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Laser cut path directions
SIGNS: Signs ► Selecting Grain when Laser Cutting ► Path Direction
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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.
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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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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. See also our Ezine on Grain Direction

 

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. Using a Graphics Program, find the the path direction of nodes. Occasionally the path will be incorrect in original files. Select the image and break apart all node editing points and master control points.
Reversing Direction Paths Reverse 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.
Smooth Workflow Achieve 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
Lift and Drop Set 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).
Adding Start Points Avoid unnecessary errors in cutting by adding additional paths such as Start Blast Points, Figure 8 turn points and tolerance for bevels, knockouts and shelling.. To ensure crisp corners and that heat is not over placed on sharp corners, set a path direction past the corner, then program the direction path to come back to corner along the same axis as the new leading edge angle
Achieving sharper corners Occasionally we set our graphic path direction past the corner points in a figure 8 configuration so that the laser beam path comes back around past the end point of the corner. This method is particularly useful when cutting at a high speed for softer materials and avoid a slight rounding of the edges.

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