- creator: Eneroth3
- version: 2.0.2
- ➡️ go
description 🔗
Tool suite for laser cutting workflows.
Creates components from simple face models, draws box joints and helps unfolding parts so they can be cut from a single sheet.
Bypass Layout with a quick and easy to use SVG exporter (Pro Only).
Can also be used with water cutting and other CNC manufacturing. Some tools can also be used for folded paper models.
Useful for everything from storage boxes to architectural scale models and model railroading.
Typical Workflow 🔗
- Model the shape you want using SketchUp tools.
- Select it and hit Component from Faces. Enter the thickness of your material.
- Use Box Joint tool to draw the joints between your parts.
- Copy your design and hit Unfold. (Making a copy allows you to later tweak your design without having to redo your 2D sheet)
- Hit export and adjust the size of the sheet to match your available sheet material.
- Manually adjust the parts to best fit the sheet.
- Export the sheet and send the SVG file to the laser cutter.
- ????
- Profit!
Detailed Usage 🔗
Box Joint Tool 🔗
Entering Segmentation 🔗
Segmentation is by default set in relation to the thickness of the material. Enter a number such as 1, 2, 5 or 0.5 to change it.
Segmentation can also be set as an approximate tab length, e.g. 4 mm or 1". The exact length changes to fit a whole number of tabs.
Lastly segmentation can be entered as an exact number, e.g. 4 s or 5 s.
Tweaking Segmentation 🔗
Sometimes it’s useful to tweak the segmentation, e.g. if either an odd or even number of segments is needed to achieve a certain symmetry. Do this with + and -.
If the segmentation is set as an exact number, + and - changes that number. If segmentation is dynamic, + and - is just a temporary override.
Full Joint and Half Joint 🔗
When adding a box joint to a group or component, the tool tries to find an overlapping part to make the matching joint half on. If a matching part is found, the preview is green. Otherwise it’s yellow. For a match to be found, there needs to a perfectly overlapping edge.
The Corner Triple Overlap Caveat 🔗
In a corner between three parts, they all overlap. The way the joints are drawn affects how the parts keep overlapping and how the remaining joints can be drawn.
The first joint can be drawn as you please. However, the way the second joint is drawn affects the ability for the tool to find a match between the last two parts and draw the third and last joint.
The second joint must be drawn so the part that already has an outset towards the corner gets yet another outset towards the corner (or so that the part that already has an inset towards the corner gets another inset towards the corner). Only then will the remaining parts overlap perfectly to form he last joint.
When making a box, typically start with two opposite sides and make sure they have either insets or outsets towards all corners. An odd number of segments is needed for this.
Export 🔗
Export to SVG for cutting or printing (Pro only).
Automatically separates free edges so they can be used for engraving patterns.
Identifies adjacent parts and possible fold lines between them.
Recommended Extensions 🔗
Eneroth Solid Tools - Trim overlapping parts. Useful when having created a half joint. Doesn’t destroy components like native Solid Tools.
SolidInspector - The Box Joint tool assumes the parts are solids.
Eneroth Component Replacer - Allows swapping out components definitions if you want to make sure several parts are identical.
Eneroth Difference Report - Ensure no part from the design is missing on the unfolded sheet.
Eneroth Scaled Tape Measure Tool - Helps to get dimensions right when modeling scale models.
Eneroth Align Face - Helps adjusting face angles when working with other angles than 90 degrees.