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Making

Tutorials, topic guides, and course plans related to making, makers, and makerspaces

Software and Design Resources

Design Basics:

Use Adobe Illustrator or other vector graphics software
Cuts: lines with stroke width .001pt OR .001in, RGB Red (#FF0000)
Vector Etching: lines with stroke width .001pt OR .001in, RGB Blue (#FF0000)
Raster Etching: Everything else.
- The darker the color, the deeper the etching

For Parametric Box Design:

https://makeabox.io/ - Simple and effective, basic box shapes
https://festi.info/boxes.py/ - More complex, many box design options

Vector graphics software

Adobe Illustrator - Industry standard. Expensive, subscription-based
Inkscape: Open source vector graphics
Affinity Designer: Powerful and easier to use than Inkscape. $40 one-time cost

Adjusting for Kerf with Adobe Illustrator
"Kerf" is the width of the space cut out by the laser cutter itself. It's the reason objects cut with the laser cutter might not fit snugly together.
This document explains the concept, and how to adjust for it in Adobe Illustrator
Adjusting for Kerf with Inkscape
"Kerf" is the width of the space cut out by the laser cutter itself. It's the reason objects cut with the laser cutter might not fit snugly together.
This document explains the concept, and how to adjust for it in Inkscape

Sourcing Materials

MDF:

Acrylic:

Another good source of different types of wood:

https://ocoochhardwoods.com/scroll-saw-lumber/

Project Inspiration

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