I’ve been unable to determine how people are designing cut projects. Sure, I can do it entirely manually, but surely there is a more sophisticated approach?
I own Rhino (no idea how to use it yet), Aspire and Lightburn. I have Inkscape, which is free (Also, no idea how to use it).
Anyway, I assumed that there is some software or plug in that figures out the tabs and slots, aligning and spacing them. No?
If you’re talking about boxes and other items that use finger/tab joints then there are a number of websites that allow you to plug in the various parameters and it will spit out a 2D vector file. I tend to use https://boxes.hackerspace-bamberg.de or use Autodesk Fusion.
there are a whole bunch of people selling freely available files via etsy … so please don’t assume that the Etsy sellers built everything themselves from scratch.
What I love about Lightburn is that you can build great results from scratch relatively quickly… If you’re interested, take a look at finished creations.
I’ve only been working with Lightburn since the beginning of the year, but I’ve already completed some projects. If you are interested in something specific, just send a message
what exactly is your problem
I would like to help, but I don’t know how
A great way to construct such interlocking parts is “The Boolean Tools Assistant.” I construct the slots by subtracting a rectangle (B) equal to the material depth times the insertion depth (A minus B) from the outer shape (A).
I also find “Resize Slots” very helpful for adapting the slots to the material thickness.
I’ve tried the resize feature. I need to revisit it. Didn’t understand it the one time I tried it. I still think there is room for a super automated approach.
I feel like there is potential for a cnc/laser design app specifically tailored for creators that would let you focus on panels, finish the entire design and then spend 60 seconds sprinkling tabs. Finally, the consumer should be able to adjust settings to instantly resize for material. Currently, everyone is distributing multiple files for common sheet thicknesses.
Having said that, this video is AWESOME! Thank you for pointing it out.
You mentioned earlier that you have several different programs, but you don’t know how to use them. The picture you referenced is an SVG file found on Etsy
In order to design something like the picture from scratch, you need to develop some design skills.
If you would rather use a program that is parametric, and works well with Lightburn, I would suggest looking into Cuttle
Cuttle is subscription based, and a web based parametric design software that works well with Lightburn. The developers of Cuttle have created parametric designs that users can enter different values, and output a SVG that LB imports. Or, you can copy and paste between Cuttle and LB.
Tabs and slots are parametric, and they have a Finger Joints Kit that makes it easy to work with tabs and slots on straight lines.
You can sign up for free, but you can only use the free Cuttle templates, and you are restricted to around 6 downloads per month.
I have spent about 3 years working with the program, and have developed my own parametric designs. They can be found here
The ones that are labeled “Free” can be used with a free Cuttle subscription. Good luck in whatever way you choose. It doesn’t hurt to learn multiple design programs. Once you “get your feet wet” designing, you can better choose what works best for you.
I think my frankness paints me an absolute noob, when in reality I’ve been designing for many years. My hobbies are always drifting, and as such, so do my needs for CAD and CAM. I used Sketchup for years for traditional woodworking. I used F360 for a couple of years. I have a few years into Aspire, mostly 2D. I’m getting better with Lightburn all the time. Obviously, the nature of one’s projects dictates which features one becomes proficient in.
Being a hobby, I only have so much time to work with the software. I recently made the switch from F360 to Rhino because F360 was just too much money for me to justify. I don’t earn $ from my hobby. I earn $ FOR my hobby. I also recently installed Inkscape because, again, I can’t justify Illustrator when Inkscape is free.
So, juggling Lightburn, Aspire, Rhino and Inkscape is quite a big ask when I spend … what … 5 - 10 hours per week making stuff. Ultimately I like making stuff more than learning new tools.
Also, the TABs in the Lightburn layer properties mentioned above seem to have nothing to do with tabs and slots that we’re talking about here.
yes, it confusing when two items share the same name and have two totally different functions. Maybe if the Tabs and slots were called Fingers and slots or something similar there would be less misunderstanding, but this is just one of many situations where context is important.
Without belittling @RalphU beautiful little project, but with your cad/cam experience you should be able to learn it fairly quickly to do it in LB as well.
I wouldn’t even think about opening an external program for a project of this nature. I certainly don’t want to seem arrogant, but you just have to start designing in LB and the coming experience will reward you.
But people often overlook or ignore that it is not so much the program itself that prevents them from executing an idea, but the actual imagination of what is possible with a program.
Start with simple projects and use the tons of good videos on the web that have to do with LB design and tools, you will become a skilled Etsy seller much faster than you think
If you want to test out Cuttle, here is a link to a step by step PDF file I created for creating a parametric ornament in Cuttle
If you want to compare your results to my file, Here is link to my [Cuttle File] (Circular_Zip_Code_Christmas_Orn) and I also attached a SVG of the ornament.
Free program called Inkscape. There are tons of plugins for this program, box design, gear design, even an inkstitch plugin for doing embroideries.
Also, there are great sites to create boxes free online.
