Short guide to the use of laser cutting machines/Tool making with laser cutting machines

Tool making with laser cutting machines. In this tutorial we will learn how to make tools for emergent tasks that require new tools for unique situations. In this situation we need to extract an object that felt inside a bigger object and can only be reached through a slit. Take of measures First we will do the measures of the object, use measuring tape, metallic and retractable measuring tape. Height: 25 inches including the object depth and the holding area of the tool to maneuver. Thickness: The thickness of the material, in this case plywood. After measure the thickness with the caliper: 0.119 inches. This will not be part of the .ai or svg file. Challenges: The maximum length of the laser cutting machine: 23 inches. We will use a 23 length that still will allow us to pick the object. Width: Due the lack of material we will use a with of 1 inch, this will also allow us to have a tool easier to maneuver. We can change the canvas size with the shortcut: Control + Shift + D, and the tool will be 21 inches long. In Illustrator, new and create canvas with 23 inches wide, 23 inches height. Picking tool Sketching: Draw a tool to pick the object. In dis case will be a L shaped object. First section of the object This will be the section that is in contact with the soil. Initial drawing of the object Use the pen tool and draw a few points to make an L shaped object, connecting the first dot with the last dot. First dot: Initial dot (lower left). Second dot: Lower right dot. Third dot: Upper right dot. Four dot: Upper left dot. Fifth dot: Goes closer to the fist dot but does not reach it. Six dot: Connect or seal the initial dot. Adjustment of the dots Since we are using inches, change the measures to inches. Then select the node tool and Correct the dots position in base to the 25 inches of the too, this will be the new values, clicking in each dot and modifying its value: First dot: X 1 Y 22 Second dot: Lower right dot. X 2 Y 22 Third dot: Upper right dot: X 2 Y 1 Four dot: Upper left dot. X 1 Y 1 Fifth dot: Goes closer to the fist dot but does not reach it. X 1 Y 27.7 Six dot: Connect or seal the initial dot. In order to get more grip, a few dots can be added to have one of the both part of the tools with a male square and a female square, in 2 or three sections of the tool. Adjustments of the object In case of need, we can change the object from vertical to horizontal: Control + Shift + D: Change size of canvas: In this case from 23x5 inches to 5x23 inches. We rotate the object 90 grades in order to fit it in the canvas. Resize object: Object, transform, scale. We can choose 50 % or 75 %, etc. If we want the object wider, narrow, taller, smaller, etc. We can move the object, in this case the upper left dot will be 1, 1. Print the image and be sure that fits in the plywood area. The cutting time could be around 20 minutes. Making Pliers For an easy pick up of the object pliers scissors like can be made, just make a curve in the lower extreme, a hole in the middle to connect them with a clip and a whole in the top to use the tool with the fingers to close and open the "pliers" or scissors. Second section of the object This will be the section that will complement with the first section, it will be use to grip or hold the object. It will be similar, the difference will be that instead of having an inner part it will have a part that goes out and holds the object. We will leave the lower part of the object as it is, we will only change the upper dots, this will allow us to have a complementary part for the object. Adjustments Changing the canvas size In Inkscape the canvas can be changed in the same document, Control + Shift + D: Change size of canvas: In this case from 23x5 inches to 5x23 inches. In Illustrator the canvas cannot be changed, create a new document, custom, assign the desired canvas size (i.e. 40x40 inch), create, open the original size, copy the objects and paste them in the new document, Rotate the objects Print the object to see if it fits properly, has the right angle or has is the right size, if the object orientation is not in the right angle, rotate it (right click, rotate, 90 degrees), If we need to change the object from vertical to horizontal. Changing the size of the objects IF the document is to small or big use the selection tool to make it bigger or longer or smaller or shorter using the laser pointer in the printer controlling it with the laser cutter software, one the document has the shape, size and orientation desired, save the document and cut the object selecting the correct material and thickness. Other option is right click, resize object: Object, transform, scale.