Fun With Laser Cutters -
Nathan Slingerland - 07-21-2015
I recently came across a company called Ponoko that will laser cut a design of your choice into a large number of materials.
As an experiment I decided to create a reproduction grille cloth backing cardboard for my 16B 'shouldered' tombstone since the original one was pretty shot (looks better than it is in the photo).
Here are the steps I took:
- scanned the original backing cardboard and cleaned it up in Photoshop
- opened the image file in Illustrator and used the 'Image Trace' feature to turn into into vector art
- simplified jagged edges and other imperfections (mostly to reduce cost since laser time = money)
- colored edges based on what I wanted Ponoko's lasers to do (blue = cut, red = engrave stroke, black = engrave area)
- created an account on Ponoko (they currently allow you to make your first product for free - up to $20)
- uploaded the Illustrator EPS file
- selected material (boring old corrugated cardboard)
- placed the order
Here is what arrived in the mail:
They send you the full piece of material you used - each side covered with white stick-on paper (looks like to protect the material while cutting).
Peel off the paper and...voila!
Cutting edge technology used to restore a 1935 radio.
If you'd like to use the design for yourself, here it is (public domain - costs is just materials and shipping):
http://www.ponoko.com/design-your-own/products/philco-16b-shouldered-grille-cloth-backing-12624
I've attached the original EPS file too in case you want to modify it.
RE: Fun With Laser Cutters -
klondike98 - 07-22-2015
Great job and good resource to know about!!
RE: Fun With Laser Cutters -
David - 07-22-2015
If you like laser cutters check out this video. I want one!!!! David
[Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVrJUbeuG44]
RE: Fun With Laser Cutters -
Fred Taylor - 07-22-2015
Pretty cool, nice to know that is available.
RE: Fun With Laser Cutters -
Nathan Slingerland - 07-23-2015
(07-22-2015, 05:53 PM)David Wrote: If you like laser cutters check out this video. I want one!!!! David https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVrJUbeuG44
That thing is amazing! My favorite is the ping pong ball.
RE: Fun With Laser Cutters -
Nathan Slingerland - 01-14-2016
Part II
This time a new backer for my 16B 'Peak Top' Tombstone (the later version). The old backer was disintegrating so I decided to scan it in and go the laser cutter route again.
Rather than cardboard, this time I selected
hardboard since the thickness of 0.118" is a close match for the original.
The design is available
at Ponoko. I also attached the EPS file here in case you want to modify it.
It cost $30 total ($6 material, $14.80 laser cutting, $9.50 shipping). Yeah, not exactly cheap. But maybe it makes up for it in cool factor?
![Icon_smile Icon_smile](https://philcoradio.com/phorum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Anyway, here was what Ponoko sent back:
[Image: http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w374/slingn/Philco%2016B%20Peaked%20Tombstone/P1040369_zpshj4m4d9j.jpg]
[Image: http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w374/slingn/Philco%2016B%20Peaked%20Tombstone/894FDE1D-6746-4AA2-AC70-497533E66E22_zpsdnu5eftx.jpg]
[Image: http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w374/slingn/Philco%2016B%20Peaked%20Tombstone/C3EF66E0-AB3A-433E-9F3E-4DE25F62D15F_zpscr7oilpa.jpg]
And here it is installed:
[Image: http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w374/slingn/Philco%2016B%20Peaked%20Tombstone/0BB6A2C3-F78D-480F-AE9A-7B6BDF5E9055_zpsyvi4xjfx.jpg]
[Image: http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w374/slingn/Philco%2016B%20Peaked%20Tombstone/591C379D-6704-4612-8D19-E58AEC52B694_zpss1gn1fpb.jpg]
The cabinet still needs to be refinished, but I think having the right grille cloth installed is a big improvement!
RE: Fun With Laser Cutters -
OldRestorer - 01-14-2016
Why have I never seen this?
Me
RE: Fun With Laser Cutters -
Nathan Slingerland - 01-14-2016
This thread or the radio?
RE: Fun With Laser Cutters -
Eliot Ness - 01-14-2016
That's pretty slick, you did a great job. You mention using Illustrator, is that an Adobe program?
RE: Fun With Laser Cutters -
Nathan Slingerland - 01-14-2016
Yes - Illustrator is for working with 'vector' line art - as opposed to Photoshop which is primarily for pixel based 'bitmap' formats. There is some overlap and each program complements the other.
In this case I scanned the old backer into Photoshop first and cleaned up any imperfections in the scan (dust, tears in the original backer). The I imported that into Illustrator and used the 'Image Trace' feature to make the conversion to vector art.
Ponoko accepts a number of different vector file formats.
http://www.ponoko.com/make-and-sell/design-it-yourself
RE: Fun With Laser Cutters -
morzh - 01-14-2016
Doesn't Mark Palmquist do laser cutting?
RE: Fun With Laser Cutters -
radiohenry - 01-14-2016
Nathan,
That's really excellent. Thanks for sharing.
Henry