Programming

Steps to program laser cut components:

The first step to producing a laser cut component is to select or draw artwork that suits the design and function of the part being produced. Our preferred file format is an AutoCAD file. A clean “camera ready” print or a graphic file are also good starting points.

The file is then converted into a vector format. If the product is an assembly the individual components are separated and oriented in a way that will fit on the material best. Individual parts drawings and instructions are printed and cataloged.

The optimized tool compensation is set and the cut path is established. Machine code is produced.

Frequently Asked Programming Questions

Q. Do you have designs that I can choose from?
A. Most of our work is developed on a per customer basis.We do have a limited number of designs to choose from and are currently in the beginning stage of developing our own portfolio of artwork to choose from.

Q. Can I use someone else’s design?
A. No. We will not use other customers designs unless they wish it to be added to our cut out portfolio. Similarly, we do not normally discuss the specific details of what our customers are doing.

Q. What should I look for when drawing a design that is going to be laser cut?
A. A laser can cut almost anything you can draw. You should consider the application when drawing you design. A through cut part should not have sharp inside corners, and should be strong enough to hold up to the stresses of it’s use. Marquetry should not have detail so fine as it disappears or that is so delicate that it is difficult to produce. A good bet would be to send a sketch of what you are thinking if you are not sure if it will work.

Q. What file types are best to send you?
A. An AutoCAD R2002 or earlier file is of best use to us. The file should be tangent arcs and lines in a closed polyline. A Corel Draw vector file also works well. Other file types are Jpg, Bmp, Gif and many other IBM compatible files. We have actually even produced parts from a drawing on a napkin.

Q. If I give you a Cad file will I still have a programming charge?
A. Yes. The cad file is only a part of the effort to produce machine code. However the programming charge is usually nominal.