Okay Bullet Points:
(going to demo in Illustrator again, but it should work the same in any drawing program):
Everything starts in the file…say I want to cut a 12 inch oval frame
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Draw a 12 inch high oval in Illustrator and use Offset Path to create a smaller center oval.
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Cut the ovals exactly in half, using the scissors tool on the side nodes. Make the top two halves one color, and the bottom two halves another color.
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Group the top two halves together, and the bottom two halves together.
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Use the Align to Bottom on both groups to align them at the base.
- Draw a couple of indexing marks out to the side. (Use a different color.) Align one to the top with the other groups. Group that, and then align the other one to the bottom.
- Save the SVG. When you open the file in the interface, you would just align the index marks on the file to the two 6 inch marks on the jig. They are exactly six inches apart.
Make sure you tape the jig to the tray, and have it sitting flush against the slightly raised lip at the edge of the tray. You’ll feed the material flat along that jig.
- The order of operations is:
- Set cuts to ignore.
- Score Index Marks. (Adjust the alignment against the jig)
- Cut top half ovals. (red)
Pause, open the lid and shift or slide the material up so that the bottom index mark aligns with the the top 6 inch mark on the jig. Make sure the material is flush against the jig.
- Cut bottom half ovals. (black)
And that’s about it. If you had it split into thirds, you’d need to score the Index marks again before cutting the bottom third ovals, and when you are creating the file you align the top third to the bottom, and the bottom third to the top. (Follow the geometry.). The method is extremely accurate. 