How it’s made … Cape Craft Style!
Have you ever seen a really cool keyring or other promotional item made out of perspex, cut into shape and engraved, and then wondered “How do they do that?”.
I recently had the priviledge of finding out “How it is done” … My very own episode of “How its Made”, up close and personal. The educational process was courtecy of Cape Craft Services in Cape Town.
I was amazed to see just what exactly could be produced with their equipment, but more about that later. Let me narrate the process, just as though I was Brooks T. Moore (the narrator of “How its made” … but of course you knew that!).
First, the design is drawn in Corel Draw, because it is vector-based. For those of you that are math-and-science-phobes, this simply means that the design consists of lines and curves that do not lose their resolution when you adjust their size (unlike “graphics” which pixellate when you make them bigger), because vectors are based on mathematical formulas, not coloured dots (pixels). Of course, this then also makes it easy to convert the lines into instructions for the laser engraver / cutter to follow.
Yes, you read right. Laser technology is what makes this world go round. I now felt like I moved onto the set of Star Wars … But enough of the movies, back to reality. Making use of CO2 lasers the design is engraved onto the perspex, and the same laser, at a higher output, cuts the perspex as well. The machinery used an cut a maximum thickness of 20mm, which gives you an idea of the power of the lasers used. The maximum width that can be fit into a machine is 800mm, and as the machine has “pass-through” doors both front and back, it can theoretically fit any length you might require. Because it is computer controlled, and more so because the laser is such a precision tool, every design that is engraved and cut is a perfect replica of the one before.
Up to now we have assumed that perspex is the media that the object is made from, but it certainly does not end there. A myriad of substrates can be used – leather, balsa wood, Supawood, rubber, natural fabrics like silk and cotton (obviously this cannot be engraved, just cut), marble and granite, crystal, glass, metal (which can only be engraved, not cut) to name a few. There are even speciality substrates that is composed of two-colour bonds which reveals the second colour when the top layer is burnt off – perfect for signs and display items.
Speaking of signs and display items which Cape Craft Services does on a daily basis, let me tell you bit more about what this highly professional company can do. They specialise in custom-making trophies for any occasion, crafters blanks, acrylic display units, stensils in a variety of sizes and vinyl-cut signage. Anything you can imagine that can be made from any of the materials mentioned, they will be able to help you with. During my visit a client wanted a sewing guide re-made, and they were able to do this by scanning the original (which was broken), producing a vector-based image of the original, and cutting a perfect replica, with every hole and guidemark in exactly the same place as the original!
Now next time you see a cool promotional item, you will know “How it is made!” If you want more information about Cape Craft Services, visit their website www.capecraft.co.za.
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