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Posted

I believe it is a leetro and I am using laser cut 5.3 - from memory, I actually don't spend much time in the program at all.

 

Once you get the hang of it you won't need to visualise things in 3d unless you want to. If you like the cad side of things and have the time it's not really an issue and you can do it for the fun of it. It you are not doing it for the fun of it then you will find after doing a couple panels you will have the feel for it and not need to see it in 3d.

 

What I do is this. A few pictures attached. I think you can do this in corel but as I say, from what I have seen the dxf output is not good and I think this is what you are seeing in lasercut, the bad dxf output from corel.

 

I am using vectric products because I also use them with my cnc and they work perfectly for drawing the laser stuff.

 

I import the pdf and then I assign all layers in his pdf to different layers in the software, then I align them all superimposed on top of each other. I can use the layer tool to turn off the layers I don't want to see when working on individual layers. So I can turn on the backplate, light plate and front to see that all cutouts are concentric etc.

 

If it looks tight I sometimes add a switches layer which has basic shapes whose outline are the sizes of the switches. I can then put them in place to see that they don't touch each other. We only care about the xy plane for making things fit so this works well. Some pics of what it looks like in mine. I also assign each layer colours so when I export them as DXF they retain the colours so that when lasercut reads the files they are already set up for engraving and cutting, nothing to do there except download to the laser and press start.

 

To do what is taking you a lot of time, i.e. making everything join up I use a 'join' command with a tolerance of practically nothing, e.g. .01mm. Thus, if something has a profile made of many small segments this will join all the segments with one push of the button. There is a pic showing that.

 

The file named electronics shows some rectangles that represent the switches, they are only there so that I can see what space they will take up and make sure that any places I put holes for leds will be accessible. Easy to do and no 3d required.

 

the file 'join.jpg' shows the simple command to join the lines together.

 

When I load up his PDF files they are already fine, I don't have to join them and this is why I suspect you have some software that is creating the problem for you and I am looking right at corel as your problem, I have seen more than a couple people go to CNC houses with corel draw created DXF's with this same issue.

 

When I save my dxf from vectric or solid works they do not require any changes at all in lasercut, they are ready to go right away.

all.thumb.jpg.35ba859feaa427af2faef46f0ae7ead7.jpg

lightplate.thumb.jpg.97a9f2e2e8e79fee294a28e18be58c03.jpg

backplate.thumb.jpg.e04a06a542f3a05fe15f6a71d8e69655.jpg

join.jpg.ac5c30b8a7f81a9027231372224df124.jpg

electronics.thumb.jpg.ba504d7721a62b83b9e7307cfccf5e57.jpg

Posted
tbh whichever way works for you. at present i glue the base and middle layers together because im going to use those to mount the switches and rotaries etc.

 

The top layer (because i forsee it being replaceable when its get damaged or scratched or i need to remove/replace/adjust a toggle switch i simply place on top of the glued layers and then bolt through.

 

Any last components i.e. tactiles/arduino/leds will sit on a matrix board under the base layer and will attach to the bolts that come thru.

 

Yeah, that makes sense. Maybe we should have another clear layer on top to protect the engraved panel from ever getting scratched ;)

 

I presume you have to make recesses in the back of the top panel to allow for the component fixing nuts, etc? It does seem sensible to do these in the top layer as it allows for using just two layers, top and base, if someone wants.

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Posted

@metalnwood

 

You got it right, i do want to play and im really enjoying the CAD design process. The problems im getting are almost certainly down to sketchups handling of the DXF output.... Something ive been meaning to get to the bottom of. Really appreciate your comments, helping my process immensely.

 

I find the 3d cad views really helps when trying to visualise the size of the holes im cutting when using differing component heights, ie the shaft on my pot is not the same height as the one on my switches so have to consider which layer of the acrylic is going to be the one i bolt against. (hope that makes sense, does in my head :) )

 

gonna try solidworks and see if i can use that as easily as sketchup...

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Right, in answer to a comment thats been made to (about me) and this thread.

 

Its been suggested that my recent wiki adventure is a ploy to generate business for my panel making ventures.

 

Despite the fact that i only offered the capability to laser cut panels for peoples own designs i can see that people might think theres a bit of a conflict doing something for free (the wiki) and something not for free (selling my time cutting acrylic).

 

Im moving house now and setting up my own personal man cave (joy!!!) so actually it comes at good time to make this decision.

 

So im officially not offering services anymore, anything else i do on these boards will be free (always was anyway).

 

Those who expressed an interest ill pm privately to see if i can help them if they have designs ready to cut.

Posted

Lets not get into it. I actually think the wiki is better way to help people and i can concentrate on that instead. There are enough laser cutting services out there and i was going to be spreading myself thin.

 

Pitwife will definitely appreciate it i say im doing it so that i can do more work around the house.....

Posted
Right, in answer to a comment thats been made to (about me) and this thread.

 

Its been suggested that my recent wiki adventure is a ploy to generate business for my panel making ventures.

 

Despite the fact that i only offered the capability to laser cut panels for peoples own designs i can see that people might think theres a bit of a conflict doing something for free (the wiki) and something not for free (selling my time cutting acrylic).

 

Im moving house now and setting up my own personal man cave (joy!!!) so actually it comes at good time to make this decision.

 

So im officially not offering services anymore, anything else i do on these boards will be free (always was anyway).

 

Those who expressed an interest ill pm privately to see if i can help them if they have designs ready to cut.

 

That is a shame, if you need the time for yourself fair enough. If it's other commenters putting you off then that is bad luck for everyone else.

 

I didn't see the comment but I can add that I personally wouldn't care if this was drumming up business and neither should anyone else. There is room in this hobby for anyone to help out anyone else at whatever level they are able to.

 

There are a few guys here with lasers, some will want to profit, some are able to occasionally make parts for little more than cost and they all help out a segment and no one is making a fortune. Don't forget these guys have outlaid substantial amounts of money so they can give you any service with a laser.

Posted

I like the idea of your wiki. As far as the panels are concerned, knock yourself out. Make buckets of money off of it. The two are really mutually exclusive.

All of my posted work, ideas and contributions are licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0,) which precludes commercial use but encourages sharing and building on for non-commercial purposes, ©John Muldoon

Posted

DC

I've never used sketch but it seems like a bit of a pain in the bum from your description. TurboCAD 3D is a very easy program to create DXF files with. You can find a version that is a couple of generations old for about $20.

All of my posted work, ideas and contributions are licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0,) which precludes commercial use but encourages sharing and building on for non-commercial purposes, ©John Muldoon

Posted

I know you stopped the service but I was just wondering if these laser machines cut metal and aluminum?

ED have been taking my money since 1995. :P

Posted
I know you stopped the service but I was just wondering if these laser machines cut metal and aluminum?

 

No they don't. You can get lasers that will but the laser that we all have which can be used for engraving all not do aluminium or steel but it obviously will do acrylics, timber etc.

Posted
I know you stopped the service but I was just wondering if these laser machines cut metal and aluminum?

 

you would want to use a plasma cutter for metal.

All of my posted work, ideas and contributions are licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0,) which precludes commercial use but encourages sharing and building on for non-commercial purposes, ©John Muldoon

Posted
you would want to use a plasma cutter for metal.

 

Well, kind of depends how clean your cuts you want and how thick you are cutting. I would put laser and water jet ahead of plasma myself and mostly put plasma down to where cost is more important.

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