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==Workflow== | ==Workflow== | ||
[[File:schnitt_I_II_gravur.jpg|thumb|left|Line colors for Illustrator template, Schnitt I, Schnitt II, Gravur]] | |||
The first step is to download the [[Media:Vorlage Laserschnitt.ai.zip|Illustrator template]]. Open the template in Adobe Illustrator and you will see your work area, which is the maximum size of material you can use with the Universities laser cutter. All of your designs need to be inside of this white rectangular box. Your lines should be set at 0.25pt thickness. | The first step is to download the [[Media:Vorlage Laserschnitt.ai.zip|Illustrator template]]. Open the template in Adobe Illustrator and you will see your work area, which is the maximum size of material you can use with the Universities laser cutter. All of your designs need to be inside of this white rectangular box. Your lines should be set at 0.25pt thickness. | ||
"Gravur" (red) is the first stage - this will not create actual cuts but can be used to add text, labels, patterns or other engravings. "Schnitt I" (navy blue) is the first cut the machine will make. "Schnitt II" (baby blue) is the 2nd cut the machine will make. Keep this order in mind as your design your layout because you cannot make cuts on areas that have already been cut out by the first cut. An example of what to cut with the "Schnitt I" would be cutting out things like small holes or squares in the design, "Schnitt II" would then cut out the object that has the holes inside of it. | "Gravur" (red) is the first stage - this will not create actual cuts but can be used to add text, labels, patterns or other engravings. "Schnitt I" (navy blue) is the first cut the machine will make. "Schnitt II" (baby blue) is the 2nd cut the machine will make. Keep this order in mind as your design your layout because you cannot make cuts on areas that have already been cut out by the first cut. An example of what to cut with the "Schnitt I" would be cutting out things like small holes or squares in the design, "Schnitt II" would then cut out the object that has the holes inside of it. | ||
Another thing to keep in mind as you layout your design in the template is that the machine will cut your lines (according to the color) in the order that you draw them in Illustrator - so you either need to draw the design in that order or cut and paste them in the correct order from another file. | Another thing to keep in mind as you layout your design in the template is that the machine will cut your lines (according to the color) in the order that you draw them in Illustrator - so you either need to draw the design in that order or cut and paste them in the correct order from another file. | ||
[[File:FSH Components Amel.jpg|thumb|left|Balsa Wood with laser cuts for a Microscope design by Amel Ali-Bey]] | |||
Also, to be more efficient with your time you should place all of your pieces side by side and only include 1 line for pieces that are the same size and touching each other. For example; if you are cutting 2 squares, they should be placed side by side and the line that touches in the middle should only exist one time - so it is an open square with 3 sides and a complete square with 4 full sides. If you don't design like this the laser cutter will literally cut both instances of this line because it is following your lines exactly and it is not smart enough to simply create a single cut when lines overlay each other. | Also, to be more efficient with your time you should place all of your pieces side by side and only include 1 line for pieces that are the same size and touching each other. For example; if you are cutting 2 squares, they should be placed side by side and the line that touches in the middle should only exist one time - so it is an open square with 3 sides and a complete square with 4 full sides. If you don't design like this the laser cutter will literally cut both instances of this line because it is following your lines exactly and it is not smart enough to simply create a single cut when lines overlay each other. | ||
==Material== | ==Material== | ||