9 Panels AutoCAD

This is the first part of the panel progression project. Nine individual and unique panels were made in AutoCAD with the goal of using the panels as a template to cut wood veneer with a laser cutter. The image above highlights the AutoCAD template of the nine panels.

9 Panels Vcarve

To make sure the AutoCAD template would cut a program called VCarve was used to simulate how the laser would cut the wood. This software would show what was being cut and in what order. The simulation was used and run until everything looked right and ran smoothly. Using this program helped eliminate any potential errors that could possibly arise when cutting on the laser cutter.

9 Panels Physical

The physical model was laser cut on wood veneer that was created in AutoCAD and simulated in Vcarve. The computer models provided exactly what the physical model would look like when finally cut.

Final Panel Vcarve

Once the nine-panel phase of the project was completed it was time to move to phase two. In Phase Two, I chose my favorite panel from the nine panels to create one large panel. This panel was scaled up to a one-foot by one-foot square. Vcarve was used again to make sure the template would cut with the CNC cutter.

Final Panel Physical

Using the CNC cutter allowed me to use plywood to cut my panel, which is a material that can’t be used with the laser cutter. Creating one large panel made out of plywood was a very fun and creative process. It was amazing to see the progression from the nine panels to the one large panel.

Preliminary Sketches

The inspiration behind each panel was derived from architecture all around the world. I chose to mainly focus on Florida because of its many different architectural styles. These preliminary sketches helped me understand what it would look like in the final form.