Eiffel Tower Model for woodcut

Materials and Cutting Instructions

For this model, you will need a bit of time, wood glue, maybe a little sand paper, and a small set of fairy lights. This model is designed for 1/8" or 3mm material but could be scaled up according to the thickness of the material used. 

Although a default layout for cutting is included (in an .ai file), if your laser cutter is a different size, here are all of the component quantities you will need: 

Parts List for Laser Cutting

Assembly Instructions:

General Assembly Tips:

It is recommended to have the CAD with the included .stp file (EiffelTowerASM.stp) open throughout this assembly. Go slow and take care so that you do not destroy your model. Always use glue if the fit is loose unless there is specific instruction not to. If something does not fit, sand it until it does. When you use glue, be sure to remove the excess. Always be sure to install engraved parts with the engravings facing out. 

Step 1:  Basic Assembly of the Top Structure

First, slot the TopStructure into the TopStructureBase. You may need to use glue and it is very important to be careful with this, as these parts in the beginning are some of the most fragile on the model. They will be reinforced later, but it is crucial to take care with their assembly. This is what it should look like once it this step is complete. If the fit is not tight, use wood glue.

Step 2:  Reinforcing the Top Structure

Part A: Installing the Crosspiece

First, insert the Pinnacle_Crosspiece onto the assembly from the previous step. As always, use glue if needed. It should look like this when complete. 

Part B: Installing the Top Deck

Second, install the Pinnacle_Deck onto the assembly, mating with the TopStructure and the Pinnacle_Crosspiece parts. If it does not fit, sand the sides of the TopStructure and Pinnacle_Crosspiece parts. It should look like this when completed. 

Part C: Installing the Top Structure Bottom Plate

This step is deceptively difficult. Since the TopStructure and TopStructure_Base parts are long and thin, and not connected for their entire length, they will not perfectly align with the ideal alignment on the TopStructure_BottomPlate part. Install it onto the bottom of the existing assembly. Again. Take your time. 

Step 3: Installing the Middle Top Structure

Part A: Building the Middle Top Structure Subassembly

For this step, simply begin by putting one of the TopMiddleBracket1 parts onto the TopMiddleBracket2 parts like so:

Then complete the sub-assembly like this: 

Part B: Installing the Middle Top Structure Subassembly

Simply install the Middle Top Structure subassembly created in the previous step into the square holes in the TopStructure_BottomPlate part like this: 

Step 4: Assembling the Middle Bottom Structure

Part A: Pre-assembling the Bottom Middle Brackets. 

Put together four pairs of BottomMiddleBracket1 and BottomMiddleBracket2 like so: 

Part B: Installing them into the Lower Floor Roof

Put each pair of pre-assembled Bottom Middle Brackets into the LowerFloorRoof part like so: IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOUR LowerFloor Roof PART IS IN THIS ORIENTATION OR ELSE YOU WILL HAVE PROBLEMS LATER FITTING THE MODEL TOGETHER.

Step 5: Installing the Middle Panels (kinda)

Part A: The First Middle Panel

To start, you're going to want to make sure that all of your connections are secure up to this point, and glue any that aren't. Then, install the first MiddlePanel part between your two existing assemblies like so, making sure that it is structurally sound (at least, as structurally sound as 3mm plywood is going to be). 

Part B: Installing the Second Middle Panel

This step is basically the same as the last, except now the MiddlePanel is being installed on the opposite side like so:

Step 6: Building the Base

Part A: Pre-assembling the Foundations

Simply install a pair of BaseStrut pieces into a Foundation piece so it looks like this. Then do it again 3 more times.

Part B: Assembling the Base

Install each of the four pre-assemblies we made in the last step into the BasePlate like so:

Step 7: Pre-assembling the Lower Floor

Part A: Installing the first Wall

This step is a little tricky. Glue between the side of the LowerFloorFloor and the SidePiece parts, then put them together like the image shows.  It is extremely important to take care that the angle between the LowerFloorFloor and SidePiece Parts are exactly 90 degrees. 

