting the reverse side to seal it and give a background colour can also be done.
 **Double sided engraving**
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   * This will require some trial and error
   * Costa has experience with this
+  * Another method is to engrave from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQXuzTTf2QE|both sides of the material]], using a jig to make sure the two cuts are aligned
 **Hatching**
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 **Kerf correction**
+Example of this in action (slope may be different for different materials and settings) in figure below:
 {{https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jetro_Pocorni/publication/287815638/figure/fig4/AS:309555671126016@1450815231017/Kerf-width-data-for-aluminum-plate-cut-with-a-6-kW-CO-2-Laser-over-a-range.png}}
+  * Pattern for testing out different tolerances for tight fitting finger joints: [[https://www.festi.info/boxes.py/BurnTest?language=en]]
   * Good explanation: http://archive.fabacademy.org/2018/labs/fablabsiena/students/giuseppe-allocca/laser%20cutting.html
   * The laser cutter has something called “kerf”, if you send a 1cm square to the laser, the part will come out slightly smaller (~9.8mm)