Preparing Laser Cutting Files in Rhino: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "= <big>AutoCAD Laser Cutting Guide</big> = === <big>1. Choose the correct laser cutter based on the material and its maximum cut size.</big> === 300x300px|right|frameless '''TROTEC SPEEDY 400''' Located in the Digital Modelling Room (Room 160, Building 202) '''Maximum material size:''' 900mm x 600mm x 12.7mm '''Can cut:''' Strawboard,  Plywood,  Acrylic, Leather , Potentially other materials upon request '''TROTEC SP500''' Located in...")
 
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= <big>AutoCAD Laser Cutting Guide</big> =
= <big>Rhino Laser Cutting Guide</big> =
===  <big>1. Choose the correct laser cutter based on the material and its maximum cut size.</big> ===
===  <big>1. Choose the correct laser cutter based on the material and its maximum cut size.</big> ===
[[File:Laser_Cutters.jpg|300x300px|right|frameless]]
[[File:Laser_Cutters.jpg|300x300px|right|frameless]]
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=== <big>2. Download the template</big> ===
=== <big>2. Download the template</big> ===
[[Media:TEMPLATE AutoCAD TORTEC SP500.zip|AutoCAD Laser cutting template Trotec SP500 (dwg)]]
[[Images/1/13/Rhino Laser Cutter Template.zip|Rhino Laser cutting templates (3dm)]]
 
[[Media:TEMPLATE AutoCAD EMBLASER 2.zip|AutoCAD Laser cutting template Emblaser 2 (dwg)]]
 
'''<big>ALTERNATIVELY SET UP YOUR LAYERS FROM SCRATCH.</big>'''
 
[[File:Trotec Setup.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]




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Create multiple boundaries if necessary.
Create multiple boundaries if necessary.
}}
}}
[[File:Example AutoCAD Job.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
 
{{Note
{{Note
| inline = 1
| inline = 1
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'''Having trouble with Scale  {{!}}  Try a scale converter:'''
'''Having trouble with Scale  {{!}}  Try a scale converter:'''
https://www.ginifab.com/feeds/cm_to_inch/scale_converter.html
https://www.ginifab.com/feeds/cm_to_inch/scale_converter.html
}}
}}__NOEDITSECTION__
 
 
 
'''<big>Lineweight</big>'''
 
Check all your cut lines (red lines) and etch lines (green lines) are set to 0.00mm line weight.
 
[[File:Lineweight.png|frameless]]
 
 
 
<big>'''Explode'''</big>
 
[[File:Explode command autocad.jpg|frameless|925x925px]]
 
Select All (CTRL+A) and type EXPLODE - hit Enter
 
 
 
'''<big>Overkill</big>'''
 
[[File:Overkill AutoCad.jpg|frameless|927x927px]]
 
Select All (CTRL+A) and type OVERKILL - hit Enter. A window will appear
 
[[File:Overkill window.jpg|frameless|413x413px]]
 
No need to change any of these setting – Just push OK
 
 
 
'''<big>Join</big>'''
 
[[File:Join AutoCAD.jpg|frameless|898x898px]]
 
Select All (CTRL+A) and type JOIN - hit Enter
 
 
 
'''<big>Nesting</big>'''
 
Nest all pieces to be cut within selected material template or correct sheet size. Make multiple "sheets" if unable to fit work within one material boundary.
 
{{Note
| inline = 1
| type = info
| text = If you are intending to use plywood and will not fill the entire sheet, preference the left side of the sheet. As you may be able to use a smaller sheet size to lower the cost
}}
 
[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_1.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
 
 
 
=== <big>4a. Export file as a PDF (Windows)</big> ===
{{Note
| inline = 0
| type = warn
| text = Make sure you are plotting in Model page
}}
1) Go to Print and select '''Plot''', or type in '''Plot''' into the Command Line
 
[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_2.jpg|frameless|514x514px]]
 
 
 
2) Under Printer/Plotter, select:
 
'''AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print)'''
 
[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_3.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]
 
 
 
 
 
3) If plotting from AutoCAD for the first time, you will need to set up a custom paper size to match the material you are using.
 
