3D visualization tool for custom electronics fabrication using laser cutter

Abstract

In this thesis, we present a 3D visualization tool for a laser cutter fabrication system that can be used to create customized electronic devices. The 3D visualization tool is a two part system. One part generates 3D models of the fabrication output from 2D SVG design files. In addition to the 3D model, the tool also creates an animated visualization of all the fabrication steps involved in creating the design, which includes all the steps for creating the geometry of the design as well as the steps for building the electronic circuit. These 3D models and animations are created using Blender's Python API, and the results are displayed in a Blender window. This tool has been used to visualize designs with many different features, including LED and quadrotor control circuits, structures with holes, and also 3D structures created through folding.