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Laser Cutting Prototypes

A project log for Kerbal Spaceship Potato

This is an input focused control panel for Kerbal Space Program.

matthew-peverillMatthew Peverill 12/02/2018 at 07:220 Comments

Just finished lasercutting my first solid prototype on my friend's glowforge! For those not familiar: you start out making a vector drawing in inkscape, then upload it to a web app. Specify which colors are engrave and which cut, and press the button. I used the excellent Tabbed Box Maker to build an enclosure. I tried to cut it so that the top (with the switches) could hinge out from the rest. Here are some pictures:

There are a few issues, justifying the prototype status:

  1. The final product ended up a bit bigger than I was visualizing it. I may be able to shrink it during development, but the extra space will likely be helpful for now. 
  2. The space/rocket switch isn't labelled. 
  3. The screw holes for the arduino aren't quite big enough. 
  4. I didn't cut holes for the tabs in the rotary switches. These are designed to keep the base rotationally fixed, and are required for them to sit flush with the panel.
  5. The rocker switches I use aren't reacting well to being squeezed in the long direction - they are a bit stiff. 
  6. The box is a bit flimsy - it would have helped to make it deeper, and/or to build in some crossbars. This will also help with the feel of the buttons (since the panel flexes a bit atm when you press).
  7. Still - it's looking pretty good! The action group buttons fit perfectly.

Over the next few days I'll go through the different parts in more detail as I put it together, and I'll finally talk about how I picked parts. 

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