Learning By ExamplesCreating a Customizable Laser-Cut Office Sign

Creating a Customizable Laser-Cut Office Sign

In this tutorial, we’ll walk through creating a customizable laser-cut office sign using the SVGShape component from the replicad-decorate library. We’ll use the CADbuildrSign class as our example, demonstrating how to integrate SVG paths and text into a 3D model suitable for laser cutting.

Step 1: Setting Up the SVGs

We’ll start by defining the SVGs for the logo and the text. For this example, we’ll use the CADbuildr logo and the text “CADbuildr”.

Logo SVG Example

Here is the logo as an image but you can also open it and modify the SVG code:

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 375 375" width="200" height="200">
    <path fill="#f2f2f2"
        d="
    M196.414 58.52
    a129.095 129.095 0 00-18.996 0
    l-10.774-21.196
    a130.39 130.39 0 00-23.727 7.715
    l3.73 23.488
    a129.341 129.341 0 00-14.562 10.586
    l-21.137-10.797
    a130.295 130.295 0 00-14.683 20.195
    l16.808 16.8
    a129.255 129.255 0 00-5.582 17.145
    l-23.422 3.695
    a129.506 129.506 0 000 24.984
    l23.422 3.7
    a129.255 129.255 0 005.582 17.14
    l-16.808 16.801
    a130.295 130.295 0 0014.683 20.199
    l21.137-10.801
    a129.341 129.341 0 0014.562 10.586
    l-3.73 23.492
    a130.001 130.001 0 0014.75 5.539
    v-50.809
    c-16.434-9.82-27.45-27.789-27.45-48.34
    c0-31.07 25.16-56.258 56.195-56.258
    s56.195 25.188 56.195 56.258
    c0 20.55-11.012 38.52-27.445 48.336
    v50.813
    a130.001 130.001 0 0014.746-5.54
    l-3.73-23.492
    a129.341 129.341 0 0014.562-10.586
    l21.137 10.8
    a130.295 130.295 0 0014.683-20.198
    l-16.805-16.8
    a129.255 129.255 0 005.582-17.141
    l23.418-3.7
    a129.506 129.506 0 000-24.984
    l-23.418-3.695
    a129.255 129.255 0 00-5.582-17.144
    l16.805-16.801
    a130.295 130.295 0 00-14.683-20.195
    l-21.137 10.797
    a129.341 129.341 0 00-14.562-10.586
    l3.73-23.488
    a130.39 130.39 0 00-23.727-7.715
    L196.414 58.52
    Z
    " />
    <path fill="#ff912c"
        d="M186.02 156.867l-19.777-11.434a2.675 2.675 0 01-1.399-2.418v-41.465c-11.004 7.32-18.262 19.836-18.262 34.055 0 15.074 8.172 28.207 20.305 35.293v171.625a5.215 5.215 0 0010.426 0v-87.672a2.934 2.934 0 015.867 0v60.02a4.235 4.235 0 008.473 0v-60.02a2.93 2.93 0 015.863 0v27.997a5.215 5.215 0 0010.43 0V170.898c12.13-7.086 20.301-20.219 20.301-35.293 0-14.219-7.258-26.735-18.258-34.055v41.465c0 .996-.535 1.918-1.399 2.418l-19.781 11.434a2.68 2.68 0 01-2.79 0z" />

</svg>

Text SVG Example

CADbuildr

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 300 50">
  <text x="0" y="40" font-family="poppins" font-size="40">
    CADbuildr
  </text>
</svg>

Step 2: Defining the CADbuildrSign Class

The CADbuildrSign class encapsulates the logic for creating the sign.

# %%
import math
from cadbuildr.foundation import *

# CADbuildr Logo
cadbuildr_log_svg = """

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 375 375">
    <path fill="#f2f2f2"
        d="
    M196.414 58.52
    a129.095 129.095 0 00-18.996 0
    l-10.774-21.196
    a130.39 130.39 0 00-23.727 7.715
    l3.73 23.488
    a129.341 129.341 0 00-14.562 10.586
    l-21.137-10.797
    a130.295 130.295 0 00-14.683 20.195
    l16.808 16.8
    a129.255 129.255 0 00-5.582 17.145
    l-23.422 3.695
    a129.506 129.506 0 000 24.984
    l23.422 3.7
    a129.255 129.255 0 005.582 17.14
    l-16.808 16.801
    a130.295 130.295 0 0014.683 20.199
    l21.137-10.801
    a129.341 129.341 0 0014.562 10.586
    l-3.73 23.492
    a130.001 130.001 0 0014.75 5.539
    v-50.809
    c-16.434-9.82-27.45-27.789-27.45-48.34
    c0-31.07 25.16-56.258 56.195-56.258
    s56.195 25.188 56.195 56.258
    c0 20.55-11.012 38.52-27.445 48.336
    v50.813
    a130.001 130.001 0 0014.746-5.54
    l-3.73-23.492
    a129.341 129.341 0 0014.562-10.586
    l21.137 10.8
    a130.295 130.295 0 0014.683-20.198
    l-16.805-16.8
    a129.255 129.255 0 005.582-17.141
    l23.418-3.7
    a129.506 129.506 0 000-24.984
    l-23.418-3.695
    a129.255 129.255 0 00-5.582-17.144
    l16.805-16.801
    a130.295 130.295 0 00-14.683-20.195
    l-21.137 10.797
    a129.341 129.341 0 00-14.562-10.586
    l3.73-23.488
    a130.39 130.39 0 00-23.727-7.715
    L196.414 58.52
    Z
    " />
    <path fill="#ff912c"
        d="M186.02 156.867l-19.777-11.434a2.675 2.675 0 01-1.399-2.418v-41.465c-11.004 7.32-18.262 19.836-18.262 34.055 0 15.074 8.172 28.207 20.305 35.293v171.625a5.215 5.215 0 0010.426 0v-87.672a2.934 2.934 0 015.867 0v60.02a4.235 4.235 0 008.473 0v-60.02a2.93 2.93 0 015.863 0v27.997a5.215 5.215 0 0010.43 0V170.898c12.13-7.086 20.301-20.219 20.301-35.293 0-14.219-7.258-26.735-18.258-34.055v41.465c0 .996-.535 1.918-1.399 2.418l-19.781 11.434a2.68 2.68 0 01-2.79 0z" />

