For my piece, I decided to make a removable clip joint, like the clips on backpacks and other common items. I made a lot of copies of the item, because I did not think of making small squares at different power and speed settings. So, now I have 7 extra copies of removable clip joints on my desk, along with the faint smell of burnt wood.

Downloading the file was straightforward, along with the instructions posted in order to work the laser cutter. I did not realize that the file had both my part along with another part, which was another form of clip joint. I did not realize this until I made the first cut and realized that there were 4 parts when I only needed 2 parts. I used the same slab of material for all of the cuts. In the example from 2014 or so, it was 4 mm thick and birch plywood. I assumed that the material I was using is also birch plywood, even though it seemed lighter and less dense than the example. But also, my material was 5 mm thick.

So I first experimented by cutting it with the same power and speed settings. So I first tried it with a speed of 2 and power of 80. It was burnt. I etched it with a power of 20 and speed of 30 or so, something that was darker than the example. I like how the dark text looks on the lighter colored material. So the etching was fine, it was just the cutting that was not.

Then I continued by keeping the power the same and then changing the speed settings. So I made one with a speed of 3 and power 80. Burnt. Then speed 4 and power 80. Less burnt, but still burnt (in my opinion). Then speed 5 and power 80. Less burnt, but still dark. Then speed 6 and power 80. Much better, with a golden tint to it and less burning. But then I continued with speed 7 and power 80. It was lighter than the previous trial, but it almost did not cut through all of the way. I almost had to pop the pieces out of the material because they were still slightly attached. But then I continued. I was more concerned with the dark marks on the wood than the edges, so I thought that the wood was burned because there was soot residue on the backside of the cut wood in places. But apparently I was wrong and the cuts were just fine. But before I learned that, I continued, and varied the power a little. I then made one with power 70 and speed 6, which was a nice golden brown. I then made one with power 70 and speed 5. It looked a little less golden, and I also had to pop it out of the material. Then I tried power 60 and speed 5, which ended up similarly like the one before.

So as I was fretting over the soot on the back, Dr. Wettergreen comes in and says that the one I made with power 70 and speed 6 was perfect. So then I made another copy and retired for the day as I stuffed all of the copies of the removable clip joint into my backpack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I left my first copy, power 80 speed 2 in the laser cutting room by the previous example. I realized later that I forgot to change the dates on my first 2 examples, so it says that they were made on the 17th of June in 2014.

The laser cutter was pretty easy to use. It just took some time to figure out the right settings for the material that I was using. And apparently the black soot on the back can be taken off with masking tape. But I don’t own masking tape in my dorm, so they can just look darkened for a while as they sit on my desk.

One thing that was an issue with the clip joint is that the material I used is thicker than the example one. So it makes it difficult to insert and un-clip the joint together since it is a thicker material. I think if I smooth out the edges a little with some sand paper, it may be easier to use. But with the models I made, it was very difficult to put the clip together, and almost impossible to get them to clip out. Sometimes little layers of wood would start breaking off because of the stress and pressure.

When I think back to it, I don’t eat toast. So I am not entirely sure how burnt toast looks like from regular toast. To me, I just find all toast to be burnt. So I just had to imagine burnt cookies and non-burnt cookies, since I know that food better than crispy bread (toast).