Possible online laser-cut facility for skaterdolly?

I was told that laser-cutting aluminum is not very accurate, and that waterjet is a better way to go if you need to hold tight tolerances. Something about the light being reflected? Can't remember the details, but it was a response to my own question about how to get large parts cut out to make a skater.

Ah, another project to get to "some day"
 
Car3o said:
I did this real quick in Google Sketch. This is exactly what I'm looking to make.
Click to expand...

Can this laser cutter do '3d' cuts and shave down different heights? The cuts at Ponoko are pretty much 2d with the exception of the engraving, so you can basically cut an outline around something but not create items with different heights or cut holes that would run horizontally like those in your pictures.
 
the holes were for my reference
if he can't do different heights that'll be okay. it's what i wanted, not needed.
a basic L shape would be fine.
 
Great,

I'm thinking the fastest way to get that profile would be in two pieces. The this flat area would be a piece of bar stock with the block with holes in it attached with adhesive and screws. Or I might be able to burn to depth to create the profile. What dimentions do you need the final piece to be?

I sent an e-mail to the hotmail address from your profile, I'll resend it to the gmail address.
 
Texanite said:
Can this laser cutter do '3d' cuts and shave down different heights? The cuts at Ponoko are pretty much 2d with the exception of the engraving, so you can basically cut an outline around something but not create items with different heights or cut holes that would run horizontally like those in your pictures.
Click to expand...

The laser can cut to depth by varying the power send as you burn pass over the area. It isn't as accurate as a straight through cut because variations in the material will allow the energy of the laser to penetrate to slightly different depths. This is where a cnc machine really shines.

The laser works in 2 modes, Raster and Vector. Raster works similar to an ink jet printer where the laser passes back and forth turning on and off as it passes over the surface of the material. This is the technique usualy used for engraving pictures, and would be the process for depth cutting. Vector cutting leaves the laser on and traces the shape required. In both cases, the power of the laser determines how far it will burn through.

The reason Ponoko doesn't offer depth cutting is that each material requires a lot of trial and error to get the power setting for a particular depth worked out. And it will vary from batch to batch not just material to material. It is not very repeatable and wouldn't be economical given their business model.

The laser is best when used to cut extremely accurate 2d profiles from flat stock. This is where the layer based version of the skater is a perfect project for the laser. My laser has enough power to make it through 5/8 acrylic in a single pass.
 
yeah, seen that email. thanks. What I'll do is take those pictures and run it through photoshop and put the dimensions on there.

there won't be a lot of weight on the top piece, so i believe what you said with the two pieces should work fine.
 
OK, I just ran a quick sample from some 1/2" clear acrylic. Sorry for the poor quality i-sight photo. My camera batteries are dead... oops. I can produce this from delrin for $15 for the first one and $5 for each duplicate.

1212776890.jpg
 
Guys... start a new thread for mounts and other side work. It's interesting, deserves it's own thread, and that way we leave this one on topic for skater dolly talk ;)

that being said... I just dug these up from an old post - for reference/interest:

Skater-Dolly.jpg


Skater-dolly-2.jpg
 
I think that what might be most useful are the wheel mounts, and rotators. If there was a way (group design/group buy) of getting the wheel disks with an oblong cut out for the wheel and cups or races for the wheel disk to rotate in, then one could mount them to a platform of ones choice. Either Skater clone, or another design like the post above. In my opinion the wheel mounts should be made out of aluminum. You get three and make a platform out of plywood, you can stay with the plywood or upgrade to plastic or metal.

If we were to decide what wheel dimensions to go with, then design the wheel mount, various options - thin disk with brackets for the axle, or thick disk and axle bolt through the disk, and then corresponding cups or races. I think that we could be off to a good start.
 
How did this topic come to an end, this design looks amazing, please cut the seven parts and give me a price, Im sure we can get at least ten people putting in, if not 20 :)
 
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