Parametric Box from Free Laser Design

Haha–well there’s nothing holding it together right now so I guess you just don’t glue one side.

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Looks great girl! (Are you making alphabet blocks?) :grinning:

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I’ve been thinking about this issue. Normally you would slice a box on a table saw to get a top and bottom and then add hinges. I thought you could engrave a rabet on the outside and a corresponding one on the inside then cut out slightly on the sides of the tabs. The top would slip over the bottom. It would take some work to get the engraves evened out and the corners to match, but then you would have a lid that slips over and holds on its own. Like cardboard tube tops are made.

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What, I’m supposed to put a handle pull design in there too?? HAHA!! :smiley:

@cynd11 If you really don’t want/need it, I can definitely use it for organizing small bits!

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They’ll have to be really small–the longest side is 60mm! PM me your address and I’ll mail it (flat-packed) to you.

I was actually thinking the top face would be left unglued then you can grip the lasered edges of the top and lift it to open.

Pretty sure I can split the 3D model so it has mating top and bottom sections, while maintaining the parametric design. Then you would just need to assemble the pieces and hold the top and bottom parts together to add hinge hardware to the back, on the outside of the box like a chest or jewelry box.

If you want to do an interlocking lip, it might be easier to cut a matching ledge on the laser out of the same material, that can fit right into the opening. Or glue squares into the front corners and use a hobby knife to cut a mitred chamfer so when the top closes down, the chamfers help seat/align the top properly.

I gave a brief run-through of the workflow for producing a vector PDF file directly from Fusion 360, you can import into Illustrator. It’s at this link: Parametric Box with Finger Joints - Fusion 360 file - #44 by mpipes

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I was just messing with you. You are really a good sport. :grinning:

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Thanks for the link! I just can’t keep track of all the good info in here.

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Haha, no prob!

So, I decided to split the box, and the shape of the split is even parametric as well. :slight_smile:

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Nice job! Depending on the dimensions could you glue it, put it back in(the laser) and cut it in half (4 cuts) to make a top and bottom then hinge it?

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The “split” is the seam between the top and bottom “halves”, so there is no need to cut it. Just assemble each half, then hinge them together. The shape for the “split” is also parametric, so when you alter that, the affected pieces are updated in the model.

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Here’s a screenshot of the drawing in Fusion360 showing the laser tool paths. Easy breezy!

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Wow! Pretty amazing!

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One of the tricks I learned for that at yestermorrow was to cut the dado on the side of the pieces that would later become the inside, then assemble the box and carefully cut another dado all round on the outside. Guaranteed fit and registration, although often it was a good idea to finish the cut with a very thin blade.

I wonder if you could do something similar with a laser, leaving either a tiny uncut bit or some tabs.

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Wow, that looks great. Much nicer than I would have thought of. I would have used my table saw, but some fplks don’t have one. Your way is MUCH better. :grin:

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Love the creative solution to the opening issue! (Going to need to make a few of those for gift boxes.) :smiley:

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Hey the first one opens just fine, as long as you dont glue it shut, and don’t mind setting the lid off to the side. :wink:

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So which format do you think I should download for the GF? (Once I get mine?) DXF? any advantage over which to use for the GF?