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Materials Suited to Laser Cutting:
Acrylic
Aluminium
Anodized Metals
MDF
Stainless Steel
Some Timbers
Laminex
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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
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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
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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.
Next article "how to use colors for the
web"
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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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Did you know,
QuickSmart have produced over 5300 different sign projects since 1993 and
have over 30 different process to make signs. If
you are ready to order or need assistance designing signage in Melbourne
or the Eastern states of Australia, please call today on 9543 3000. You
can also price / estimate signage online with our new Instant Online Sign
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sing
a Graphics Program, find the the path direction of nodes. Occasionally
the path will be incorrect in original files. 
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.
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.
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).
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..
.