- Go to '''Properties'''
 
- Select '''Custom Paper Sizes'''
 
- Click on '''Add'''
 
[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_4.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]
 
 
 
4) Select '''Start from scratch'''
 
[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_5.jpg|frameless|450x450px]]
 
 
 
5) Set Width and Height to match selected material size
 
'''* Make sure Units are set to Milimeters'''
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 6.jpg|frameless|450x450px]]
 
 
 
6) Set all margins to '''0'''
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 7.jpg|frameless|450x450px]]
 
 
 
7) Set a name for the new custom paper
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 8.jpg|frameless|450x450px]]
 
 
 
8) Check that new custom paper is added to the list
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 9.jpg|frameless|450x450px]]
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 10.jpg|frameless|558x558px]]
 
 
 
9) New custom paper should be displayed in the drop down list under '''Paper Size'''
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 11.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]
 
 
 
10) Under '''Plot Area''', select '''Window'''
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 12.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]
 
 
 
11) Select the material sheet to specify the area to plot
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 13.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
 
 
 
 
 
12) Select '''Center the plot'''
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 14.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]
 
{{Note
| inline = 1
| type = warn
| text = Make sure scale is 1:1
}}
 
 
 
13) Click on '''Preview''' to check layout and pen colour
 
- Change page orientation if needed
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 15.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]
 
 
 
14) Click on '''OK''' to plot
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 16.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]
 
 
 
=== <big>4b. Export file as a PDF (Mac)</big> ===
{{Note
| inline = 1
| type = warn
| text = Make sure you are plotting in '''Model''' page
}}
 
1) Go to File and select '''Print''' or type in '''Print''' into the Command Line
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 18.jpg|frameless|691x691px]]
 
 
 
2) Under Printer, select:
 
'''AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print)'''
 
And Select Paper Size
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 19.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
 
 
 
3) If plotting from AutoCAD for the first time, you will need to set up a custom paper size to match the material you are using.
 
- Select Manage Custom Sizes
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 20.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
 
 
 
 
 
4) Click on the “+” sign to create a new page size
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 21.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
 
 
 
5) Select '''New Paper Size''' to create a new custom paper size
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 22.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
 
 
 
6) Within the Custom Paper Size window:
 
- Set '''paper size''' to match the material size that has been set up ('''*note''': dimensions are in cm)
 
- Set all '''margins to 0.00'''
 
- Double click '''Untitled''' new paper to set a name for the new custom paper size to save for future use
 
- Click on ‘'''OK'''’ to finish setting up custom paper
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 23.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
 
 
 
7) Back in the Plot window:
 
- Ensure correct paper size is selected
 
- Under “What to Print”, select '''Window''' and '''click on the icon''' to select the area to print
 
- Ensure '''scale is set to 1:1'''
 
- '''Center the plot''' if needed
 
- Click on '''Plot''' to finish and save PDF
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 24.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
 
{{Note
| inline = 1
| type = info
| text = If the cut file contains texts that needs to be etched or engraved, click on the '''icon''' next to the Printer selection and make sure that '''Convert all text to geometry is selected'''
}}
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 25.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
 
__NOEDITSECTION__
{{DEFAULTSORT:AutoCAD}}

Revision as of 17:14, 12 August 2026

Rhino Laser Cutting Guide

1. Choose the correct laser cutter based on the material and its maximum cut size.

TROTEC SPEEDY 400

Located in the Digital Modelling Room (Room 160, Building 202)

Maximum material size: 900mm x 600mm x 12.7mm

Can cut: Strawboard,  Plywood,  Acrylic, Leather , Potentially other materials upon request



TROTEC SP500

Located in the DBE Makerspace (Room 114, Building 418)

Maximum material size: 1245mm x 710mm x 12.7mm

Can cut: Strawboard,  Plywood



2. Download the template

Rhino Laser cutting templates (3dm)


3. Job Setup

Make sure your work fits within the material boundary. Create multiple boundaries if necessary.
Ensure that your objects are at the appropriate scale.

The Laser Cutter cuts  at 1:1 scale. For example, if you need your models at 1:100, they should be scaled down by 0.01.

Having trouble with Scale  |  Try a scale converter:

https://www.ginifab.com/feeds/cm_to_inch/scale_converter.html
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