jross
Well-known member
Cut 3 small planes (nutball, flyer, delta) directly from tiled plans. Because they were simple planes, I can recycle the plans. My issue comes on the bigger builds like the Explorer I'm working on now. The score cuts turn the plans into confetti. I managed to print several full-sized plans on a plotter and have been transferring them to foam board by using a pin to mark junctions and corners. With the plans beside me I then connect the dots. Hoping to re-use the plans without chopping them up as access to the plotter is complicated, tiling is a PITA and I dislike creating garbage if I can help it.
My issue comes mostly with the channel for the A and B folds. It seems the pin hole method is not that accurate. The pin hole is 1 mm and if you're off on the channels by 1 mm, it fits poorly. Add to that the pin holes aren't always dead on the mark.
For marking curves, I've used the tip of a barbecue skewer to leave an indentation on the foam and follow that up by using a pencil to highlight the indentation I've left. Longer curves are easier to cut but shorter ones never look as nice as the laser-cut plans. No big deal.
I know the simplest technique for accurate cuts is to ditch my tree-hugger ways, reprint each time and cut the plans up.
What are your techniques for recycling plans with accurate cuts instead of making confetti? Am I being anal by trying to keep my plans in a full sheet and recycle? Any techniques for cutting smaller radius corners? Love to hear people's thoughts and tricks.
My issue comes mostly with the channel for the A and B folds. It seems the pin hole method is not that accurate. The pin hole is 1 mm and if you're off on the channels by 1 mm, it fits poorly. Add to that the pin holes aren't always dead on the mark.
For marking curves, I've used the tip of a barbecue skewer to leave an indentation on the foam and follow that up by using a pencil to highlight the indentation I've left. Longer curves are easier to cut but shorter ones never look as nice as the laser-cut plans. No big deal.
I know the simplest technique for accurate cuts is to ditch my tree-hugger ways, reprint each time and cut the plans up.
What are your techniques for recycling plans with accurate cuts instead of making confetti? Am I being anal by trying to keep my plans in a full sheet and recycle? Any techniques for cutting smaller radius corners? Love to hear people's thoughts and tricks.