Free Custom Water Cut Aluminum or Laser Cut Acrylic - 6th of August

[Neon Sentry]

Also, I cant get the estimator to work in either IE or Opera. Once I upload my PNG file, it goes to a blank screen. Any ideas?

Even in Firefox the site goes down sporadically, so I wouldn't worry too much at the moment.

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Ok, totally redid it, and it worked much much better:

 

[Darth Lars]

TridCloudWalker:
- The metal used on free cutting day is 1/8" (3.175 mm) thick. It is difficult to fold 1/8" thick aluminum. The templates from BBC by Iambubby were intended for thinner sheet metal that is easier to fold.
I think you should redesign several parts to be in multiple pieces instead. For instance, the rear sight could be in three pices instead.
- "beer tabs": The hole is the size of the bolthead. Shrink the hole to the size of the bolt hole. If you are using metric bolts, the hole should be 4 mm for the correct size bolthead.
- trigger: a real trigger is close to 1/4" thick. You need only two pieces, not four. I suggest that you instead make the pieces larger so that you could build a working trigger.

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Couldn't I score the back of the pieces with a dremel and get a sharp fold?

I really don't have the ability to braze multiple pieces together.

Good call on the trigger an "beer tabs" I'll make those mods.

 

[Darth Lars]

Couldn't I score the back of the pieces with a dremel and get a sharp fold?

I have tried that with 3 mm aluminum. It is not that easy. You would have to make a V-shaped trench that has >90° angle, half the material's thickness deep and perfectly straight. Because of metal being weakened because of you bending it, the bent edge wouldn't hold up to much, and you would have to put glue into the gaps anyway.

On my own E-11 replica, I made the main part of the folding stock out of a single piece of sheet aluminum that was 2/3 as thick as then one you will be using.
I bent it by hammering it over a piece of wood. I drilled the holes and trimmed the edges afterwards. If I had trimmed the edges and made the holes perfect to start with, I know that I would have made it wonky and the holes would have been misplaced and deformed.
I still had to apply some putty to it afterwards. It is a mm too wide and a little bit more round near the middle, but that is hardly noticable.

If you can, build as much as possible out of aluminum U-channel. That makes things MUCH easier.
Here's an idea: Maybe you could design flat parts that are inlocking? Much like how wooden boxes are constructed. That would increase stability and surface area when glueing the parts together.

 

[Talisen]

What about Solo Holster/belt parts? I've just started looking into making one and will need to make the front and back plate as well as some of the other bits.

As well, is there some one that can convert an Illustrator file into a DXF for me? The FAQ recommends DXF over a GIF or PNG file for quality.

 

[Talisen]

Ok, I've been playing with my Holster parts and have really had to dumb it down for this Free parts offer.

According to the site's FAQ threads for free part day, the best way to estimate if the part is too complex is to submit it and if the estimate is over $15 for 1000, then start again.

As you can see, my stuff isn't that complex (compared to that E-11 stuff), and they had to be compound joined for the system to work (from the png file) otherwise I'd get only one part to show in their CAD 3D view. Initially, I had all the holes for the disc cut out, but it really jumped up the estimate.

I'm also waiting to find out from them if the Waterjet machine accounts for the kerf of the jet (nozzle diameter of .040") or if I have to expand everything .020"

 

[Talisen]

And for the rest of you folk I did test the Batarang idea, 6 up and it's allowed!

Again I only have Illustrator and the system doesn't appear to like Illustator DXF files, so if someone can convert it, let me know and people can use the file, the PNG format supposedly doesn't get you as nice a cut job.

Though I would appreciate it if someone that does use it could spare 2 of them for me.

 

[arwa]

:eek

Dude, that is awesome!!!!!!! Thank you. I am sure one of these guys can do the proper formatting so that it can be used. I keep tinkering, but I can't get it to come out right

-arwa

And for the rest of you folk I did test the Batarang idea, 6 up and it's allowed!

Again I only have Illustrator and the system doesn't appear to like Illustator DXF files, so if someone can convert it, let me know and people can use the file, the PNG format supposedly doesn't get you as nice a cut job.

Though I would appreciate it if someone that does use it could spare 2 of them for me.

 

[arwa]

Delete: double post

 

[RoCKo]

Though I would appreciate it if someone that does use it could spare 2 of them for me.

