Welcome to AK-Models

AKM

If you build it, it will fly

Pro Laser-Cutting Services.

Promotional Discount of 10% given to new Laser Customers at AKM!*

AKM uses true state of the art KERN Laser System for Pro laser-Cutting and engraving services. 

Benefits of new laser system are:

• Finest cut line, no more fat lines, this increases precision in part fit.

• New machine equipped with computer controlled Air-Assist for cleaner cut. There is no more burn mark on the top of the pars as well as very little or non at all smoke marks on the back side of the parts. Makes your product look much more professional.

• We can cut parts up to 48" long by 24" wide.

• 100+ Watt laser can cut 1/4 birch plywood with outstanding results (see samples below). Variety of materials can be processed: softwood, hardwood, acrylic, polycarbonate, veneer, stainless steel, shim stock and carbon steel.

• Foam cutting with outstanding results! Nice clean cuts, no more "melt away" See below for set-up instructions.

• Aircraft plywood and thicker woods can be cut with more speed witch saves you money.

Recommended use for Pro Laser-Cutting:

• Small or Large manufacturers of variety of products with larger orders.

• Most quality demanding customers, where clean and crisp cuts are must.

• Orders where aircraft plywood and thicker materials need to be cut in numbers.

• Orders where allot of laser power is required to cut customers material.

• Orders where size of parts require larger cutting or engraving area.

• Orders where metals and steel have to be cut (we will have this available shortly).

Should you be using other Laser-Cutters let us know, will give you additional 10% of their prices just to earn your business!

If you need CAD assistance please contact Ron at wronrange@knology.net,  William Kaminsky at coosbaylumbercom@yahoo.com or Derek, from Juno R/C at info@junorc.com They should also be able to help you to transform your paper or sketch plans to Laser ready files.
Please tell them AK-Models referred you. 

Computer Files Guidelines.

AKM uses AutoCAD release 2002 as our primary platform for Laser Cutting. For AutoCad users please send dwg. or dxf. files witch are AutoCad 2002 compatible.

We also can cut and engrave your work from Corel draw files, we use Corel Draw 12.

File Requirements for Pro Laser-Cutting.

• QUOTES: We prefer not to do quotes as quote takes just as long as a actual cut itself. We offer guaranteed best price, if we fail and someone offers you better price we would beat anyone price by 10% on top of already offered 10% off for new customers. We do this to save our valuable time so we can help all customers in the most timely matter.

• To Help keep laser time and therefore cost down, have as least coordinate points (aka blue grips, nods etc) as possible.

• When possible group as many lines as you can, this save time and money for you.

• Keep all parts for each design on 1 file, but they must be sorted in their respective materials and include sheets size quantities and wood type next to each sheet. Use 1" letters to show wood type and quantities for each sheet. 

• Send us file that represents 1 kit only, will multiply parts for you to fill your order.

• Remove all un-necessary line types, text styles and fonts.

• Make all LASER-CUT LINES RED and all MARKING GREEN (if you choose to have it)

• Use Txt Fonts to mark parts (this can be any size). Do not use filled or double line fonts.

• Check that ALL PARTS, lightning holes, slots etc. have brake tabs to hold them in their wood sheets. NO PARTS SHOULD FALL OUT. When cutting air pressure will blow smaller parts off, so have enough tabs to hold them. For Plywood use 1mm tabs and balsa 2mm. Make brake tabs so they go along with the wood grain it will make it easier to remove parts from the sheets. Best way to make brake tabs in AutoCAD is to use Multiline set accordingly to 1 or 2mm, and use it to trim the parts.

• All parts must be laid-out in 24", 36" or 48" long and 3",4", 6" and 12" (for plywood only) high rectangles that represent the raw balsa or plywood sheets . Please click image below for sample view. Minimum wood use is 24" sheet for Pro Laser-Cutting.

• LEAVE 1/8" between part and sheet's edges. THIS IS A MUST! Just of-set wood sheets edges and use it for references.

• Will collect some data and reports on kerf size and will post it here. Ignore this unless you are after most precision fitting.

• GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN OF LASER-CUT DEPRON SHEET KITS:
   1. Depron USA provides quality 3mm and 6mm (white and grey) Depron sheets at a reasonable price.
   2. AKM provides a 0.040" wide cut for 3mm and 6mm Depron sheets.
   3. There are 25.4mm to the inch.  3mm Depron is 0.118" thick and 6mm is 0.236" thick. 
   4. Example of factoring for a 0.040" cut width with a tab / slot: 
       4.1 Using 3mm Depron (0.118"), the slot width needs to be 0.078" wide.  Using 6mm Depron (0.236"), the slot width needs to be 0.196" wide.
      4.2 For a 0.250" slot length, the length needs to be 0.210" long.
      4.3 For a 0.250" tab length, the length needs to be 0.290" long.
   5. Maintain a 0.25" distance from the 13" x 39" drawing border on CAD for all parts.  Use a 0.10" do-not-cut space on lines to be cut to retain part in 
      sheet.  Parts around the perimeter--near the 13" x 39" border should have the 0.10" lines a little closer than those in the center.  Perimeter parts 
      tend to receive more stress in handling and need more 0.10" lines to retain part in sheet.
   6. Set up CAD drawing for a black background as this provides the greatest contrast for the colors to be used.  Use the thinnest red line for parts to 
       be cut.  Use the thinnest white line for the 13" x 39" border.
   7. Submit drawing to AKM as a dxf file. 
   8. Have Depron drop-shipped to AKM.  Laser-cut parts will be returned in same shipping box.
   9. Mix kit parts with white and grey laser-cuts for optimum contrast, looks, orientation and visibility.  
   10. Small holes (0.10" diameter and smaller) may be filled in with the red color, leaving no cutout. 
   11. Check entire drawing for stacked (double) lines.  Basically erase each line, refresh, and see if another line is there, then restore the desired line 
        only. (Notes provided by Don Larsen, Thank you)

• Have your name, product description and contact information in the files. YOU FILES ARE TREATED AS "CONFIDENTIAL" AND WILL NEVER BE SHARED OR USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SEND ALL FILES TO: akm@mchsi.com

This is how file should look like, it also might give you an idea of how much cutting will cost.

Wood Sizes available for Pro Laser-Cutting:

BENEFITS TO LASER-CUT

• Laser cutting is not as expensive as many modelers might think, in fact it is much cheaper and more convenient than old fashioned Die-Cutting.

• Laser Cutting does not require big expense in fabricating Dies, also parts can be up-dated very easy and at any time. 

• There is no maintenance to you for Laser-Cutting, as it is for Die-Cutting. 

• LASER cut parts are more precise than die-crashed parts. No trimming required.

• You can have your parts placed as close as you like to reduce material waist and cost. Witch means more effective pay-back for your time and effort investment.

Inside look at AK-Models.

 * 10% Off Given to new customers for Laser-cutting Services, this includes Laser and wood only, shipping charges remain at 8.95 anywhere in USA.

• Owner: Alex Kolyvanov
• Address: AK-Models Inc.
• 1458 Wetherby Dr. Wetherby Dr.
• Iowa City, IA 52240
• E-mail: akm@mchsi.com
• Telephone: (319)358-6911 (8am -12pm Central Time) or Leave a message.
• Fax: (319) 358-1399

© Copyright Protected All Rights Reserved 2000-2005 AKM