Part B: Installing the Remaining Walls

This step requires the same care needed in the last one: Install the rest of the walls, putting the glue between the SidePieces and the LowerFloor parts. Make sure that each one is 90 degrees from the other one. It should look like this: 

Step 8: Installing the Top Bottom Brackets

Part A: Install the First Bottom Frame

Install the BottomFrame2 piece into the LowerFloor Floor part like this: 

Part B: Install the Second Bottom Frame

Install the BottomFrame1 part into the LowerFloor Floor part like so: 

Step 9: Installing the First Half of the Bottom Shell Parts

Part A: Installing the First Bottom Shell Part

Start by installing the BottomShell onto the Base Assembly like this, being sure to glue it together because it will fall apart if you let it. 

Then, lay the LowerFloor assembly on its side and install the assembly from the last step onto it being sure to use glue, like so: 

Part B: Installing the Second Bottom Shell

Before you try to do this, give the glue a minute to harden. Once you've done that, simply glue in the other bottom shell on the other side like this:

Step 10: Wiring the Fairy Lights: 

Part A: Running the Fairy Lights Through the Bottom Half

To do this, use the included holes to run the fairy lights down through one of the corners in the LowerFloor Floor part. From there, run it through the hole in the Foundation part in the corresponding corner, then up through the other hole in the Foundation part, then back up through the corner. Once this is done, run the wire to the next corner and repeat until there are lights going down each corner. When you are done with this, there should be at least two if not more feet of excess wire. 

Part B: Running the Fairy Lights Through the Middle

Grab the excess wire from the first part of the step and leave about six inches. Route it through one of the round holes in the LowerFloor Roof part, then route it through the corresponding hole in the TopStructure_BottomPlate part, through the lowest hole to the left on the nearest TopStructure or TopStructure_Base part, then down through the next corner of the TopStructure_BottomPlate part, and finally down through the next corner of the LowerFloor Roof. Repeat this three more times, except for the last time stop after running the cord through the TopStructure or TopStructure_Base part.

Part C: Running the Fairy Lights To the Top

This is the simplest part. Start with the last of the fairy light sticking out from the last part and insert it into the next lowest unused hole in the nearest TopStructure or TopStructure_Base to the left. Repeat this so that you have a spiral going up to the top. Once at the top, make a spiral going down and repeat the routing of your other wires. 

Step 11: Installing the Remaining Bottom Shells

Make sure to put glue on the mating parts, install the BottomShell parts so the bottom assembly (still attached to the top assembly via a wire) looks like this:

Step 12: Installing the Remaining Middle Panels

To do this, install the remaining two MiddlePanel parts so that the top assembly looks like the image below. Glue is highly recommended. 

Step 13: Installing the Section 1 Exterior

Part A: Installing the Connectors

Glue each Section_1_Connector onto the top pegs of the TopStructure part as shown: 

Part B: Installing the Middle Parts

Glue in each Section_1_Middle part in the location shown.

Step 14: Installing the Section 2 Exterior

For this step, simply install the Section_2_Connector parts onto the next highest available pegs, with engravings facing out.

Step 15: Installing the Section 3 Exterior

For this step, simply install the Section_3_Connector parts onto the next highest available pegs, with engravings facing out.

Step 16: Installing the Section 4 Exterior

For this step, simply install the Section_4_Connector parts onto the next highest available pegs, with engravings facing out.

Step 17: Installing the Section 5 Exterior

For this step, simply install the Section_5_Connector parts onto the next highest available pegs, with engravings facing out.

Step 18: Installing the Section 6 Exterior

For this step, simply install the Section_6_Connector parts onto the next highest available pegs, with engravings facing out.

Step 19: Putting it All Together

Turn on the lights, put the battery box in the lower floor assembly, and rest the top assembly on the lower assembly, which should slot together nicely. If you've done all this correctly, you should get a result that looks a little something like this.

(these photos have the BasePlate missing)