For this assignment, we had to choose a mechanism and draw the laser cuttable parts in a Vector Drawing software. I choose the Screw Jack, and used the images in the book to create the drawings. The scanned images can be seen below.
I mostly used AutoCAD to create these drawings because I am used to using that software. Also, creating the gears was difficult in Illustrator without midpoint snaps and rotation about a point, so that is why I moved over to AutoCAD.
I favor AutoCAD because of my familiarly and because of the ease of creating exact length objects, but I found my time with Illustrator valuable because it seems to be better and faster at creating logos and other objects that do not require precision then AutoCAD.
For the drawings themselves, it was difficult due to the book’s poorly indicated circle diameters, so I had to use some educated guesses. Also, some of those circular hole sizes will need to be changed based on dowel availability in the OEDK.
One item, the teardrop latch, was not on the book’s grid of objects, so I had to add that and estimate the dimensions.
Some items, such as the h shape thing and the base, seem thicker than the material the laser cutter can cut, so 2 cutouts of those objects will need to be made, and that is shown in the Illustrator file.
Also, in a chunk of unused space, I drew my profile logo which I can cut out and place on the finalized screw jack.
