Real constraints
The same sketcher as the 3-D editor: coincident, tangent, equal, symmetric, dimensions that drive. A design stays right while you change it.
Laser and CNC
Parametric 2D for laser cutters and CNC routers
Draw with real constraints, make the material thickness a parameter that finger joints and boxes follow, and fill a rectangle with a living hinge. Kerf goes in when you export, in colour layers your laser software reads.
AThe toolpath
From a box to the cut file
- Set the thickness
Open Parameters and set
thickness = 3 mm, or let the box generator make the parameter for you. - Make the box
Laser ▾ › Laser box… with its width, depth and height. Each panel is a part extruded to the thickness, standing assembled in 3-D and lying flat in one sketch.
- Change your mind
The plywood turned out to be 6 mm. Change
thicknessto 6 and every slot, finger and panel follows. - Export with kerf
Type your machine’s kerf, 0.15 mm say. Outlines move out and holes move in by half of it, so joints fit; hinge slits and engraving stay put.
- Cut
Open the SVG or DXF in LightBurn or xTool Creative Space. Each colour is a layer: set cut, score and engrave once and keep them.
BThe Laser menu
Everything a sheet needs.
The laser tools are under Laser ▾ in the editor’s toolbar, in a sketch or out of one. Once a design has a thickness, the left panel keeps it, the finger width and the kerf at hand.
Thickness as a parameter
thickness drives every slot, tab and finger that depends on it. Change the stock, change one number.
Finger joints
A straight sketch line becomes fingers and slots, or two parts that meet get a pair that interlocks, as deep as the material is thick.
Box generator
A box with or without a lid from its size: each panel a 3-D part you can check for interference, all of them also laid out flat.
Living hinges
Rows of cuts that fill a rectangle you pick: set the cut length, bridge and row spacing, and they follow the rectangle when it moves.
Kerf at export
The kerf goes in when the file is written, so the drawing keeps the sizes the part should have.
Colour layers
Lines set to cut, engrave or score come out in one colour per operation, the layers LightBurn and xTool read.
Flat parts from 3-D
Design the assembly in 3-D, then export every plate with its outline and holes, grouped by thickness, one file per sheet.
CDesign here, cut there
Your laser's software opens it
LightBurn and xTool Creative Space drive the laser. ProtoJoint's SVG and DXF open in both, layers and all: design here, cut there.
ProtoJoint is for the designs you keep changing: your own product, sized to your material, adjusted for your machine.
→Your sheet
Make the box, then make it 6 mm.
Start from the box generator, or sketch your own part with dimensions.