YEP, and PLEASE one for me!!! :love

 

[RogueSolo]

:eek

Dude, that is awesome!!!!!!! Thank you. I am sure one of these guys can do the proper formatting so that it can be used. I keep tinkering, but I can't get it to come out right

-arwa

Again, I reiterate:

If you can wait until Monday, I can get you [all] a more accurate model, and have it saved as their preferred .dxf drawing format. My model was just to garner interest.

In the meantime, if someone wants to e-mail them and find out the exact specification on how many we they'll let us get onto a sheet, that would be great. Also, ask them if their machines can cut spline curves. If not, then I'll need to really tweak the model to make it workable.

 

[itsalive]

I made the Begins logo as an "SVG" Scalable Vector Graphic.

Theres an image of it.

If you want the SVG file. Then you can download it here, and Scale it to whatever size you need in Paint/Photoshop.


http://rapidshare.com/files/132959868/batarang1.svg.html

Would be cool to try a damaged one from the Dark Knight Poster with the Dark Knight Font.

 

[itsalive]

And for the rest of you folk I did test the Batarang idea, 6 up and it's allowed!

Again I only have Illustrator and the system doesn't appear to like Illustator DXF files, so if someone can convert it, let me know and people can use the file, the PNG format supposedly doesn't get you as nice a cut job.

Though I would appreciate it if someone that does use it could spare 2 of them for me.

Ok layed the batarangs I made over your layout and saved it as a DXF. Heres as lowres image of what it looks like.

This guy can open up the DXF file I made. Scale it and set the cut path.

Heres the DXF File-

http://rapidshare.com/files/132962847/batcut.dxf.html

 

[itsalive]

Again I don't know how to scale or set the cut path. Hell, I don't know the real size of this knife to begin with. So I placed it in such a way to give it the max area on the sheet. The guy doing this can scale it and set the cut path with ease- so it's no biggie.

Here it is the "John Rambo Truck Spring Knife"

And heres the link to download the DXF

http://rapidshare.com/files/132966024/ramboknife.dxf.html

 

[arwa]

I got a hold of the gentleman who is making this deal available to us and here is his response:

Hi,
I tried to sign up for an account on The RPF, but apparently it is closed to new members. If you have any pull with the moderators to help with that, I would definitely appreciate it.

Keep in mind that the purpose of Free Part Day is to provide people with an introduction to Big Blue Saw's service. So trying to optimize the number of parts that can be fit into a 9x9 square really goes against the spirit of the event. Our current rule is that if it's too complex, we simply won't process the order. We will have more details about this on the main blog post later today:
http://www.bigbluesaw.com/saw/big-blue-saw-blog/general-updates/free-part-day-august-6.html

Our online quoting tool does not yet support splines, as these are not found in the DXF version 12 specification. (Later versions of the DXF file specification support splines). However, most CAD software is capable of converting splines into a format that is compatible with version 12 DXF. See our CAD page for more details:
http://www.bigbluesaw.com/saw/faqs/files/what-software-can-i-use-to-make-files-for-big-blue-saw.html

Simon Arthur
Big Blue Saw

 

[steveday72]

On reading the website, the price estimate has been updated from $15 each per 1000, down to $8 each per 1000. Anything quoted over the $8 will be rejected for the free part offer.

 

[arwa]

I was thinking you may be able to get one-maybe two small pieces out of the deal which is great as far as I am concerned. I honestly felt bad afterwards trying to cram all of the images on to one piece when the guy was offering to make it for free more less to promote his business.

Mods, is there anyway that we could get Arthur in to at least hear him out since he has tried to get in before?

 

[RogueSolo]

I'm thinking 2 - 3 pieces / batarangs max per sheet. I have a revised dxf drawing on hand with no splines, but the upload said there were non-closed contours, so I'm working on fixing that. I'll update once I have that fixed.

Edit: I'm impressed. A response back with 20 minutes.

"Don't add a 9"x9" square, as then we'll end up shipping you an aluminum square with batarang-shaped holes.

If you want 3 parts, include all 3 parts in the file."

With that said, I'll get a modified 3-'rang file created and uploaded tomorrow for anyone who wants one.

Funny that he knew what the part was by looking at it - wonder if anyone else has asked him about it recently :angel

 

[arwa]

Oh, that was me. I borrowed the images above to give him an idea. He got back to my second message fast too. I am starting to think the first one didn't go through.

Plus, he wants in so I am sure he has a ton of ideas floating around too.