NCSU Coaster

This project can be used to make one coaster or a set of 4 coasters. This project is appropriate for high school aged students that are NCSU fans.

Learning outcomes:

• Individuals will be able to cut wood blocks to the proper size.
• Individuals will be able to set up and use the a laser cutter

STELs:

Standards:

• STEL-8O, Develop a device or system for the marketplace, individuals make their own coaster for the marketplace.

Practices:

• Making and Doing.

Context:

• Material Conversion and Processes.

• Cherry wood
• NCSU logo file (provided on a flash drive)
• 220 Sand paper
• Polyurethane finishing spray
• Table Saw
• Laser Cutter

Using the Table saw, set the width to 3.5 inches, and cut the wood into a 3.5 X 3.5" square. Make a very faint diagonal lines with pencil from the corners of the square to mark the center of the block.

Open the illustrator file, make sure that the color of the stroke is blue (Red: 0, Green: 0, Blue: 255), and the stroke width is 0.0001 inches. Next, click print, and then go to the laser cutter application. Place the coaster in the upper left corner of the laser cutter. Make sure the laser cutter is plugged up.

Center the laser in the middle of the coaster, by clicking the arrows to move the laser left and right, up and down, make sure the relocate pointer button is selected. Once the laser is centered with the center of the coaster, click the button that says to pointer, this aligns the center of the design with the center of the coaster. Change the material by clicking the setting button (underneath the to pointer button) to natural, wood, hard wood, cherry wood, and the thickness to 0.250" and the engraving to +20%, click Apply then Ok. Then click the green play button to start the laser.

The laser will cut the logo into the coaster. When the laser finishes, open the lid and take the coaster out. Don't forget to erase the faint pencil marks on the coaster before moving on to the next step.

Take a piece of P220 sand paper and lightly sand the coaster with the grain, to smooth out the edges and the faces.

Lay the coaster out and spray the sides with polyurethane finishing spray. Once the face up side is, dry flip over and spray again. Allow time for proper drying.