VICTATE CAD/CAM

Yesterday we had a session booked on the big laser cutter to engrave some old skateboards CAD/CAM style. The graphics were made on Illustrator, ready to bring onto TechSoft. The boards were all super old and battered (not to mention all the PVC-containing vinyl stickers everywhere) so they needed some sorting.

Good old sandpaper did the trick. Beforehand we ran them through the bobbin sander, whilst stickers were chiselled off.

Some technical stuff about sandpaper (abrasive paper): lower numbers (80) are more coarse, higher numbers smoother (360). We used pretty low numbered sheets, best for rapid removal.

Sadly, the Illustrator file which was correctly exported as a .emf file wasn't able to be read by 2D Design for some reason, leaving Andrew and ourselves baffled. Not sure why. Very frustrating. Although transfer from Illustrator isn't strictly recommended, there are guidelines such as using fine lines (0.25), having no fills, no layers, and other little things, all of which should have been ok. Hmm.

This isn't the last you'll hear about the Victate skateboards. We'll be back!

[MAKING] CAD/CAM 3D OBJECTS

I went for a MUJI-esque business card holder. Some miscalculations led to a slightly messy finish, but it does do the job. It was proper rapid too, a very easy process I found.

 

And here's an acrylic piece of bling. Measuring 16.5cm across, it has holes either side for a leather string or metal chain to attach as a necklace, strap accessory or key holder. Haha.

[MAKING] TECHSOFT DRAWING

Applied to thin MDF, the above stitching pattern enables bending for corners. So this plan makes a box, slotting together to fit. Neat.

[MAKING] INTRODUCING CAD/CAM

CAD: Computer-aided design
CAM: Computer-aided manufacture

CAD/CAM allows for rapid prototyping more than anything else.
It quickly transforms virtual objects into real objects. And because the object starts off virtual, as a software, it can be altered easily and repeated consistently. It is an iterative process.

The software used (which costs an amazing £700!) is compatible on PCs only called TechSoft 2D Design. It draws in vector format like Adobe Illustrator. There are grids and guides like Creative Suite too, called the Lock feature, of which there is step lock and grid lock, with each parameter able to be determined for each document. It's rather straightforward and easy to create shapes.

The printing process involves a couple of settings to be decided. It all depends on printer type, material type, cut or engrave. Laser cutters cut vector files or engraves bitmaps. The properties are a balance between power and speed, ie the strength of the laser and how fast it moves along the material, therefore determining how deep the cut/engrave is. There are given guide figures for different materials of different thickness.