JointPanel

Create pieces larger than your laser cutter by joining them with Dove Tails

Settings for Dove Tail Joints

angle

how much should fingers widen (-80 to 80)

depth

how far the dove tails stick out of/into the edge (multiples of thickness)

radius

radius used on all four corners (multiples of thickness)

size

from one middle of a dove tail to another (multiples of thickness)

JointPanel Settings

sections left to right in mm 🛈

sections back to front in mm 🛈

separate

draw pieces apart so they can be cut to form a large sheet

Default Settings

thickness

thickness of the material (in mm) 🛈

format

format of resulting file 🛈

tabs

width of tabs holding the parts in place (in mm)(not supported everywhere) 🛈

qr_code

Add a QR Code with link or command line to the generated output

debug

print surrounding boxes for some structures 🛈

labels

label the parts (where available)

reference

print reference rectangle with given length (in mm)(zero to disable) 🛈

inner_corners

style for inner corners 🛈

burn

burn correction (in mm)(bigger values for tighter fit) 🛈

This can be used to just create a big panel in a smaller laser cutter. But the actual use is to split large parts into multiple smaller pieces. Copy the outline onto the sheet and then use the pieces to cut it into multiple parts that each can fit your laser cutter. Note that each piece must be cut with the sheet surrounding it to ensure the burn correction (aka kerf) is correct. Depending on your vector graphics software you may need to duplicate your part multiple times and then generate the intersection between one copy and each rectangular part.

The Boxes.py drawings assume that the laser is cutting in the center of the line and the width of the line represents the material that is cut away. Make sure your changes work the same way and you do not cutting away the kerf.

Small dove tails make it easier to fit parts in without problems. Lookout for pieces cut loose where the dove tails meet the edge of the parts. Move your part if necessary to avoid dove tails or details of your part colliding in a weird way.

For plywood this method works well with a very stiff press fit. Aim for needing a hammer to join the pieces together. This way they will feel like they have been welder together.