Alternative Joints

corner snap-fit tenon pieces wrap the circumference of this box

These boxes are experiments with alternatives to the ubiquitous laser-cut box joints.

Postcard Box

This box was created to hold information postcards on an outdoor sign. It is designed to keep the contents dry in the rain. It is made from acrylic and features a reinforced hinge.

Railroad Clock

This railroad platform-style clock was made of parts from a clock that had broken. The clock mechanism, the printed face with the numerals and the bezel glass were reused in this design.

3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Wireless Kit

I acquired a 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Wireless Kit. The kit bundles a SpaceMouse Wireless and a CadMouse Wireless.

SpaceMouse Wireless (upper-left), CadMouse Wireless (upper-right)

Update: I can no longer recommend the CadMouse Wireless or SpaceMouse on Mac. I have found the drivers have become too problematic. 
I am now using a Logitech MX Master 3 for Mac in conjunction with the Logi Options+ software for my Fusion 360 work. 

Draft Box with Double-Hinged Lid

This box design used Direct Modeling techniques in Fusion 360 and two drop-in hinge widget components which I had previously designed. The links to the original hinge components were broken, and the hinges were then customized for the application. 

Small Tansu

The small tansu was inspired by a mizuya-style kitchen tansu (see below). Fusion 360 was used to design the model at 1/5th the scale of the original tansu. The tansu model was designed for and constructed with laser cutting techniques. There are 187 parts in the assembly - 22 independently moving parts.

Ultimately, this small tansu is intended to be a desktop secretary.

The Voccell DLS Laser Cutter

The Voccell DLS 50 Laser Cutter

In December 2016, after 14 months of delays I canceled my Glowforge order and ordered a Voccell DLS 50W laser cutter. I received my DLS 5 months later in May 2017. The Voccell DLS 50 was $3500 at the time including the water chiller and shipping. Today Voccell lists the price at $5000.

The Glowforge

Glowforge describes their product as a "3D laser printer," but it is the same class of device as what the rest of the world refers to as a CO2 laser cutter and engraver. The Glowforge originally went on sale as a pseudo-crowdsourced project by soliciting pre-orders in Sept. and Oct. of 2015 with an "expected delivery" by Dec 2015. They received $28M in fully-paid pre-orders during the phase.

Many delays and feature-changes ensued, and the first finished units were not shipped until July 2017. Most of the backlog was fulfilled over the following year, but some international orders still lingered.