Laboratori de Maquetes (LabMaq)
Portal de Serveis d'Arquitectura de Barcelona
Laboratori de Maquetes (LabMaq)

Instructions for laser cutting

 

Sending the document

  • Send a DXF file (AutoCAD command: dxfout) to laboratori.maquetes.etsab@upc.edu named as: lastname_name.dxf. The material, thickness and dimensions must be included in the mail. We don't accept documents on USB memory sticks.

  • The budget will be sent and the confirmation will be awaited to start the work.

  • LABMAQ have the following materials. If you want to use your own material, it must has an extra surface for cutting power testing.

  • At the end of the work, an email will be sent informing that it can be collected.

 

Drawing

  • The maximum perimeter of the material is 1150mm x 900mm

  • A 5mm margin must be considered around the limit of the material.

  • The pieces must have the real dimension in mm and also have to be the working units of the file.

  • To optimize the cutting time, it is recommended that the perimeters of the pieces should be closed polylines.

  • Blocks and frames must be exploded to convert them to lines, with commands in Autocad: _explode by blocks or frames. In Rhino: break down into blocks or plots.

  • Windows default font texts can be saved or trimmed. Texts with any other font must be previously exploited with the _txtexp command, cleaned and their perimeters joined again.

  • Overlapping lines can be a problem. You can optimize the file using the _overkill command.

  • Keep in mind that dashed lines are considered continuous.

  • Points are considered as 0.1mm diameter circles and must be placed into the POINTS layer.

  • The minimum separation between cutting lines must be 1.5mm. Better from 2mm.. Pieces at closer distances can be easily broken or twisted by heat.

 

Connectors

  • Pieces smaller than 80mm on any of its sides that you want to cut and preserve, must be into CONNECTORS layer. The connectors will be placed automatically to avoid the small pieces fall down and not being damaged by the laser.

 

Layers and colors

  • The drawing should be organized into the following layers:

     

Layer name

Color

Content

MATERIAL LIMIT

1 red

Material perimeter and security margin

ENGRAVING *

2 yellow

Lines that will be graved over the material but not cut

INSIDE CUT

3 green

Inside perimeters to be cut (windows, other kind of holes,...)

OUTSIDE CUT

4 cyan

Outside perimeters to be cut

CONNECTORS

5 blue

Pieces smaller than 80mm on any of its sides

POINTS

6 magenta

Points considered as 0.1mm diameter circles

 

* Balsa wood only can be engraved if is thicker than 3mm

 

Template file in CAD for laser cutting

 Rev. 2021