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Laser Cutting is Tricky

A project log for PewPew Standalone

A Python-based micro game console, optimized for game development workshops.

dehipudeʃhipu 03/19/2019 at 13:146 Comments

The laser-cut acrylic pieces that I planned to attach on the back of the small PewPew Standalone boards just arrived, and I have to say I didn't anticipate how they came out:

Well, at least the shape is correct... but I didn't think the scale will be wrong. Especially since I actually printed the PDF and made a wooden model based on that, to make sure everything is good. Oh well, I guess that's it for ordering laser-cutting from China. I will have to do it myself.

Discussions

Pete Prodoehl wrote 03/21/2019 at 17:30 point

I've seen DXF files screw up the scale as well. When I trade files with someone I usually put in a 1"x1" (well, 25.4mm x 25.4mm) square somewhere in the design so it can be checked and then the artwork can be scaled appropriately if something didn't come out quite right. Typically it's an inches to mm thing, or it's a 72ppi versus 96ppi thing.

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Makerfabs wrote 03/20/2019 at 07:19 point

There the 3D scanner (https://hackaday.io/project/164454-cheap-3d-scanner-for-makers )using >50 pieces of acrylic , to construct the mechanical platform.... you remind me the difficulty on that ..

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Daren Schwenke wrote 03/19/2019 at 15:49 point

It's not been your week has it..  :)

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deʃhipu wrote 03/19/2019 at 16:16 point

I'm still waking up from the winter slumber.

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agp.cooper wrote 03/19/2019 at 14:33 point

I would suggest using a 2D CAD package and sending a DXF. I have never had a problem with scale. For very fine tolerances you should allow for half the laser beam width, which is about 0.1 mm i.e. (0.05 mm offset). Just double check that the exported DXF can be re-imported. Some DXF files are a little crazy when exported from their native format.

For my service provider, red is cut, blue is engrave (lines) and black (for enclosed shapes) is raster engrave. I usually have a green box (not recognised by the service provider) around my design for the board size and location, and make the bottom left corn the origin.

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Thomas wrote 03/22/2019 at 06:01 point

@agp.cooper that's very useful know-how. This might be worth provide an example with comments, e.g. on GitHub.

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