Hello everyone,
I've been reading about all those RepRap projects and I was wondering if it would be possible to do a simple XY table with a laser cutter to cut packaging designs.
I have a die-cutting machine, an Accucut GrandeMARK, that can cut parts about 38x46 cm (15x18 inches) in size. But steel rule dies aren't cheap and I'd like to be able to make precise laser-cut prototypes to try things out before having dies made.
My biggest packaging box requires about 60x80 cm before folding, so if possible a 60x80 cm working area for the laser-cutting table would be really helpful.
I realize that people usually build much smaller cutting tables, however I don't really require much precision as long as there's not too much variance between the starting and ending points. This is for cutting corrugated cardboard for packaging prototypes, not cutting traces on a PCB. If I can get 1mm precision without much play in the positioning itself (i.e. the cutter can hit points on a 1mm grid repeatably) then it's good enough in my opinion. I'm sure there's a word or expression for that "play/variance" concept, I just don't know it yet.
Before doing all that, however, I'd appreciate it if those who have lasers could try to do corrugated cardboard cuts (even if only a straight line) on semi-gloss white "E flute" material to see if it's even worth going ahead with this whole idea.
I've been reading about all those RepRap projects and I was wondering if it would be possible to do a simple XY table with a laser cutter to cut packaging designs.
I have a die-cutting machine, an Accucut GrandeMARK, that can cut parts about 38x46 cm (15x18 inches) in size. But steel rule dies aren't cheap and I'd like to be able to make precise laser-cut prototypes to try things out before having dies made.
My biggest packaging box requires about 60x80 cm before folding, so if possible a 60x80 cm working area for the laser-cutting table would be really helpful.
I realize that people usually build much smaller cutting tables, however I don't really require much precision as long as there's not too much variance between the starting and ending points. This is for cutting corrugated cardboard for packaging prototypes, not cutting traces on a PCB. If I can get 1mm precision without much play in the positioning itself (i.e. the cutter can hit points on a 1mm grid repeatably) then it's good enough in my opinion. I'm sure there's a word or expression for that "play/variance" concept, I just don't know it yet.
Before doing all that, however, I'd appreciate it if those who have lasers could try to do corrugated cardboard cuts (even if only a straight line) on semi-gloss white "E flute" material to see if it's even worth going ahead with this whole idea.