Triangular Balsa Cutter

thingiverse

Although I could go out and buy triangular balsa ready cut to shape if I only need a small quantity I usually cut it down from square stock with a knife and a balsa plane, which is quite wasteful and not easy on the fingers. This tool will cut 1/2" square, 3/8" square and 1/4" square balsa quickly and easily to produce 1/2", 3/8" and 1/4" triangular stock. The 2 parts of the cut 1/4" an be reassembled and turned through 90deg and put through again to produce 1/8" triangular . The result isn't 100% exact but it's close enough for my uses. Sometimes, particularly with harder grained balsa or with wavy grain the knife blade doesn't always stay exactly on the diagonal line but it's still close enough to be able to use both sides that are cut. The parts have been drawn in Fusion 360. I then load them into Cura to set them up ready for printing. The Body is printed with the balsa entry point downwards, the way the file is shown on here. It is printed in PLA with a layer height of 0.2mm and 50% fill. The Blade Holders need to be laid flat for printing with the knife blade recess upwards. These are printed in PLA at a layer height of 0.2mm and 80% fill. The 6mm (1/4") & 9mm (3/8") Inserts are printed in PLA at a layer height of 0.2mm and a fill of 50%. No rafts, brims or supports are needed. To assemble the cutter you will need two 4mm nuts and bolts. I used 20mm button allen head bolts but any will do. The nuts pull into the hex recesses. The knife blade is a "Stanley" craft knife blade, it measures 61mm long point to point. 15/1/17 Just added 3/8" insert Print Settings Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.2mm Infill: 50% and 80%