Cutting Patterns

[Chavez]

Hi and thanks in advance for your advice!

I've recently started designing cutting patterns in inkscape and I am wondering what do people usually cut their patterns from?

I can print the test ones on regular A4, but then once the pattern has been tested and I'm happy with it, I would prefer to cut it out of something a bit harder. Do you use thick paper? Sheets of plastic? Anything else?

Thanks!

[Ladykahu]

I use butchers paper for practice, then either a heavy weight artists paper (I scored several large artist pads for free) or for really long term patterns I use the cheap $2 shop plastic cutting boards

Natalie

[Suicide]

I've recently started designing cutting patterns in inkscape and I am wondering what do people usually cut their patterns from?

Hi Chavez,

Myself for "one time pattern" I used just a grocery store brown bags, cut , unfold and put several of them together (as many as requred) with narrow sort of transparent office tape like these

For long lasting patterns (actually lalmost lifetime lasting ) I used to use different sorts of office binders. They are usually available in different thicknesses, sizes, from different plastics (firm, pliable, etc) so you can choose the right one. Just cut it with heavy duty shears. Also cost for cents (especially Chinese ones and with no any springs inside).

Edited January 10, 2012 by Suicide

[Andrew Chee]

My wife got an automatic paper cutter for Christmas. The thing is great. I now design my patterns in google sketchup, export it out to the cutter's program, and then it will automatically the pattern out in whatever paper I want. I use super heavy 140lb card stock and it makes nice patterns. This is good for quick prototyping work. The patterns are easy to design and they come out perfect.

There's a few places in the SF Bay area called the tech shop that has industrial machines that you can get a membership to and use their stuff. They have laser cutters there. I have a friend who has a membership. I'm thinking that when I finalize on a few patterns, I can just give him the file and he can cut them out on 1/4" acrylic and I can then use that as my cutting pattern. Hope this helps.

Andrew

[rblalock]

I have made a few reusable craft aids. Got a sheet of heavy clear mylar from art supply store. Sized an image of my pattern on the pc and printed it on regular printer paper. Taped the paper to the mylar. Used a small stylus to trace the image into the mylar (pressing relatively hard as I traced). Removed the tape and paper. This left a raised area on the bottom of the mylar similar to a craft aid. Prep my leather and rub the pattern onto it. I have even used clear plastic squeeze bottles from dishwashing soap - the plastic is somewhat pliant.

For one time projects, I will print an image on a piece of computer paper and trace it with a stylus.

[Chavez]

Thanks for all your advice.

The craftaid-ish idea sounds interesting=)

Has anyone had any experience cutting thin (1-2mm) plexi? Or should I go for softer plastics? My idea was to print the pattern out on a laser printer and then transfer it to a plastic sheet by ironing. But then I still have to accurately cut it out, so the plastic choice is quite important here =(

I'm also wondering how much it would cost to order a dozen templates from a laser-cutting firm and send them some .svg files with designs... Has anyone had any experience with them?

[Andrew Chee]

Thanks for all your advice.

The craftaid-ish idea sounds interesting=)

Has anyone had any experience cutting thin (1-2mm) plexi? Or should I go for softer plastics? My idea was to print the pattern out on a laser printer and then transfer it to a plastic sheet by ironing. But then I still have to accurately cut it out, so the plastic choice is quite important here =(

I'm also wondering how much it would cost to order a dozen templates from a laser-cutting firm and send them some .svg files with designs... Has anyone had any experience with them?

I spoke to a local guy about this and he charged $100/hour. He said that he had a 100 watt laser that could cut up to about 1/4" acrylic of a maximum 18"x36". If you fit all your patterns within this space it should take less than and hour for them to finalize the files and cut all the patterns out.

Andrew

[Chavez]

I spoke to a local guy about this and he charged $100/hour. He said that he had a 100 watt laser that could cut up to about 1/4" acrylic of a maximum 18"x36". If you fit all your patterns within this space it should take less than and hour for them to finalize the files and cut all the patterns out.

Andrew

Thanks Andrew,

A $100/hr seems to be quite a lot for a pattern, especially considering that I'm not trading and not going to be trading for a while. Well, its nice to know the prices anyway.

Looks like it's scissors and chinese plastic files for me ))

[Sylvia]

Hi and thanks in advance for your advice!

I've recently started designing cutting patterns in inkscape and I am wondering what do people usually cut their patterns from?

I can print the test ones on regular A4, but then once the pattern has been tested and I'm happy with it, I would prefer to cut it out of something a bit harder. Do you use thick paper? Sheets of plastic? Anything else?

Thanks!

If you were just creating pieces to cut the shapes for a bag or something like that I think Formica would work nicely.

[bkingery]

Don't know if you have a dollar store around you anywhere but I recently found a bunch of flexible plastic placemats that are excellent for patterns, flexible and strong enough to last for decades

Peace

Bryan