Creating with a Laser Cutter
WHAT CAN YOU MAKE?
WHAT CAN A LASER CUTTER DO?
Cut
The laser cutter directs the beam of a laser to burn through the material in whatever pattern you design
Etch
The laser cutter can decrease the laser power to burn the surface of the material, but not cut through
Laser Cut
Laser Etched
MATERIALS
Cardboard 3/16”
Ensure it is laying flat
Cardstock Paper 60lb or thicker
Be careful to watch while cutting
Plywood & Hardwood 1/8" or thinner
Baltic Birch plywood is best
Acrylic 1/8" or thinner
Don’t cut any other types of plastics
Leather 1/8" or thinner
Ensure it is laying flat
Glass and Metal Etching only
Cannot cut through
THE PARTS OF A LASER CUTTER
Cutting Bed Limits the size of materials to 10" x 19" and 1/4" thick
Air Filter Must be turned on before any cut by turning the knob all the way
Lid Needs to be closed the entire time during a cut
Camera Captures the objects on the cut bed before a cut. Can be used to trace artwork to cut.
Laser Tube Creates the laser that will then bounce off of mirrors to cut your material
Power Switch Is in the back
Cut Button Starts your cut once you have sent your file from your computer
app.glowforge.com. >
>
1 Add Artwork
Use the Trace or Upload buttons to add artwork on the cutting bed
2 Cut Settings
Use the material presets, or set custom power and speed settings
3 Send Cut File
Ensure your Glowforge is connect with this button and send your cut file
CREATING YOUR DESIGN
Easy, fast, outlines bold black marker lines
Precise, professional, computer drafting
How to
Step #1 Drag a square around the artwork that you want to trace
Step #2 Click the white areas you want to cut away
Step #3 Click (top right)
Place a bold, black marker drawing in the Glowforge
Move / scale your drawing
How to
Image Files (jpg. png.)
are made of pixels
Vector Files (svg. dxf.)
are line geometry
Laser cutters can cut along vector lines and etch inside their closed shapes
You can download vector files from websites like MakerCase
You can create your own vector files from CAD software like TinkerCAD
Click TOP to look straight down at the workplane because we will be designing for 2D cutting
Click Flat View
to look straight down at the workplane also
Click Export
when you are done designing and select SVG as your file type to laser cut
CREATING 2D DESIGNS IN TINKERCAD
2 MINUTE TINKERCAD BEGINNER TUTORIAL
CREATING 2D DESIGNS IN TINKERCAD
Remember
to set your lines to the material settings for what you are cutting
Remember
to turn on the air filter before you start your cut
ENJOY LASER CUTTING!