School project work

David · Post by **David** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:23 pm

Given the wide range of possible applications, I thought I'd share a few.

Mostly we use our laser for cutting rather than engraving with whole classes - in particular, joints in frames and holes for gearboxes. This allows pupils to make things that would largely fail if marked out and cut by hand, and can be achieved in minutes rather than hours...

hope these are of interest, I'll add more as I find time to organize photos!

David

David · Post by **David** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 5:35 pm

Activities week again - 20 year 8 students making cameras, using photographic paper for negatives and either scanning the result or making contact prints

David · Post by **David** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 5:54 pm

Using the 'contour' effect in Corel Draw allows parts to be nested: the entire design only uses 360 60x6mm softwood. Sails are laser cut polyester - the edges become welded thus avoiding issues with fraying or hemming.

dvdlock · Post by **dvdlock** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:10 pm

Thanks for sharing David.

Do the students do the designs themselves? What software do they use for this?

I particularly like the Camera project. The box is very neat and looks well made.

Look forward to more pics when you get chance.

Regards
Dave.

David · Post by **David** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:16 am

We use Corel Draw (12) for most things - younger pupils are usually given a starting point such as motor mount profiles and gear spacing, but most of the creative stuff is independent design work. Snapping to a 1mm grid sorts out joints in 3 mm thick MDF, but acrylic thicknesses seem to be nominal, with up to 10% variation that is accomodated by measuring the actual piece of material. Setting the nudge offset to the difference and then nudging nodes gives a better fit, and perfection (!) can be achieved if further allowance is made for the thickness of cut, typically around 0.2 mm.

The MDF camera is one of my designs for club use: one of my A level Product Design students has taken the idea further, using a mahogany case, MDF film carrier, and blanks for (subsequently machined) brass components cast from scrap brass in laser cut laminated MDF moulds.

dvdlock · Post by **dvdlock** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:08 pm

That really is very good and a credit to you too. Very impressive.

I thought you could make use of this great little Java program for boxes. http://www.rahulbotics.com/project-details.php?id=12 I found this via one of the other forums.

I realise it's not an ideal learning tool when you need the students to make the plans themselves, but could be a useful tool for yourself.

Keep up the good work.

Dave.

Bernie_of_CPE · Post by **Bernie_of_CPE** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:30 pm

Hi Dave,

The box maker link was brilliant, thanks

Do you know of a similar application to produce toothed gears?
I sometimes have to engineer gearboxes for models and demonstration equipment, my laser cutter seems perfectly suited for the job but I am not that skilled with Autocad as yet.

Best regards.

Bernie (CPE)

dvdlock · Post by **dvdlock** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:09 pm

Hi Bernie,

I found these links you may find useful:

http://www.allycad.com/ This is freeware and apparently you can create gears with it.

http://woodgears.ca/gear_cutting/template.html This one is an on-line gear generator and you can download a .plt file for the design.

Haven't tried either of them. I'm just doing my usual late night browse for interesting stuff.

Out of interest, I came across this too http://www.sentex.net/~mwandel/marbles/index.html These marble machines look to be very educational and fun too.

Cheers

Dave.

David · Post by **David** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:38 pm

Still adding photos...

A few years ago, we ran an after school club making low cost (less than £1 !) slot cars with a laser cut chassis, guide, wheels etc and a vacuum formed body. Our county advisor liked the look of it, and last autumn it rolled out nationally as http://www.scalextric4schools.org with PTC and Hornby as the main partners. Since then, we've continued to play - four wheel drive, suspension and differentials now being part of the game.

David · Post by **David** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 5:47 pm

The Art Department also make use of our 6040, cutting a lot of card stencils, printing blocks in lino or softwood, leather work at a level of detail difficult to acheive by the hand of a teenager, and a wall display.
The wall panels were sponsored by one of the Worshipful Companies promoting stained glass as material: laser cut and engraved acrylic was deemed acceptable as a safer substitute in a school environment. Each panel is a composite piece by four different students, laminated between clear polycarbonate panels.

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