BoxMaker
create box templates for the laser cutter
tags: php , java , laser-cutter , open-source , software , website
Mar 2001 - present
BoxMaker is now online! Check out http://boxmaker.rahulbotics.com/
BoxMaker is a little app that can generate the outlines for a box to be out of some material with a cutting device (ideally using wood/acrylic on a lasercutter!). You tell it the dimensions of the box (width, height, depth, material width), and it generates a PDF with the outlines for the 6 sides of the box. The dimensions are the outside lengths of the box. Here's an example of the type of PDF file it outputs.
The edges are notched, so the faces of the box snaps together well. You can import the PDF file that BoxMaker creates into CorelDraw (or any other standard CAD program) and manipulate it further there. You probably want to rearrange the faces to fit on the material you have at hand.
The code for the underlying rendering engine is up on GitHub.
Downloadable Application
This software is totally out of date - I recommend using the website!
Like BoxMaker?
I've released this postcard-ware... meaning if you like it then I ask you to send me a postcard! However, a number of folks have asked if they can chip in to futher its development. With that in mind, I've added this button to let you send me some money. Thanks!
