n: how to make a multi-layered acrylic and LED sculpture with variable lighting levels

Step 3 Preparing artwork

In order to laser cut the acrylic sheets first you need to prepare the vector files. To do this we used Adobe Illustrator CS3, though any vector based software would suffice.

Files for each layer will be added below shortly, but the instructions explain how we made the files so that you could create your own.

The pdf file has the 5 layers saved and named as below

Front
Sheet 1
Sheet 2
Sheet 3
Back

Sizing
The first step is to measure the components that will be used, to make sure we create shapes the correct size. To do this we used a set of digital callipers.
Our 3mm LEDs were 2.9mm dia. The pots were 7mm. Holes to enable LEDs and attached wires to be pushed through easily from one layer to the next needed to be 5mm. Holes to take stud 10mm. And screw fixing "key hole" 15mm were at biggest and 6mm at smallest

Layout
Make sure you save your file at regular intervals. We called our source file source layers.

Next layout the basic shape in Illustrator. We are using a 400mm x 400mm square with rounded corners, radius 18mm. Centered within that is a lowers case n; font myriad overall height 337mm. This should be converted to outlines in the file. We specified a line thickness of 1mm and no fill. We then expanded the stroke to make it a solid object.

The 4 x 10mm dia. circles should be placed with the centre 20mm from top and side edge closest, so that they sit squarely in each corner.

This layer is named sheet front, and then duplicated and the new layer is named sheet 1.

Next work on sheet 1, but have sheet front visible but locked.
Save the file regularly.

Delete the outline of the n on sheet 1. Then place 50 x 2.9mm dia. circles within the outline of the letter ,and 50 x 2.9mm dia. circles outside the letter. Distribute them fairly evenly across the layer, but concentrate the ones outside the letter near the perimeter of the letter.

Duplicate sheet 1 and name the new layer sheet 2'. Hide and lock sheet 1. '

sheet 2 will be the next layer back in the sculpture. The circles on sheet 2 should be resized to be 5mm dia. These will be used to thread the wires through to the LEDs on sheet 1.

Place another 50 x 2.9mm holes within the letter and 50 x 2.9mm outside the letter on sheet 2. Distribute them evenly across the layer similar to before. Make sure that the new holes are not overlapping, or too close to, the previous ones.

This layer should then be duplicated and the new layer named sheet 3. Hide and lock sheet 2. The 2.9mm circles on sheet 3 should be resized to be 5mm dia. Then place another 50 x 2.9mm holes within the letter and 50 x 2.9mm outside the letter on sheet 3. Again make sure the distribution is fairly even and no holes overlap with previous ones.

Duplicate sheet 3 and call the new layer sheet back. Hide and lock sheet 3.

Delete all the holes except the 10mm ones in the corners on sheet back.

You now have the basic layout that will allow you to place a maximum of 300 LEDs over the 3 layers.

Details
We then added some further details. We selected all the holes on sheet 3 and copied them and pasted them onto sheet front. We then replaced each one with a little concentric circle pattern to act as diffusers in front of each LED. We expanded these in the same way as the n to create thick lines. On sheet 1, sheet 2, and sheet 3 we added a tab to each at the bottom for the pot and knob. We added a circle for the hole for the pot and a rectangle for the locating pin.

On sheet back we added keyholes to allow us to attach it to the wall with screws.

Saving
To save these drawings as separate files we saved the source file as sheet front.ai,sheet 1.ai, sheet 2.ai, sheet 3.ai and sheet back.ai using the 'save as' command.

These files were then opened and the other layers in the file deleted so that the file sheet 1.ai only has the layer sheet 1 in it and the file sheet back.ai only has the layer sheet back etc.