</svg>
"""

# CADbuildr Text SVG
text_svg = """
<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 300 50">
  <text x="0" y="40" font-family="poppins" font-size="40">CADbuildr</text>

</svg>
"""

# Spacer dimensions
spacer_radius = 5  # 5mm radius of the spacer cylinder
spacer_height = 20  # height of the spacer cylinder
spacer_hole_radius = 3  # 3mm radius of the hole in the spacer


class CADbuildrSign(Assembly):
    def __init__(self):

        # Add plate to assembly
        plate = self.get_plate()
        self.add_component(plate)

        # Add spacers to assembly
        radius = 130  # Same as hole positions
        for angle_deg in [0, 120, 240]:
            angle_rad = math.radians(angle_deg)
            x = radius * math.cos(angle_rad)
            y = radius * math.sin(angle_rad)
            tf = TFHelper()
            tf.translate([x, y, -spacer_height])  # Position spacer behind the plate
            spacer = self.get_spacer()
            self.add_component(spacer, tf.get_tf())

    def get_plate(self):
        # Initialize the component
        plate = Part()

        # Background extrusion (circular plate)
        s = Sketch(plate.xy())
        center_point = Point(s, 0, 0)
        circle = Circle(center_point, 150)
        extrusion = Extrusion(circle, 2)
        plate.add_operation(extrusion)

        # Logo cutout
        s = Sketch(plate.xy())
        logo_shape = SVGShape(
            s, cadbuildr_log_svg, xshift=0, yshift=-27, angle=0, scale=0.5
        )
        logo_extrusion = Extrusion(logo_shape, 2, cut=True)
        plate.add_operation(logo_extrusion)

        # Text cutout
        s = Sketch(plate.xy())
        text_shape = SVGShape(s, text_svg, xshift=0, yshift=80, angle=0, scale=1.0)
        text_extrusion = Extrusion(text_shape, 2, cut=True)
        plate.add_operation(text_extrusion)

        # Add holes for spacers
        s = Sketch(plate.xy())
        radius = 130  # Slightly less than the plate radius
        for angle_deg in [0, 120, 240]:
            angle_rad = math.radians(angle_deg)
            x = radius * math.cos(angle_rad)
            y = radius * math.sin(angle_rad)
            hole_center = Point(s, x, y)
            hole_circle = Circle(hole_center, spacer_hole_radius)
            hole_extrusion = Extrusion(hole_circle, 2, cut=True)
            plate.add_operation(hole_extrusion)

        return plate

    def get_spacer(self):
        # Create spacer component (cylinder)
        spacer = Part()
        s = Sketch(spacer.xy())
        center_point = Point(s, 0, 0)
        circle = Circle(center_point, spacer_radius)
        extrusion = Extrusion(circle, spacer_height)
        spacer.add_operation(extrusion)

        # remove inside of the spacer
        s = Sketch(spacer.xy())
        center_point = Point(s, 0, 0)
        circle = Circle(center_point, spacer_hole_radius)
        extrusion = Extrusion(circle, spacer_height, cut=True)
        spacer.add_operation(extrusion)

        return spacer


show(CADbuildrSign())

# %%

As you can see the sign is made of 3 spacers and a circle plate with the logo and text cut out.

  • The spacers are made of a cylinder with a hole in the middle using 2 Extrusions operations ( one for the cylinder and one for the hole).
  • The plate is also made of an extruded circles. Adding to it : the logo svg, the text svg and the holes for the spacers.

Step 3: Building and Visualizing the Sign

Step 4: Customizing Your Sign

You can customize the sign by modifying the SVGs or adjusting the parameters in the CADbuildrSign class. To do so click the edit button on the previous render and it will open it in the Playground where you can modify the code.

Replace the cadbuildr_log_svg with your own logo SVG. Note that SVG support is still in beta and some SVGs might not be supported. Make sure to simplify as much as possible the paths and remove any unnecessary elements of the SVGs

Adjusting Text

Modify the text_svg to change the sign’s text. You can adjust the font-family,

Scaling and Positioning

Adjust the scale, position (xshift, yshift) and angle parameters in the SVGShape instances to resize or reposition the logo and text.

Conclusion

You’ve now created a customizable laser-cut office sign using SVGShape. By leveraging SVG paths and text, you can design intricate and personalized signs tailored to your office’s aesthetic.

Ordering your sign

Numerous online services offer laser cutting services. Use the export button to save your design as a STEP file and upload it to the service of your choice. Similarly the spacers can be 3d printed or ordered directly online on amazon or at hardware stores.

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