Laser Cutter
Submit a Part
Laser Cutter
The laser cutter works exactly as it sounds. It cuts and engraves things with lasers! PEW PEW!
Step 1
Design your Part
Use Illustrator (available in Design Labs) to create your drawing. See guidelines below about line thicknesses for different effects. Save as .eps file.
Step 2
Set Up Software
All work will need to be worked in Illustrator and sent via print to the Laser Cutter. In the print settings choose material, thickness, and if you are using rotary.
Step 3
Focus and Cut!
Using the focusing tool, make sure the laser is the right distance away from material, triple check settings, turn on filter and press play!
Quick Guide for Image Tracing
Quick guide for using images and then getting a traced outline of an object in Inkscape or Illustrator
Using Illustrator to Cut, Engrave, Raster
Materials
Cardboard/Paper
Wood/Natural
Plastics
Glass Etching
Metal Engraving
Design It!
Big takeaway in terms of design:
- You have 3 Design options: Vector Engrave, Vector Cut, and Raster
- The color and line thickness you choose on your design will determine what type of cut the laser performs.
- Save your file as a .eps postscript (PS) level 3
Other Resources
Need Inspiration?
Pinterest is a great resource, CREATE YOUR OWN! MAKE YOUR PROJECTS SOMETHING SPECIAL!
What Software to Design?
Chat with Mr. White to get setup with Adobe Creative Cloud if you do not already have it. You'll want to get Adobe Illustrator setup to create your own designs.