Multi-layer acrylic trophies (intended to explain the underlying principle)

thingiverse

Create stunning acrylic trophies inspired by the Australian Warhammer 40K Masters tournament! This project demonstrates an innovative way of constructing the trophies without glue, using laser-cut acrylic and silver trophy plates for a sleek finish. Follow these steps to recreate this unique design: 1. Vectorize the artwork and decide on the layers for your trophy. For example, in the dragon design, each layer consists of different acrylic thicknesses and materials to create depth and detail. 2. In CorelDraw, create a new page for each layer and cut and paste the outlines and relevant parts of the design. Rename each layer with its material type (e.g., "3mm clear," "silver plate"). 3. Mirror-flip certain layers as needed to achieve the desired effect. Practice mirror-flipping the acrylic inserts for a better finish. 4. Create support rods that run through all acrylic layers and are covered by trophy plates. Adjust dimensions based on the thickness of your chosen acrylic. 5. Design gripping holes to securely hold the rods in place. Practice creating gripping holes with offcut acrylic before assembling the final piece. 6. Copy and paste gripping holes to all relevant layers, ensuring they are in the same position on each layer. Create separate pages for inserted materials like acrylic mirror, red acrylic, and orange acrylic, copying and pasting the cutout shapes and any necessary holes. 7. Save a copy of the file in an exploded 3D view, which will make resizing easier if you want to create variations. Group layers and nest them efficiently to minimize material waste. 8. Print the pieces on your laser cutter, peel off paper, and carefully assemble the trophy by placing trophy plates on outermost layers for stability, inserting rods, and attaching layers using gripping holes. This innovative construction method provides excellent tolerance for interlocking acrylic pieces, resulting in a professional-looking trophy that will impress your clients. Good luck with your creation!