Engraving with Sandblasting / gravering med sandblästring: Skillnad mellan sidversioner

• Find or create design in vector or .ai 


  ◦ You can convert png or other images to vector in Illustrator (computer in makerspace) using image trace . There are youtube videos on how to do this. 


  ◦ Beware that too many small parts will make it more difficult 


• Import to illustrator (you can use computers in makerspace) 


• Export as illustrator 8 file 


  ◦ Click “Save as” -> choose illustrator file 


• Save on USB stick or use the share network drive


NOTE: The following steps describe using the cutter with Roland Cut Studio and the wiki article describes it with SignCut2, both softwares have advantages and disadvantages.  

• Connect Roland GX-24 cutter to the printer PC using the USB cable 


• You can use the green vinyl roll ( don’t forget to pay in the makerspace shop) or use a leftover piece from the drawer. The piece should be big enough to cover your glass/metal piece (or you can use transfer paper to cover the rest). 


• If you use the roll


  ◦ Put the little wheels of the printer on the first and the last white marked section. Load the vinyl from the back of the printer until the rolls. 


If you have any issues with the cutter, Turn in Off and On again. 

There is an option in the machines Menu to make the cutter run slower.  

The reason for loading the cutter before importing the design to the program is that the program can read the size of the roll or piece. 

• Open Roland Cut Studio or SignCut2 (Roland Cut Studio is a bit easier but SignCut2 is more versatile) the next steps are for Roland Cut Studio: 


• Click “file” -> “cutting setup”->”properties”->”get from machine” to get the size of the role or piece 


• Drag and drop your design file onto the field (open/import does not work with .ai files sometimes)


• On the bottom left you see a red point which is the origin that will align with the origin you set in the printer 


• Measure your piece that you want to engrave and decide how big your design should be


• Size your project (mark and double click and size on corners). You can also use “view”-> “Docking panel” -> “size and shape” to create exact sizing 


• The exact location of the design is not so important as the origin can be moved on the printer. However, leave yourself a bit of space to cover your piece properly around the design. 


• Ones everything is ready click “File”-> “Cutting”-> “ok” and the cutter will automatically start cutting. 


TIP: For aligning your design on your piece it can help to cut  an additional narrow long rectangle on a good spot where you can align the vinyl and the piece. 

• Take the cut vinyl out of the cutter by opening the lever and cutting the vinyl to size 


• Put transfer paper on the front (green side of the vinyl), covering the whole design. This will keep all pieces in place for the weeding part. 


• Push on the paper properly using a credit card or the plastic card tool. 


• Take off the white back paper of the vinyl 


  ◦ The white back paper of the vinyl should not be cut through and stay one piece. If it is, you used to much force on cutting.  


  ◦ Now the narrow alignment rectangle can help. Weed that one as well, and cover it after applying, otherwise it will be engraved. 


• Push the mask on properly, again using a credit card or tool


• Once the piece is placed and aligned properly, remove the transfer paper 


  ◦ Peel on high angle to avoid small pieces coming off 




There is a more detailed page about the Sanblasting cabinet on the wiki. If you have not used the Sandblasting room before, please read that one as it is more detailed and more updated: https://wiki.makerspace.se/Bl%C3%A4stersk%C3%A5p

Prepare the room:

• Switch on the light of the sandblaster 


• Close the door between the blast room and the chemical storage properly.

• Check that the air cleaner's filter does not need to be changed.

• Switch on the air filter and put the timer on 4 hours 


• Check if the vacuum is not too full 


  ◦ Sand is heavy, so too full means one cannot carry it any longer. So it is suggested to change the bad already with about 10% filled. 


Prepare the sandblasting cabinet

• Check if the window protection on the inside of the pane is securely attached and clean

  ◦ If not try to wipe it  

Start the blasting:  

• Place your piece into the sandblaster 


• Using of mouth protection is advised

• Close the sandblaster cabin and secure the hooks 


  ◦ Make sure you do not pinch the gloves while closing the cabin


• Open the red valve underneath the cabin on the right to around 20 degrees, this will help the sand to circulate properly 


• Switch on the vacuum 


  ◦ It’s quite loud, so use ear protection 


• Use one glove to hold the piece and the other glove to hold the gun 


  ◦ Depending on material choose the proper distance, for engraving about 15 cm is good 


  ◦ Try to avoid blasting directly onto the gloves as it wears them out 


  ◦ It should not take long to engrave, about 20 seconds. It is sometimes difficult to see if the area is engraved (especially on aluminium). If you want to check, first switch off the vacuum and close the red valve. 


• Once finished, close the red valve. 

• Clap your hands together in the cupboard to get rid of dust on the gloves.

• Let the vacuum run for another 60 seconds to ensure the air is cleaned, then switch the vacuum off  

• Open the cabin and take out the piece 


• Close the cabin 


• Clean the floor 


• Switch off the light of the cabin 


• Leave the air filter running 


• Now you can remove the vinyl 


  ◦ There will still be sand caught in the vinyl, so make sure you do this over a surface you can clean easily 


• Don’t forget to pay for the used vinyl