Week 1: Computer-Controlled Cutting

This week's task was 1) To design, lasercut, and document a parametric construction kit 2)to cut something on the vinylcutter

What I Made

I made a box with finger joints that I lasercut and then assembled. I cut an arabic calligraphy sticker for the back of my laptop with the vinylcutter. I made a modular construction kit for vertically mounting plants along a wall. The construction kit is the plant structure module for my vertical indoor garden project.

The Construction Kit

The system is a modular french cleat systemThe construction kit is comprised of two aluminum extrusions that form the frame of the plant structure. French cleats connected to aluminum extrusions with custom 3d printed connectors that allow of easy height adjustments and addition/ removal of cleat. The french cleats are made of repurposed wooden shelves that are abundant in the house basement(They turned out to be particle board which leaves me wondering why our Alumni association insists on keeping them). To mount plant pots on to the french cleat, a modular french cleat anchor construction kit was designed. the construction kit is drawn from Frenchfinity's design. The construction kit is comprised of a 3d printed french cleat anchor, a laser cut 'base plate' that connects the anchor effectively rest the weight of the pot on the french cleat and stop the pot from falling off or tilting sideways and 3d printed rings that connect to the lasercut base plate that wrap around the plant pot to hold it in place. The rings are custom designed to fit the currently available pots.

The Sticker

The Box

CAD Design and Challenges

My first CAD design was a basic rectangular box with finger joints. Despite accounting for the kerf, the assembly of the box revealed issues in the joint fit. It became apparent that my method of kerf compensation led to mismatched joint sizes between interconnected faces.

Iterative Approach and Learning

To address this, I utilized the parametric nature of my design to experiment with a negative kerf. I then attempted to combine faces from both iterations to improve joint tightness. While this approach resulted in tighter joints, it also highlighted the need for a more precise kerf adjustment in my design.

Redesign and Reflections

The challenges faced in this week's assignment underscored the importance of precise kerf calculations in laser-cut designs. This experience has set the stage for further refinement and exploration in future projects, particularly in the realm of parametric design and material considerations.

Conclusion

Week 1's exploration into computer-controlled cutting was an enlightening introduction to the intricacies of CAD design and laser cutting. It was a valuable learning experience, laying a solid foundation for more complex projects ahead.