Difference between revisions of "Designing for laser cutting"
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== Kerf Loss and how to deal with it == | == Kerf Loss and how to deal with it == | ||
When you design for laser cutting you need to account for the width of the laser beam / the width of the cut in the material. The loss of material is referred to as kerf or kerf loss. The amount of material lost can be compensated for in the laser cutting tool process by offsetting the path the laser takes to one side or the other of the artwork or design line / path. However if you are designing a box with interlinking tabs accounting for kerf loss to make sure your parts fit snugly together can get a bit tricky. One solution is to use one of the many web-based box design tools which take all the complexity away for you. | When you design for laser cutting you need to account for the width of the laser beam / the width of the cut in the material. The loss of material is referred to as kerf or kerf loss. The amount of material lost can be compensated for in the laser cutting tool process by offsetting the path the laser takes to one side or the other of the artwork or design line / path. However if you are designing a box with interlinking tabs accounting for kerf loss to make sure your parts fit snugly together can get a bit tricky. One solution is to use one of the many web-based box design tools which take all the complexity away for you. | ||
[[File:Laser_Cutter_Kerf_Loss.PNG|200px|thumb|none|Diagram showing how the width of the laser cut affects the dimensions of parts you design. The material loss is called Kerf Loss.]] | [[File:Laser_Cutter_Kerf_Loss.PNG|200px|thumb|none|Diagram showing how the width of the laser cut affects the dimensions of parts you design. The material loss is called Kerf Loss.]] | ||
[[File:Laser_Cutter_Kerf_Loss_Offset_Inside.PNG|200px|thumb|none|Diagram showing how the width of the laser cut can be offset to the inside from the centre of the path it would take.]] | [[File:Laser_Cutter_Kerf_Loss_Offset_Inside.PNG|200px|thumb|none|Diagram showing how the width of the laser cut can be offset to the inside from the centre of the path it would take.]] | ||
[[File:Laser_Cutter_Kerf_Loss_Offset_Outside.PNG|200px|thumb|none|Diagram showing how the width of the laser cut can be offset to the outside from the centre of the path it would take.]] | [[File:Laser_Cutter_Kerf_Loss_Offset_Outside.PNG|200px|thumb|none|Diagram showing how the width of the laser cut can be offset to the outside from the centre of the path it would take.]] | ||
One of our members, Mark M, has the following to offer on accounting for kerf loss "In my experience it varies, dependent on the material batch, position on the laser bed, laser power/speed, focus setting, etc. So much that if it's critical, it needs checking on the day with the set up as similar as possible. Otherwise I assume 0.1-0.2mm for all materials." | One of our members, Mark M, has the following to offer on accounting for kerf loss "In my experience it varies, dependent on the material batch, position on the laser bed, laser power/speed, focus setting, etc. So much that if it's critical, it needs checking on the day with the set up as similar as possible. Otherwise I assume 0.1-0.2mm for all materials." | ||
Revision as of 14:16, 16 October 2021
Back to the Laser Cutter Related pages
NOTE: Needs to be merged with Laser Cutting Resources
Software Guides
Laser Cutter Software
LaserCut Software Guides (deprecated)
Since the change to the new controller we are running RDWorks and Lightburn laser cutting software so Lasercut Guides are no longer particularly useful.
RDWorks Software Guides
The RDWorks original manual suffers from rather poor translation in to English. Rabbit Laser USA have taken the manual and done their best to fix the duff English. It can be found on the Rabbit Laser website
https://rabbitlaserusa.com/Manuals/RDWorksV8_DetailedSoftwareInstallation.pdf
There is also a YouTube video about how to use RDWorks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO7gBEn6TN0
Lightburn Software Guides
2D Art and Design Software
Using Inkscape
- London Hackspace's guide to using inkscape to draw things for laser cutting
- Cambridge Makespace's advice on using inkscape with the laser cutter at their Makespace
- IMAL's Inkscape & Lasercutters
Kerf Loss and how to deal with it
When you design for laser cutting you need to account for the width of the laser beam / the width of the cut in the material. The loss of material is referred to as kerf or kerf loss. The amount of material lost can be compensated for in the laser cutting tool process by offsetting the path the laser takes to one side or the other of the artwork or design line / path. However if you are designing a box with interlinking tabs accounting for kerf loss to make sure your parts fit snugly together can get a bit tricky. One solution is to use one of the many web-based box design tools which take all the complexity away for you.
One of our members, Mark M, has the following to offer on accounting for kerf loss "In my experience it varies, dependent on the material batch, position on the laser bed, laser power/speed, focus setting, etc. So much that if it's critical, it needs checking on the day with the set up as similar as possible. Otherwise I assume 0.1-0.2mm for all materials."
As a Rule of Thumb assume that the laser cut removes 0.15mm.
A few examples are linked below. Alternatively you may want to make your own design and want to do the kerf compensation for your self. The following pages may help you with this..
- https://www.connorkirk.com/blog/2015/12/14/compensating-for-laser-cutter-kerf
- https://www.instructables.com/Kerf-Correction-for-Laser-Cutting-With-MakerCase/
Box Making
- Makercase's laser cut case design generator
- Boxmaker at Connection Lab - Another box maker
- Make-a-Box - yet another box maker
- Festi Box Maker
Laser Cutting Design and Fabrication Techniques
- Defferred Procrastination's guide to designing laser cut clip together construction
- Makezine Magazine - Visual reference for laser cut joint designs
- Ponko's How to make interlocking wood designs
Minimizing Burning and Laser Associated Damage
- CutLaserCut's Advice on Minimising burn/heat marks
- Rowmark's Causes and Effects of Cracking
- CutLaserCut's "Everthing you need to know about acrylic" If you're having problems with cracking/crazing, this link might help explain why (extruded vs. cast)