Hi Steve. I am doing my very first steps in Laser Cutting, with a Sculpfun S9 and Lightburn. Making nice and useful boxes is one of my aims. Searching through UA-cam a came across your tutorial which is really very clear. I guess it will walk me through making my first boxes and I thank you a lot for it. Of course I subscribed. One question; at this stage; if I may: you mentioned using Masking (which I guess is important for the look of the end product). Could you please elaborate a little about Masking materials / methods? Thanks again. Emanuel
Masking material is really just really wide masking tape. I use this: amzn.to/3R7syXj. However if you take the time to get your power and speed calibrated properly transfer tape is probably not required for most materials. If so you can cut and then use very light sandpaper to brush off any soot that is created. Transfer tape is really for lazy people like me who just want to blast through material without doing all the work 😁.
Nice box. I have a question for you which you may or may not be able to answer. Say I want to make a box longer than my piece of material is wide. I want to join the two pieces with finger joints. Essentially you have two boxes missing one end and then join the two with finger joints. Is this possible?
@@SteveMakesEverything Yes, I decided to 3d print it, but then I still have to print it in two pieces. It should not be a problem though as it will be mounted on the outside of my enclosure on a section of aluminum extrusion.
@@HPDAMAN In Lightburn you can click on a "line" layer (i.e. one on the colored settings on the right side of the project window). When the settings dialog is displayed you will see a kerf setting there.
How do you make sure you engrave the text and not cut it, I thought that step you had to do in light burn with layers ? but I see you already do that in Inkscape
Nope, this is definitely done in lightburn or whatever laser software you are using. In Inkscape you can pick a line color, but you still need to map that to power settings.
The lid is just a second box turned upside down so there nothing too unknown there. The length and width are the same dimensions as the base box and the height is lower (e.g. a 20-30mms or ~1") and then use the same box maker tool to create that one. Then just sandwich the boxes together and screw in some hinges and latch. The lining is either regular felt sheets with 3M adhesive tape or pre-taped felt. I'll add a link for the latter to the description below as well since that's what I use for these.
Hi Steve. Another great video! Request: when showing actual laser cutting, please could you confirm video rate? 1:1, 2x, 5x, 10x etc? Would appreciate it.
This is very cool! I just discovered your channel. Do you use your laser commercially? I’m considering buying one but justifying the cost… i’d want the thing to try to make me some money now and then too.
No worries. But yes I use my laser for commercial projects but more for enjoyment of the job rather than becoming independently wealthy. Any projects where I get paid are to help supplement the hobby. I just want to have some fun while I share some of my experiences with the next generation of makers. 😀
Beautiful pieces!!
Thanks!
Hi Steve. I am doing my very first steps in Laser Cutting, with a Sculpfun S9 and Lightburn. Making nice and useful boxes is one of my aims. Searching through UA-cam a came across your tutorial which is really very clear. I guess it will walk me through making my first boxes and I thank you a lot for it. Of course I subscribed. One question; at this stage; if I may: you mentioned using Masking (which I guess is important for the look of the end product). Could you please elaborate a little about Masking materials / methods? Thanks again. Emanuel
Masking material is really just really wide masking tape. I use this: amzn.to/3R7syXj. However if you take the time to get your power and speed calibrated properly transfer tape is probably not required for most materials. If so you can cut and then use very light sandpaper to brush off any soot that is created. Transfer tape is really for lazy people like me who just want to blast through material without doing all the work 😁.
Nice box. I have a question for you which you may or may not be able to answer. Say I want to make a box longer than my piece of material is wide. I want to join the two pieces with finger joints. Essentially you have two boxes missing one end and then join the two with finger joints. Is this possible?
It is probably possible to do this but it wouldn’t look very nice and likely wouldn’t be strong enough to be useful
@@SteveMakesEverything Yes, I decided to 3d print it, but then I still have to print it in two pieces. It should not be a problem though as it will be mounted on the outside of my enclosure on a section of aluminum extrusion.
Did you add an offset to cover the laser beam width? Thank you for sharing.
Yes when you are doing this you can allow for kerf on the cuts to ensure that the joints are tight.
HOW?
@@SteveMakesEverything
@@HPDAMAN In Lightburn you can click on a "line" layer (i.e. one on the colored settings on the right side of the project window). When the settings dialog is displayed you will see a kerf setting there.
How do you make sure you engrave the text and not cut it, I thought that step you had to do in light burn with layers ? but I see you already do that in Inkscape
Nope, this is definitely done in lightburn or whatever laser software you are using. In Inkscape you can pick a line color, but you still need to map that to power settings.
Can you please show more on how to make the second box with lid which you use felt inside
The lid is just a second box turned upside down so there nothing too unknown there. The length and width are the same dimensions as the base box and the height is lower (e.g. a 20-30mms or ~1") and then use the same box maker tool to create that one. Then just sandwich the boxes together and screw in some hinges and latch. The lining is either regular felt sheets with 3M adhesive tape or pre-taped felt. I'll add a link for the latter to the description below as well since that's what I use for these.
Millions millions thanks sir
Hi Steve. Another great video! Request: when showing actual laser cutting, please could you confirm video rate? 1:1, 2x, 5x, 10x etc? Would appreciate it.
A reasonable request. 😀. In this video it was sped up about 13x. Full cut time for the simple box was about 7 minutes
very nice thanx
Most welcome
This is very cool! I just discovered your channel. Do you use your laser commercially? I’m considering buying one but justifying the cost… i’d want the thing to try to make me some money now and then too.
Sorry Steve. I just realized you have a week old video about this!
No worries. But yes I use my laser for commercial projects but more for enjoyment of the job rather than becoming independently wealthy. Any projects where I get paid are to help supplement the hobby. I just want to have some fun while I share some of my experiences with the next generation of makers. 😀
great video
These are fun little projects
hello what is writing type on box ?
If you are asking about the font, it is one called "Dancing Script"
Subbed
Sweet! Welcome aboard