lasercutter_tips_and_tricks
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| lasercutter_tips_and_tricks [2020-01-14 17:24] – [Techniques] MirZa | lasercutter_tips_and_tricks [2023-12-20 23:47] (current) – Add Linux imagemagick info danshearer | ||
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| Page for useful/cool things to do with the laser cutter for new and experienced users | Page for useful/cool things to do with the laser cutter for new and experienced users | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Resources / Project Ideas ===== | ||
| + | * [[https:// | ||
| + | * [[https:// | ||
| ===== Material tips ===== | ===== Material tips ===== | ||
| Line 83: | Line 87: | ||
| * Steps: | * Steps: | ||
| * Dither an image in Gimp or this online tool https:// | * Dither an image in Gimp or this online tool https:// | ||
| - | * 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) | * 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 " | * You can preview the output by clicking on " | ||
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| **Painting** | **Painting** | ||
| - | * Paint can be rubbed into etched areas in acrylic, then cleaned up with a wet cloth: https:// | + | * Paint can be rubbed into etched areas in acrylic |
| * Same can be done for wood: https:// | * Same can be done for wood: https:// | ||
| * Multiple colours can be done with repeated spray painting and engraving the reverse side of clear acrylic https:// | * Multiple colours can be done with repeated spray painting and engraving the reverse side of clear acrylic https:// | ||
| **Double sided engraving** | **Double sided engraving** | ||
| - | | + | * Cut and engrave your object and a mirror image of it next to it at the same time |
| - | | + | |
| * Switch the 2 copies around | * Switch the 2 copies around | ||
| * run the engrave again | * run the engrave again | ||
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| * This will require some trial and error | * This will require some trial and error | ||
| * Costa has experience with this | * Costa has experience with this | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Another method is to engrave from [[https:// | ||
| **Hatching** | **Hatching** | ||
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| * Costa has made a nice jig for bending acrylic at precise angles, consisting of nichrome wire, 2 board boards and a hinge https:// | * Costa has made a nice jig for bending acrylic at precise angles, consisting of nichrome wire, 2 board boards and a hinge https:// | ||
| * This can also be done on the laser, using an out of focus beam or with the lens removed https:// | * This can also be done on the laser, using an out of focus beam or with the lens removed https:// | ||
| + | * Another cool example of this: https:// | ||
| ===== Design ===== | ===== Design ===== | ||
| **Removing duplicate lines** | **Removing duplicate lines** | ||
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| **Kerf correction** | **Kerf correction** | ||
| + | |||
| + | Example of this in action (slope may be different for different materials and settings) in figure below: | ||
| {{https:// | {{https:// | ||
| + | * Pattern for testing out different tolerances for tight fitting finger joints: [[https:// | ||
| * Good explanation: | * Good explanation: | ||
| * 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) | * 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) | ||
| - | * This difference is about 0.1mm, so paths need to be offset by 0.1mm to compensate for this. | + | * This difference is about 0.1mm, so paths need to be offset by 0.1mm to compensate for this using the offset tool in Lasercut 5.3 |
| * Fusion 360 has a plugin which does kerf correction automatically: | * Fusion 360 has a plugin which does kerf correction automatically: | ||
| * This should also be possible with the “offset path” tool in any vector editing software like Inkscape or AI | * This should also be possible with the “offset path” tool in any vector editing software like Inkscape or AI | ||
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| * [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
| * [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
| + | |||
| + | **General Laser cutter inaccuracies** | ||
| + | * https:// | ||
| ===== Material sourcing ===== | ===== Material sourcing ===== | ||
lasercutter_tips_and_tricks.1579022698.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020-01-14 17:24 by MirZa