How To- TABS or Breaks in cut paths to retain parts in sheet.

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Gene Uselman
Posts: 2180
Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2016
Location: Suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Country: USA
Nickname: Gene
Laser Machine Make or Type: QC
Laser Power: 130W
Laser Bed Size: 900x1300
Home Position: TR
Control Software: LIGHTBURN
RDWorks Version: RDw .19 & Lightburn
LightBurn Version: Latest
Ruida Controller: RDC6442
Windows Version: Win 10 Pro
Accessories: I have a combining lenses, pin tables [homebuilt], honeycomb tables , wireless remote, Modifed Ultimate Air Assist, home built non-powered rotary device, PrusaMK4 and Mini Prusa printers.

Post by Dave Kearley » Thu May 18, 2017 1:12 pm

I have a job possibility but cant figure out how to prep the file so it works.

The file is in Illustrator format which imports perfectly into RDW, I need to cut it into thin card but the small parts must remain attached to the main sheet - this needs tiny 'tabs' or gaps left in the cuts.

Tests show that 0.5mm breaks work well, i did this using the 'dot' cut style, setting the dot length to 20mm and the gap to 0.5mm so every 20mm the laser turns off for 0.5mm.

The trouble is, if the path is short then no tab gets put in so the part falls out.

Is there a way to add a tab layer or something?

Adding the breaks in illustrator is practically impossible - while its easy to break a path, its really difficult to break it for 0.5mm in hundreds of places.

Looking for ideas here :)

It's a delicate design and they need to be sold as a sheet, not loose parts or a sheet with parts missing. The customer breaks out the parts needed as and when.
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User avatar
Gene Uselman
Posts: 2180
Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2016
Location: Suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Country: USA
Nickname: Gene
Laser Machine Make or Type: QC
Laser Power: 130W
Laser Bed Size: 900x1300
Home Position: TR
Control Software: LIGHTBURN
RDWorks Version: RDw .19 & Lightburn
LightBurn Version: Latest
Ruida Controller: RDC6442
Windows Version: Win 10 Pro
Accessories: I have a combining lenses, pin tables [homebuilt], honeycomb tables , wireless remote, Modifed Ultimate Air Assist, home built non-powered rotary device, PrusaMK4 and Mini Prusa printers.

Best solution for RDworks- LightBurn has a better solution since this post

Post by Geoff Shannon » Thu May 18, 2017 6:32 pm

Import your drawing into RDWorks.
Select component. Click Handle. Click Bridge.
Change Bridge width to .5mm.
Select By interval or number. Click Application button.
For your gear drawing you will need to select Add bridge manually and set bridge points in preview window.
Click OK and you're done.
If the Help and advice you received here was of VALUE...
Please consider making a donation to maintain the RDWORKSLAB Forum.



The days that I keep my gratitude higher than
my expectations, Well, I have really good days.

Ray Wylie Hubbard- unfortunately deceased
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