Shadow toolbox, package promotion !

Inclusive of design and mock-up

* 2 layers of two colors foam
* Max total thickness 45mm
* Exclude label print
* Exclude delivery

See our video of our new toolbox shadowing services…. and full details at Plixo’s Shadow Toolboxes

Theatre in action

At Plixo, we helped Kuan to make his project for an exhibition to become a reality.

This involved intricate laser cutting and accurate machining.

More at Plixo website.

I finally decided to tackle this issue to optimize productivity, reduce manual errors and allow our team to do more value-added of their precious time.

Good thing with CorelDraw is you can program your own macros in VBA, quite extensive sets of objects, pethods and properties, and reasonable performance.
Looking over internet, I found I was not the only one searching for this, but only a few full commercial solution were available.

So I coded it myself. Find below my 1st attempt.
Seems to work OK for only one level of inside shapes [by design] .
Will improve it when get more free time since most of our case are one level only so should solve the issue of my operator in 95% of the cases.

Here is an example: 

The main steps are:
1st stage:
- ungroup
- convert to curves
- break apart

2nd stage:
- parse all shapes and check if they intersect with eachother. If they intersect then either their intersection is equal to one of them i.e. this one is the fully included i.e. the hole, or the opposite, or it’s a real intersect that I don’t handle for now

3rd stage:
- in my case I change the outline color since this is used by the laser cutter to determine the order. Feel free to change to your own need.

Minimal error checking, no user interface for now.

Code:
Private Function POutlineInsideCurves(rangeToParse As ShapeRange, insideColor As Color) As ShapeRange

Dim s As Shape
Dim ss As Shape
Dim si As Shape
Dim sBreak As ShapeRange

Dim sCurves As New ShapeRange
Dim results As New ShapeRange

Dim i As Integer
Dim j As Integer
Dim count As Integer

‘Ungroup all 1st
Set rangeToParse = rangeToParse.UngroupAllEx

‘ Parse all shapes, put them as curves and break them
For Each s In rangeToParse
Select Case s.Type
Case cdrCurveShape
Case cdrRectangleShape, cdrEllipseShape
s.ConvertToCurves
Case cdrTextShape
s.ConvertToCurves
Case Else
‘ Should raise an error and display error message here
End Select

Set sBreak = s.BreakApartEx
sCurves.AddRange sBreak
Next s

‘ Parse all broken shapes and find which are insides
count = sCurves.count

End Sub

Actually, I’ve started writing a few extra macros, greatly inspired by the fantastic job of Alex and James [will let you find who they are ]

The plan is to distribute these macros for free when we will have a full set of them, and work on doing improved/faster one in C/C++ for professional use and sell them for a fee + include them with a line of laser cutter we hope to design in the next years, most probably based on an opensource design greatly scaled up ;-:

Alexis Martial
Managing Director and Crazy Encoder, Plixo

Wood is one of nature’s gift with its amazing structural properties.

At Plixo, we enable the designs that allows you to infuse this gift from nature into an eye catching item that would have a lasting impression.

Trials of Engraving on different materials: Wood Veneer
(designed by foreigndesignpolicy)

Trials of Engraving on different materials:Balsa
(designed by foreigndesignpolicy)

Trials Engraving on different materials: Laminate
(designed by foreigndesignpolicy)

Wine menu board, laser cut and engrave plywood
(designed by foreigndesignpolicy)

Wooden Pins, laser cut and engrave on Mapple
(designed by PUPILPEOPLE)

Glenfiddich for bar, laser engrave on solid wood

These are some of the works that we do at Plixo. We personalise your products or items with a touch of nature.

Wood engraving, like leather cutting is turning to more precise Plixo laser cutting and engraving to create items that are highly intricate.

This center piece measuring 2.5m with Oliva Signature lighted up by side lit ultra bright LED was designed and tested in our workshop. Using our laser machine to etch in a 1mm deep outline of the Oliva Signature. This created a Halo effect surrounding the top mounted acrylic with a truly lounge feeling. Programmable mood lighting (not shown in this picture) is added at the base of this bar counter for that extra special detail that is desired

Sound is materialised from the work of Sok Kuan. Using 20 pieces of continuous laser cut soundwave spectrum, she created a physical form of sound from a dull tone to a high pitched peak. (From the works of Sok Kuan)

We have also laser cut alternative colours of the sound wave using fluoresent green and transparent red. (From the works of Sok Kuan)

Fancy a Membership card that shines in exclusivity? We did a few trials for a client to create the touch of class and elegance with mirror acrylic.

This piece of design was tested on various materials. We have done the same design on mirror acrylic, coloured acrylic and alternative materials like (shown above) bronze sticker mounted on cardboard. This experimentation allows designers and clients to explore different ideas and use of materials that Plixo can offer, rather than just a purely technical service of laser cutting and engraving services. (Designed by Mynn)

More at: 
• Plixo’s Acrylic Mirror Sheets
• Plixo’s Jewelry, Gifts & Awards
• Plixo’s Interior Design Applications