Question on models and puzzles

[Junior hall]

Thanks Bert Kemp and Hinton Lister I will sure look into it as i think engraving a puzzle with a picture on it is very unique and pretty thanks once again to all

[Joel Ifill]

Like to know if there is a program that for instance i want to make a model of some thing ( i looked on YouTube not see any thing ) say a model air plan. How does my laser know the size and shape of each piece of the air plan.

what you are looking for is called "tab and slot" construction or design. To my knowledge there's no easy or automated way to do this 2d, you have to use a 3d program like solidworks then export every piece as a dxf to cut.

I'm an engineer as a day job and I do a lot of tab and slot design in solidworks to be either sent to a sheet metal laser, or CO2 plastic laser machine. I design in solidworks then go into illlustrator to turn the cut lines red and set line weight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMYrC5hqWQ0

That's just one video but some searching will show you many, you might be able to do it for free in sketchup but really cad is the way to go.

[Junior hall]

Thanks Joel Ifill. I think this mess is way way way over my head I think ill stick to the basics of engraving until i need to learn more With the engravelab i have not even touched most of the buttons as well kinda scared it might blow up sort of speaking. Thanks for every ones help

[Craig Matheny]

what you are looking for is called "tab and slot" construction or design. To my knowledge there's no easy or automated way to do this 2d, you have to use a 3d program like solidworks then export every piece as a dxf to cut.

I'm an engineer as a day job and I do a lot of tab and slot design in solidworks to be either sent to a sheet metal laser, or CO2 plastic laser machine. I design in solidworks then go into illlustrator to turn the cut lines red and set line weight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMYrC5hqWQ0

That's just one video but some searching will show you many, you might be able to do it for free in sketchup but really cad is the way to go.

I use Corel draw for all my tab and slot work and it is very quick and easy, draw the main body add the tab area positive or negative and merge or remove area, I have a library for all the items that are used regularly other then that draw it. You could even use a macro to automate that step but why it is one click. CorelDRAW cost 500.00 for a new copy compared to 4k+ for solid works and the learning curve is so much easier with CorelDRAW. Well good luck

[Junior hall]

Thanks Craig Matheny i might look into it more. I like the idea of the picture puzzle as i think it is very neat and a awesome idea I will look into the Coreldraw thanks all once again thanks

[Craig Matheny]

Thanks Craig Matheny i might look into it more. I like the idea of the picture puzzle as i think it is very neat and a awesome idea I will look into the Coreldraw thanks all once again thanks

The other thing to remember is copyright law, not everything you see is safe for the taking just an FYI

[Bert Kemp]

Junior My grandson loves to snowboard so My daughter took his picture snowboarding and emailed it to me I printed out an 8x10 photo then glued it to a piece of 8x10 baltic birch and cut out a puzzle design , he thought it was the most awesome present he was 11. You could have people give you pictures of something they would like a puzzle made of. Their car, their motorcycle family picture the list is unlimited and a great money maker.no copy write to worry about either.

[Craig Matheny]

Junior My grandson loves to snowboard so My daughter took his picture snowboarding and emailed it to me I printed out an 8x10 photo then glued it to a piece of 8x10 baltic birch and cut out a puzzle design , he thought it was the most awesome present he was 11. You could have people give you pictures of something they would like a puzzle made of. Their car, their motorcycle family picture the list is unlimited and a great money maker.no copy write to worry about either.

Bert that is a great idea for junior could he do that in Engravelab? I know with corel you can get a macro to automate the puzzle section. The only two questions that I can see needed to get that to start very fast would be what glue to use, how to glue the pic to the wood and how do you keep the pic from getting residue from the wood on it? This sounds like it could generate some good money and be very easy

[Bert Kemp]

I print the photo's out on 8x10 glossy inkjet photo paper and let it sit a while to make sure its dry.Then coat the unfinished wood with white wood craft glue you can pick up at anyplace that sells craft stuff like Hobby Lobby, Walmart where ever . and a light coat on the back of the photo and press them together and then use a plastic squeegee or something like that to work out the wrinkles and air bubbles, and I put some weight on top till it drys. Good exhaust and good laser settings leave very little residue on the photo and the little that is there will wipe right off with a slightly damp cloth. I've also turned the puzzle over and cut the backside and that works to . Oh you can also laser the photo on the wood itself and cut the puzzle. I think Junior had problems getting a good photo to laser tho. This is almost fool proof.

Bert that is a great idea for junior could he do that in Engravelab? I know with corel you can get a macro to automate the puzzle section. The only two questions that I can see needed to get that to start very fast would be what glue to use, how to glue the pic to the wood and how do you keep the pic from getting residue from the wood on it? This sounds like it could generate some good money and be very easy

[Craig Matheny]

Bert was out of town for the last week so I did not have computer time (Vacation) sounds very interesting. I was talking to a lady that was telling me of a process of making the image come off the pic and end up printed on the wood, trying to get more on that. Well best of luck to Bert.

[Bert Kemp]

Craig I'm outta town now LOL andwillbe for a while I MISS MY LASER lol but willstill be here.yes more on picture to wood please.

[Junior hall]

Holly cow i am so over whelmed i want to do it all I need to calm my nerves down some more and come back and read this slowly I am going to save this in my favorites for this section Thanks Bert kemp thanks so much this is just totally unbelievable

[Bert Kemp]

Glad to help Junior

Holly cow i am so over whelmed i want to do it all I need to calm my nerves down some more and come back and read this slowly I am going to save this in my favorites for this section Thanks Bert kemp thanks so much this is just totally unbelievable

[Joe Hillmann]

I am going to try and help you out.

Here is a basic blank puzzle it is 8x10. You can glue a photo to it, engrave a photo on it or do what ever you want.

Here it is in Corel Draw and Pdf. I tried doing it in AI to make it easier for you to get into engrave lab but couldn't upload it.Puzzle for Junior.cdrPuzzle for Junior.pdf

Here is a simple model plane. It is meant to be cut out of 1/8 inch materiel. Most of what is sold in stores as 1/8 is actually thinner so it will be a sloppy fit but for now it is a start. If you buy a piece of materiel and measure its thickness (to the thousandth) I can rescale it for you or tell you the math so you can rescale it yourself. The black marks are to be cut the red engraved a low power. Once the laser is done cutting every piece will have two or more TINY tabs still holding them to the holder sheet. You have to twist the pieces to break them out.Plane for Junior.cdrPlane for Junior.pdf

In case you are having trouble getting the black to cut and the red to mark here the plane is again with only the cut marks and no red.Plane for Junior cut only.cdrPlane for Junior cut only.pdf

I also couldn't get the plane to upload as AI. You would probably have to open them in PDF then convert to AI then import in engrave lab unless engrave lab can import PDF's or less likely CorelDraw files.

These files should at least get you started so you have something to play with and get an idea of what is involved.

I don't care about the puzzle but I would prefer if you don't make the plane for sale.

[Craig Matheny]

Here is a simple model plane. It is meant to be cut out of 1/8 inch materiel. Most of what is sold in stores as 1/8 is actually thinner so it will be a sloppy fit but for now it is a start.

Joe where do you find 1/8" Baltic Birch that is less than .13 I buy about 10 lifts a year and most is .13+ I would love to find .125 or less thickness as it would cut 15% faster.
Thanks