Shop and Cutting Machine Information

Architecture Ranch:

If you ever have a need to work at the Architecture Ranch, please read their policies.  Click here to view them.

If you have something that needs to be cut with the CNC router or the plasma cutter for VIZA 629, I would be more than happy to take your files(s) and have them cut for you so you don't have to go through the hassle of going through the safety training.

The CNC router is a machine that uses various sized drill bits to cut shapes and holes out of wood or plastic.  The pictures below show it working along with a couple of projects.

(I will be sure to provide larger pictures at another time)

The plasma cutter is a machine that cuts shapes and holes out of metal.  The pictures below show how it works. As you can see in the picture of the cut out star, there is about a 1/4" cut line that should be taken into account when designing, so you may not be able to get very fine detail.

The Woodshop:

The Woodshop in Langford bldg. B is also available, as long as you pass the safety training course (about 45 minutes), which is a lot less time consuming than the training that must be taken out at the Ranch.  However you do not have to go through the training to have something cut on the laser cutter in the woodshop office.

Laser Cutter Setup Instructions:

(These instructions assume you're using AutoCAD, but as long as you can export a file as a .dwg you can use whatever you want.  If you are using AutoCAD download this template to help you setup your file.)

Note: The table is 32"x 18" so that is the max size of material the laser cutter will cut.

*Make an outline with the same dimensions as your material

*Place what you want to cut/engrave inside the outline leaving at least a 1/4" margin on the edges

*Make your cut lines blue and your engrave lines yellow. (It would be wise to put them on separate layers too, though this is not necessary)

*Set the lineweight for everything to 0.00mm)

*Save your file as a .dwg file.

CNC Router and Plasma Cutter Setup Instructions:

Note: Both machines can cut a 4'x8' sheet of material

*You need to draw an exterior dimension the size of your stock material around your cutout shapes.

*Do NOT use splines anywhere in your drawing.

*All of the cutout shapes should be no less than 1 inch from all other shapes and the border.

*All enclosed shapes need to be a single polyline.

*The exterior material outline should be vertically facing (portrait) and the bottom left corner should be set to (0, 0).

*For the CNC router, the file should be saved as a 2007 .dwg file.

*For the plasma cutter, the file should be saved as a 2004 .dxf file.