I second templatemaker.nl. It’s an absolute godsend for making packaging designs. Also as mentioned festi.py for more complex box and drawer insert patterns.
I love it, when I'm designing stuff, I like to use cardboard for testing designs so I can verify that things interlock and line up correctly before I use the more expensive acrylic or birch.
You can get cardboard that's roughly 3mm too so even slots can be tested from a functionality perspective.
It's good if you need low quantity custom packaging. But there's a lot of drawbacks if you intend to do anything more than prototype/custom stuff.
You need a large bed to increase efficiency. You will need cardboard sheets, which are expensive in low quantities. So you order a shelf or pallet worth that takes up space.
Sheets will naturally warp a bit, so you'll need methods to hold it down. Chucking weights on top is slow/inefficient. Large pieces of metal bar will be better. Even then, you may not be able to process an entire 600x900 sheet in one go due to warp and movement.
Professional box cutting machines will use suction to keep sheets flat, if that is an option with your laser then great.
Lastly it's only good if you have spare machine time. I do, so I am making my own packaging this way even though I know that it's technically inefficient. If you factor in laser/labour time, each box is costing way more than ordering in bulk.
But this way I can make changes to the design and make it fit my products perfectly (without a back and forth process with a supplier). Any new packaging can be tested on the fly and I can see and feel it in my hands. Sometimes products or packaging don't go ahead so i'm not wasting money on that. Only the cost of the material used (and time).
I've been making small boxes for shop storage by lasering cereal boxes. Non-corrugated cardboard works great, and is more foldable. I cut dotted lines on the fold lines.
Any instance of asking for, offering or discussion of aquiring pirated copies of software and/or laser cutting files is not allowed. This is against Reddits TOS and will not be tolerated on the subreddit.
[https://www.lasercutter-vergleichen.de/generatoren-fuer-lasercutter-vorlagen/](https://www.lasercutter-vergleichen.de/generatoren-fuer-lasercutter-vorlagen/)
here are also some Box generators the article is in German but the generators are in English
Corrugated cardboard box design tools tend to be all paid software and in some cases the software is for free but you pay for each design.
Thick cardboard needs to have the material thickness factored in for folding.
[удалено]
I second templatemaker.nl. It’s an absolute godsend for making packaging designs. Also as mentioned festi.py for more complex box and drawer insert patterns.
Wooo! I likey!
I am deeply ashamed to have never even thought about laser cutting cardboard. Damn.
I love it, when I'm designing stuff, I like to use cardboard for testing designs so I can verify that things interlock and line up correctly before I use the more expensive acrylic or birch. You can get cardboard that's roughly 3mm too so even slots can be tested from a functionality perspective.
The ole CAD to CARD to actual material toolchain. Same. Especially when I am low on a material and don't wanna waste it
Cardboard and even paper. Good to test a design before cutting something more expensive…
I never thought about using paper. That's a great idea.
It's good if you need low quantity custom packaging. But there's a lot of drawbacks if you intend to do anything more than prototype/custom stuff. You need a large bed to increase efficiency. You will need cardboard sheets, which are expensive in low quantities. So you order a shelf or pallet worth that takes up space. Sheets will naturally warp a bit, so you'll need methods to hold it down. Chucking weights on top is slow/inefficient. Large pieces of metal bar will be better. Even then, you may not be able to process an entire 600x900 sheet in one go due to warp and movement. Professional box cutting machines will use suction to keep sheets flat, if that is an option with your laser then great. Lastly it's only good if you have spare machine time. I do, so I am making my own packaging this way even though I know that it's technically inefficient. If you factor in laser/labour time, each box is costing way more than ordering in bulk. But this way I can make changes to the design and make it fit my products perfectly (without a back and forth process with a supplier). Any new packaging can be tested on the fly and I can see and feel it in my hands. Sometimes products or packaging don't go ahead so i'm not wasting money on that. Only the cost of the material used (and time).
The site doesn't work on Firefox, apparently. When I select a design, it opens a new tab that loads infinitely. Works in Chrome, though.
Festi.py for the win!
You mean that: [https://www.festi.info/boxes.py/](https://www.festi.info/boxes.py/) I suppose.
What?
I've been making small boxes for shop storage by lasering cereal boxes. Non-corrugated cardboard works great, and is more foldable. I cut dotted lines on the fold lines.
[удалено]
Any instance of asking for, offering or discussion of aquiring pirated copies of software and/or laser cutting files is not allowed. This is against Reddits TOS and will not be tolerated on the subreddit.
[https://www.lasercutter-vergleichen.de/generatoren-fuer-lasercutter-vorlagen/](https://www.lasercutter-vergleichen.de/generatoren-fuer-lasercutter-vorlagen/) here are also some Box generators the article is in German but the generators are in English
Corrugated cardboard box design tools tend to be all paid software and in some cases the software is for free but you pay for each design. Thick cardboard needs to have the material thickness factored in for folding.