One handy tool for prototyping is a laser cutter. At Salient, we use our laser to cut wood, plastic, cardboard and fabric for testing, prototypes and golden samples. However, with Halloween upon us, why not make a cardboard Birdman costume using the laser cutter?! Once you have a pattern, the laser cutter is more precise, repeatable and faster than cutting with a blade.
Here are some basic steps and images of the process. For full instructions, you can visit http://www.instructables.com/id/Cardboard-Bird-Man-Costume-With-Wings/
- Design the flat pattern in SolidWorks keeping in mind the ideal size and articulation for the wings. (This was very fast, allowing for the quick scaling of parts and patterning of features like feathers.)
- Cut out the pieces using the laser…. So much faster and accurate then cutting cardboard with a knife!
- Assemble the pieces using industrial strength hot glue, bolts and nuts for the wings and Gorilla Tape.
And, Voila! It’s a Birdman Halloween!
Happy Ears
Here at Salient Technologies, we love our laser cutter. It is well worth its keep for making prototypes. We love it even more when we can use it to help our local medical professionals! David Yakos recently used the laser cutter to cut “Happy Ears”. Happy Ears are a simple strip of plastic that holds medical mask straps securely to the back of the head. Normally, a medical mask is held to the face with elastic around the ears. When worn all day, this elastic can rub and irritate the ears.
Since medical professionals wear masks all day now, they are especially vulnerable to sad, irritated ears caused by mask straps. When David heard about this, he went right to work cutting strap holders on the laser cutter out of 0.06” ABS plastic from our workshop supply. Our 48 by 36 inch laser cutter can make about 50 strap holders in an hour, unlike a 3D printer, which takes 3 hours to make just one strap holder. Bozeman Deaconess Hospital as well as a number of other medical professionals were grateful to receive them!
Always looking to bring in a little joy, David even cut a smiley face on both ends of every strap holder. They bring happiness and comfort in more ways than one!
If you have a laser cutter, feel free to make strap holders with free to download files. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4273522/files Please let us know if we can make you some, regardless of your profession.
