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+ | ====== Preparing Files for Laser and Waterjet Cutting ====== | ||
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+ | > **Summary: | ||
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+ | There are two main styles of laser cutters: Desktop/ | ||
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+ | =====Desktop/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Desktop/ | ||
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+ | Examples: | ||
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+ | * [[http:// | ||
+ | * [[http:// | ||
+ | |||
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+ | **[[http:// | ||
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+ | In most cases, if the laser cutting is done in-house on one of these types of machines, you don't need arc fitting or other geometry conversion. You can use any normal Rhino geometry. | ||
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+ | =====CNC-type laser or waterjet cutters===== | ||
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+ | Industrial laser or waterjet cutters normally need CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) software to drive them. Geometry from the design software (Rhino) is transferred to the CAM software, which in turn translates it into a language (G-Code) that the cutting machine can understand. Large industrial laser/ | ||
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+ | * [[http:// | ||
+ | * [[http:// | ||
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+ | Working with industrial laser and waterjet cutters require exporting a transfer file with the 2D geometry to be cut, as these machines do not work like printers and virtually none will accept native Rhino files. | ||
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+ | The most commonly used export format in industry is an **AutoCAD DXF**. Others include AutoCAD native DWG and Adobe Illustrator (AI, EPS). PDF files containing vector info are also becoming quite commonly used. All the above formats except PDF can be natively exported by Rhino. //To export PDF files from Rhino, it is necessary to print to a PDF printer program. (Many are available.)// | ||
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+ | ====Arcfitting freeform curves==== | ||
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+ | A great many industrial cutting machines and software **only** understand **// | ||
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+ | You can use the Rhino **Convert** command for this process, commonly called "Arc Fitting" | ||
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+ | // | ||
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+ | ====Geometry repair and nesting==== | ||
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+ | Overlaps, gaps, and duplicate curves cause problems in cutting. The **CurveBoolean** command may work to clean some of these up, but may not entirely eliminate overlapping sections, and it will not fix gaps. For small gaps, the **CloseCrv** command in Rhino can be a quick fix for open curves that need to be closed. (Use this with caution.) | ||
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+ | If you need to nest many profiles together onto standard stock sheets, check out [[http:// | ||
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+ | ====Export settings==== | ||
+ | In Rhino, once the geometry has been correctly prepared, use the **Export** or **SaveAs** command. Select AutoCAD DXF or DWG file format, name the file, and click **Save**. When the schemes selection box comes up, choose the **R12 Natural** scheme and click **OK**. | ||
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+ | To check, reopen your exported file in Rhino or any other software that reads DXF or DWG. There should be only arcs and lines in the file. This is one good way to get the most consistent results. | ||
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+ | If you do not need to convert to arcs and lines (if your laser/ | ||
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+ | If the results are not what you want, [[scottd@mcneel.com|please send a sample]] or post the problem to the [[http:// | ||
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+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | =====Laser cutting of fabric===== | ||
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+ | > **Comment: | ||
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+ | > **Comment: | ||
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+ | > **Comment: | ||