© QuickSmart Laser Signs and Banners Screen printing Online Tutorial Ezine Signs Banners Australia 05/07/05
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Ezine Article
Laser Cut Letters - Path Direction
Laser Cut letters - Path Direction
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1
In this Article
Sign Tip - Fonts
Using fonts in Signage
What is Laser Cutting?
How to choose a font
Trade Terms
Descriptive Images
|
Acrylic |
|
|
Trade Term: Node
Nodes are also control points.
In effect, nodes can be manipulated to change the incoming and
outgoing directions of lines and curves. See Ezine. Drawing lines
and Curves
|
|
|
| Trade Term: Warp: Warp describe the movement created by heat onto an original flat surface causing the material to bend and flex in a permanent position. When heat is applied to certain materials or small sections are cut, some warping may be evident. Call QuickSmart Production Personnel for technical advice / suitability before designing your signage. 9543 3000 |
Laser Cut Letters - Path Direction
Born amongst CAD (computer aided drawing), CNC routers and Sign
Plotters, Laser cutting is latest technology manufacturing and requires
certain understandings to achieve effective signage.
1. Path
Direction and Minimum Nesting
2. Depth Controls
3. Material Knowledge
4. Lift and Drop (Start Points)
In this article we will describe the better 'set up' procedures to achieve path control when laser cutting.
Below describes the better method for cutting out a letter A from 3mm Anodized Aluminium.
Drawing a Path Direction.
1. The letter or shape to be cut must follow a path of direction. You can not effectively process independent lines or curves that do not have 'joining' or control points that indicates the next movement. In effect, all lines and curves must lead to another.
U sing
a Graphics Program, find the the path direction of nodes. Occasionally
the path will be incorrect in original files. |
|
Select the image and break apart all node editing points and master control points. |
| Reversing Direction Paths |
R everse
the path direction to suit a 'smooth flow' path that a machine head
can logically follow to suit the total project to be cut. E.g.. Do
not have a letter move from one far side to extreme other side to
cut single letters or lines. This may create heat and warp problems
with materials. |
| Smooth Workflow |
A chieve
a smooth work flow for the entire letter. Additionally, this 'follow
path' will assist any quotations for cutting. Precise times can be
calculated (Processing Time / Plasma use). This allows greater
quotation accuracy. |
| Lift and Drop |
S et
any internal cuts, angles or reversing of path directions. Use
'Bring to Front' or 'Take to Back' commands in this step. Once
internal paths have been set correctly, combine the letter or shape
into a single object. This will ensure accurate cutting and shelling
(Shelling is known as the remaining uncut sections from sheet
material). |
| Adding Start Points |
A void
unnecessary errors in cutting by adding additional paths such as
Start Blast Points, Figure 8 turn points and tolerance for bevels,
knockouts and shelling..
To ensure crisp corners and that heat
is not over placed on sharp corners, set a path direction past the
corner, then program the direction path to come back to corner along
the same axis as the new leading edge angle |
.Next article "how to use colors for the web"
Laser Cut letters
What is Laser Cutting?
As imagined in movies, laser cutting is a concentration of heat, passed thinly in a controlled definition.
Effectively, laser cutting can replace engraving, gas cutting and water jet cutting.
Advantages of laser cutting are
1. Fine detail can be achieved without further processing.
2. Wide range of materials can be processed (cut).
3. Protective barriers (such as over laminate tapes) can remain on the
surface area. This eliminates scratching, secondary processing faults and
transport.
Laser cutting is an excellent choice for cutting Acrylic / Perspex. The cut edge results appear smooth and at 90° angle to surface. This cut angle allows perfect nesting or 'shelling' of multiple sign colors, letters etc.
What are Plotters in Sign Manufacture?
Sign Plotters operate a cut depth (scoring) operation into Self Adhesive Vinyl (UV Stabilized PVC sheeting) known as Sign Vinyl. Typically, plotters operate using 'X and 'Y movements. ( X = Front / Back) ( Y= Up / Down).
A tough, finely sharpened blade sits in an
encased bearing plotter head. This blade rotates along the path direction
movement of the material (Sign Vinyl) cutting shapes and letters. The edge
or outside waste of the shape or letter is further removed leaving an
accurately cut shape or letter.
Plotters can step and repeat many times the same artwork increasing output
and reducing sign costs for the client.
Increasing Quality
of your Signage Manufacture.
Maintenance of plotter equipment is vital. Replace blades regularly,
replace any depth control runners (sleeves) and lubricate with fine
machine oil weekly.
Well maintained machinery will increase the lineal metreage output per
hour.
Knife Life of Plotter
Blades. In general a plotter blade should be replaced every 5000
lineal metres production.
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