Laser Cutting/AutoCAD: Difference between revisions

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| text = Your job should be smaller size then then Max Material Size.
| text = Your job should be smaller size then then Max Material Size.
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[[File:Laser_Cutters.jpg|321x321px|right|frameless]]
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<big>'''TROTEC SPEEDY 400'''</big>
<big>'''TROTEC SPEEDY 400'''</big>


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=== '''ALTERNATIVELY SET UP YOUR LAYERS FROM SCRATCH.''' ===
=== '''ALTERNATIVELY SET UP YOUR LAYERS FROM SCRATCH.''' ===
[[File:Trotec Setup.jpg|frameless|958x958px]]
[[File:Trotec Setup.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]




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Create multiple sheet if necessary.
Create multiple sheet if necessary.
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[[File:Example AutoCAD Job.jpg|frameless|956x956px]]
[[File:Example AutoCAD Job.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
{{Note
{{Note
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=== <big>5.Export file as a PDF</big> ===
=== <big>5a. Export file as a PDF (Windows)</big> ===
1) Nest all pieces to be cut within selected material template or correct sheet size{{Note
1) Nest all pieces to be cut within selected material template or correct sheet size{{Note
| inline = 0
| inline = 0
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| text = Make sure you are plotting in Model page
| text = Make sure you are plotting in Model page
}}
}}
[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_1.jpg|frameless|959x959px]]
[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_1.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]




2) Go to Print and select '''Plot''', or type in '''Plot''' into the Command Line
2) Go to Print and select '''Plot''', or type in '''Plot''' into the Command Line


[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_2.jpg|frameless|485x485px]]
[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_2.jpg|frameless|514x514px]]




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'''AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print)'''
'''AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print)'''


[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_3.jpg|frameless|731x731px]]
[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_3.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]




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- Click on '''Add'''
- Click on '''Add'''


[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_4.jpg|frameless|727x727px]]
[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_4.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]




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5) Select '''Start from scratch'''
5) Select '''Start from scratch'''


[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_5.jpg|frameless|601x601px]]
[[File:AutoCAD_PDF_5.jpg|frameless|450x450px]]




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'''* Make sure Units are set to Milimeters'''
'''* Make sure Units are set to Milimeters'''


[[File:AutoCAD PDF 6.jpg|frameless|602x602px]]
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 6.jpg|frameless|450x450px]]




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7) Set all margins to '''0'''
7) Set all margins to '''0'''


[[File:AutoCAD PDF 7.jpg|frameless|611x611px]]
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 7.jpg|frameless|450x450px]]




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8) Set a name for the new custom paper
8) Set a name for the new custom paper


[[File:AutoCAD PDF 8.jpg|frameless|604x604px]]
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 8.jpg|frameless|450x450px]]






9) Check that new custom paper is added to the list
9) Check that new custom paper is added to the list
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 9.jpg|frameless|450x450px]]
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 10.jpg|frameless|558x558px]]
10) New custom paper should be displayed in the drop down list under '''Paper Size'''
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 11.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]
11) Under '''Plot Area''', select '''Window'''
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 12.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]
12) Select the material sheet to specify the area to plot
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 13.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
13) Select '''Center the plot'''
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 14.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]


{{Note
{{Note
| inline = 1
| inline = 1
| type = info
| type = warn
| text = [[File:AutoCAD PDF 9.jpg|frameless]]
| text = Make sure scale is 1:1
}}14) Click on '''Preview''' to check layout and pen colour
 
- Change page orientation if needed
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 15.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]
 
 
 
15) Click on '''OK''' to plot
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 16.jpg|frameless|700x700px]]
 
=== <big>5b. Export file as a PDF (Mac)</big> ===
1) Nest all pieces to be cut within selected material template or a rectangle that is drwan to the correctcorrect sheet size
 
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 17.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
{{Note
| inline = 1
| type = warn
| text = Make sure you are plotting in '''Model''' page
}}
}}


[[File:AutoCAD PDF 9.jpg|frameless]]


[[File:AutoCAD PDF 10.jpg|frameless]]


2) Go to File and select Print or type in Print into the Command Line
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 18.jpg|frameless|691x691px]]
3) Under Printer, select:
'''AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print)'''
And Select Paper Size
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 19.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
4) 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]]
5) Click on the “+” sign to create a new page size
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 21.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
6) Select '''New Paper Size''' to create a new custom paper size
[[File:AutoCAD PDF 22.jpg|frameless|950x950px]]
7) 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]]
8) 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]]
__NOTOC__
__NOTOC__

Revision as of 15:43, 12 August 2026

AutoCAD Laser Cutting Guide

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

Your job should be smaller size then then Max Material Size.

TROTEC SPEEDY 400

DIGITAL MODELLING  @ BUILDING 202

MAX MATERIAL = SIZE 900 x 600 x 12.7mm

Strawboard,  Plywood,  Acrylic, leather , other upon request


TROTEC SP500

DBE MAKERSPACE @ BUILDING 418

MAX MATERIAL SIZE =  1245 x 710 x 12.7mm

Strawboard,  Plywood


2. Download the template

AutoCAD Laser cutting template Trotec SP500 (dwg)

AutoCAD Laser cutting template Emblaser 2 (dwg)

ALTERNATIVELY SET UP YOUR LAYERS FROM SCRATCH.


3. Job Setup

Import your work into the template and setup your layers.

Make sure your work fits within the material boundary. Create multiple sheet 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


4. Finalise your file

Complete the following actions before exporting your work

Lineweight

Check all your cut lines (red lines) and etch lines (green lines) are set to 0.00mm line weight.

Explode

Select All (CTRL+A) and type EXPLODE - hit Enter



Overkill

Select All (CTRL+A) and type OVERKILL - hit Enter. A window will appear

No need to change any of these setting – Just push OK

Join

Select All (CTRL+A) and type JOIN - hit Enter


5a. Export file as a PDF (Windows)

1) Nest all pieces to be cut within selected material template or correct sheet size

Make sure you are plotting in Model page


2) Go to Print and select Plot, or type in Plot into the Command Line


3) Under Printer/Plotter, select:

AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print)


4) 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


5) Select Start from scratch


6) Set Width and Height to match selected material size

* Make sure Units are set to Milimeters


7) Set all margins to 0


8) Set a name for the new custom paper


9) Check that new custom paper is added to the list


10) New custom paper should be displayed in the drop down list under Paper Size


11) Under Plot Area, select Window


12) Select the material sheet to specify the area to plot


13) Select Center the plot

Make sure scale is 1:1

14) Click on Preview to check layout and pen colour

- Change page orientation if needed


15) Click on OK to plot

5b. Export file as a PDF (Mac)

1) Nest all pieces to be cut within selected material template or a rectangle that is drwan to the correctcorrect sheet size

Make sure you are plotting in Model page


2) Go to File and select Print or type in Print into the Command Line


3) Under Printer, select:

AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print)

And Select Paper Size


4) 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


5) Click on the “+” sign to create a new page size


6) Select New Paper Size to create a new custom paper size


7) 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


8) 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

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