Facilities/Notes

A Notes page. Available to all users.

OpenSCAD to Inkscape to Cambam

Creating a 2d layout in openscad can be a lot of fun, and a great way to work with parametric projects. We recently used openscad to generate the flat-pack design for our new bathroom vanity. The design required some manual bin-packing to layout items on a 4x8 plywood sheet, so we had to deal with that and had to learn how to juggle dimensions between the programs.

The main takeaway is to always use millimeters and DXFs between all three programs.

Openscad

The first thing to consider with OpenSCAD is that it can export SVG and DXF. SVG files will always export with a "0.5" width stroke around objects, which causes Inkscape to report the wrong width and height. To fix this, you can either manually edit the stroke width statement out of the SVG, or just use DXF export.

I found these modules to be helpful:

// Deploy a thickness to a 2d shape
module 3dify() {
	linear_extrude(wall_thickness) {
		children();
	}
}

// Convert a 2d item from inches to mm
module mmify() {
	scale([25.4, 25.4]) {
		children();
	}
}

Inkscape

Inkscape is awful to work with here. Open a new blank image, set the default units to mm, and set the perimeter. Then import the DXF objects one at a time, and manually pack them.

CamBam

Start a new document in cambam, set the units to mm, drag and drop the DXF onto the page.

Archived notes from old committee page

• Spacefelix's Running Notes for FC
• 14-2 Romex w/ Ground is good for 120VAC.
• Make Shop
• Light Repair - The small lights in the storeroom use F40T8 bipin fluorescent bulbs with 120V electronic ballasts for two bipin F40T8 bulbs. The large lights around the shop use either slimline (single pin) F96T12 bulbs with 120V magnetic ballasts for two slimline F96T12 bulbs or slimline F96T8 bulbs with 120V electronic ballasts for two slimline F96T8 bulbs. The regular Edison Socket fixtures use 65W-equivalent CFLs. Do not use fluorescent bulbs with dimmer switches, they will wear out faster.
• Carpentry - Do not use wet wood or pallets for building furniture meant to last and/or hold heavy loads. The wood has been ruined/warped and is of low quality.
• To run a club, there needs to be a degree of dedication towards the place; e.g. manage the maintenance and buildup of your place carefully.
• In a shop where many projects are being run at once, be mindful of who works on/owns what to avoid conflict.
• The best time to run a clean up is not each month, but after every convention; before, everyone is working on projects for the con. Afterwards, they will be done and ready to clean up.