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Converting SolidWorks to LaserCutting

by cindyyw on February 8, 2016

Table of Contents

Converting SolidWorks to LaserCutting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: Converting SolidWorks to LaserCutting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Make A Part From Solid Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: Make a Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3: Sheet Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 4: Drawing Face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 5: Edit Drawing Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 6: Remove Unnecessary Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 7: Saving to DWG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 8: AutoCad Spheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 9: Edit your drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 10: More Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

http://www.instructables.com/id/Converting-SolidWorks-to-LaserCutting/
Intro: Converting SolidWorks to LaserCutting
Since SolidWorks can’t save a file in a format that a laser cutter understands, we need a bit of software in between SolidWorks and the laser cutter to do that file
manipulation for us. One piece of software that does that easily is AutoCAD. AutoCad is a great, free program that will allow you to edit this drawing, as well as export to
a file type that the laser cutter can read. This tutorial takes you through step by step how to go from a SolidWorks part that you would like to laser cut to a compatible
drawing that can be used on a Universal VLS4.60 laser cutter.

Things you will need:

SolidWorks (I used the 2015 version for this tutorial)
AutoCad (which can be downloaded for free on the website if you register as a student)
Ability to read directions

Step 1: Make A Part From Solid Works

Have the part that you would like to cut from on SolidWorks.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Converting-SolidWorks-to-LaserCutting/
Step 2: Make a Drawing
Make a drawing of the part showing the face of what you would like to cut.

Step 3: Sheet Size

When prompted with Sheet Format/Size, unclick the “Display sheet format” box. This is because we only want a drawing of what we want to cut sent to the laser printer,
thus making all of the other thing on the drawing (such as title) unnecessary. Set the sheet size to 18” H X 24” W, because that is the bed size of the laser cutter. This
way, you will know if your piece will fit or not on the bed.

Step 4: Drawing Face

Make sure your drawing is only of the face that you would like to cut. Place the face of the object from the right hand panel to the place you would like the material to be
cut from on the drawing.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Converting-SolidWorks-to-LaserCutting/
Step 5: Edit Drawing Scale
Once you have done that, make sure to click on each drawing on the page, and select the scale to be 1:1, with the “Hidden lines removes” display style. Note, if your
part seems to be bigger than the sheet, you aren’t reading these directions carefully enough. Refer to step 3.

Step 6: Remove Unnecessary Lines

Make sure to remove any center lines, or other lines on the paper that you do not want to be cut. In this example, since we are only cutting out the outline of a wheel, a lot
of these lines are unnecessary. Most of you will usually be cutting out a shape so keep that in mind when making these drawings. This will make more sense in Step 9.

Step 7: Saving to DWG

Once you are satisfied with the picture, click File, Save As, In the dropdown for file type click on DWG. Then a little “Options” button should appear above the file name.
Make sure these options are active.

Scale 1:1
End Point Merging
Export All Splines as Polylines
Export All To One File

click Save

http://www.instructables.com/id/Converting-SolidWorks-to-LaserCutting/
Step 8: AutoCad Spheel
Open the newly saved DWG drawing in AutoCad.

The laser cutter will either cut through the material or engrave the surface of it, depending on the line colors. In order to tell the laser cutter to use vector cutting (cutting
while following a vector), the lines need to be RED (R255, G0, B0), with a thickness of 0.05mm. For vector engraving or scoring lines (good for outlining simple pictures
and text), the color needs to be BLUE (R0, G0, B225) with the same size. Raster engraving, which is when the laser moves back and forth in a parallel fashion, is good
for complicated pictures and filling things in. This is BLACK (R0, G0, B0) at the same size. Depends on how “black” this is, that is how deep the laser will engrave. For
an engraved picture to show up well, I would recommend increasing the contrast of the picture.

Step 9: Edit your drawing

To set up for vector cutting, click on the line that you wish to be the cut line and change the color to RED (make sure it’s the correct red), and set the line thickness to
0.05mm.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Converting-SolidWorks-to-LaserCutting/
 Step 10: More Editing
Follow the above steps for any lines you want to be engraved.

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Comments
1 comments Add Comment

DIY Hacks and How Tos says: Feb 10, 2016. 5:22 PM REPLY
Great tutorial! One more reason why I need a laser cutter.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Converting-SolidWorks-to-LaserCutting/