Pegboard Designer

About

Pegboard Designer is an indirect 3D modeling tool tailored specifically for laser cutters, 3D printers, and CNC machines. Customization is facilitated through an intuitive menu with customizable parameters.

Features:

• IN and MM unit versions available.
• Custom board/panel thickness
• Wall mount and free standing design options
• Custom round, pill, rectangular hole size configurations
• Optional base stand for free-standing picture frames.

Designs can be exported as SVG (2D) or STL (3D) files. SVG can be used with laser cutters and CNCs. STL models can be imported into 3D slicer application to be used with 3D printers

The Picture Frame Designer script operates within the powerful JSCAD environment—an open-source project that enables parametric 3D modeling through code. Check it out here: JSCAD.

Menu Parameters

COMMON

Units

units of measure are in either in inches or mm millimeters.

While you can switch between inches and millimeters during design, the generator doesn’t automatically convert the input values to the new unit, so adjustments must be made manually. Cutgen offers separate design generator options for both ‘IN’ and ‘MM’ measurements, each with pre-set default values. For an optimal experience, we recommend choosing a single measurement unit and avoiding switching between them.

Foot Notch Tolerance (+/- to size)

This parameter applies to free-standing designs. This parameter can be adjusted to get the desired snugness/fit between the foot notch and pegboard panel.

This parameter is sometimes referred to as ‘kerf’ on lasers and cnc tools (subtractive processes). Since a laser removes material the width of its beam, you need to make the dimension(s) smaller by the width of the cutting device. For 3D printers (additive process), sometimes the final dimension is smaller than the programmed value, thus needing a small offset correction to achieve the programmed value.

To make the +/- correction offset, use digital calipers to measure the width the foot notch.

PANEL

Panel Thickness

Z thickness tolerance (+/-)

This parameter can be used for an additive process like 3D printing, where an offset is applied to achieve a more accurate output ‘Panel Thickness’. Only for cases where this is a critical parameter.

Panel Width/Height

The larger the rendered dimensions of a panel (width/height), the greater the processing required, which reduces rendering speed performance.

Panel Corner Radius

Corner/Circle Smoothness

in most cases, the default segment smoothness should be unnoticeable, but can be adjusted as needed.

This will affect the panel and foot corners, as well as panel holes.

NOTE:

The higher the smoothness value, the slower the rendering speed. Something to consider. This is more of a factor for large panels.

Panel Foot Notch

By default, the notch depth applied to the panel is half the height of the standoff foot. Unchecking the ‘Panel Notch = 50% of Foot Notch Depth’ checkbox, allows for a customized depth setting.

PEGBOARD HOLES

Peg Hole Shape

Select Circle, Rectangle, or Pill shape.

Peg Hole Sizing - Rectangle

Separate Rectangle Width and Height adjustment parameters.

Peg Hole Sizing - Pill

Separate Pill Width and Height adjustment parameters.

Peg Hole Sizing - Circle

A single Circle diameter adjustment parameter.

“+” Overlay (Rect & Pill)

Peg Hole Tolerance

This is a ‘snugness’ parameter. Compensation for laser kerf or 3D printing tolerance adjustment. Allows for ‘fine tuning’ of the hole size clearance where fit is important.

Center to Center Spacing

Custom hole size spacing.

Edge Margin

Stagger Peg Pattern (rows)

FEET

Foot Style

Three styles to choose from: None, Rectangle, and Rounded Triangle

Foot Thickness = Panel Thickness

For laser cutting, the panel and foot will typcially be cut from the same material, so this is useful. If 3D printing, you can make the foot thickness any thickness.

Foot Length/Height

Auto Foot Notch

This allows for Auto or Custom depth of the foot notch.

Rect Foot Corner Radius

Adjust the corner radius of the Rectangle foot.

Distance from side edge (x)

3D Foot Separation (Y offset)

This allows for better visibility of your model when working in 3D view.

WALL MOUNT

Use Mount Holes

Mount Hole Diameter

Hole Offset X and Y

STANDOFFS

Count per corner

This parameter is more applicable to laser cutters. To achieve the desired standoff height, multiple standoffs can be cut and stacked. For 3D printing, you can set the count = 1 and then set the desired thickness.

Standoff Thickness

For laser cutting, the thickness of the standoff will be the thickness of the material you are cutting. If 3D printing, you can create a custom thickness, by unchecking the standoff thickness = panel thickness checkbox.

Standoff Inner/Outer Diameter

2D Flat Layout Standoff Gap

Only used for 2D flat layout. Used to determine separation distance you want in the final SVG output file.

3D Standoff Separation (Z offset per layer)

This is only a model visualization parameter used in 3D view.

VIEW/EXPORT

Here you can set 2D or 3D view.

In addition, there are individual SHOW/HIDE checkboxes used to control object visibility in the view port. This is helpful if you don’t want to output a certain object to an SVG or STL file.

Show/Hide Side Navigation

Shortcut ‘View’ keys

To enhance viewing and navigation of 3D and 2D objects, six shortcut keys are available.

3D - Keyboard Shortcuts

Quick view keyboard shortcuts are provide. The view perspective is if you laid the panel down onto a flat surface and you are looking down at it.

3D to 2D Flat Layout

When switching from 3D to 2D flat layout view, press the ‘t’ keyboard key for a top down layout view, to better visualize what the 2D output SVG will look like.

Mouse Navigation

Pan (Move)

To pan or move a 2D or 3D model on the screen, press and hold the ‘SHIFT’ key, while at the same time hold down any mouse button (left, right, or scroll wheel). Drag the mouse to move the model around the 2D/3D space.

Orbit (rotate)

To rotate a 2D or 3D model on the screen, press and HOLD down any of the mouse buttons while dragging/moving the mouse.

Zoom

To zoom in or out within the 2D or 3D space, scroll the mouse wheel forward or backward.

Procedures

Export to SVG file

SVG is a native format for laser and CNC cutting machines. To export to an SVG file, follow these steps:

1. Under the VIEW/EXPORT menu group, select 2D from the ‘View’ dropdown.
2. Press the ‘t’ key to display a top down view of the 2D layout.
3. Select ‘SVG’ from the file type select dropdown box.
4. Press the ‘Export’ button.
5. Output SVG will be save in the ‘Downloads’ folder.

Export to STL file

STL is a native format for 3D printing machines. To export to an STL file, follow these steps:

1. Under the VIEW/EXPORT menu group, select 3D from the ‘View’ dropdown.

2. Select ‘STL (ascii)’ or ‘STL (binary)’ from the file type select dropdown box.

3. Press the ‘Export’ button.

4. Output STL will be save in the ‘Downloads’ folder.

OBJ File Export for use in Blender

OBJ file format works great within Blender

1. Under the VIEW/EXPORT menu group, select 3D from the ‘View’ dropdown.
2. Select ‘OBJ’ from the file type select dropdown box.
3. Press the ‘Export’ button.
4. Output OBJ will be save in the ‘Downloads’ folder.