Laser Cutting
Laser Cutting
What Is It?
Laser cutting is a manufacturing process that uses a high-powered laser beam to cut, engrave, or etch materials into specific shapes or designs. This process is controlled by a computer and is often used on materials like wood, metal, plastic, and fabric. The laser precisely follows a digital design, allowing for intricate and accurate cuts and engravings.
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
Laser Cutting
Student Work
The "Klutz" Robot
Lottery Pig
Rivalship
NuVu Tool(box)
3D Printing
Laser Cutting
Can create more complex parts
Low cost & less waste
Huge support community
Generally slower than laser cutting
Post processing may be required
More experience needed to 3D model parts
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Extremely fast & precise
Can quickly etch details
Material range
Requires active ventilation
Higher cost
Less community support
VS
Step By Step : Laser Cutting
1
Download the software
- Go to XTool.com
- Click on the Software tab
- Click on Download
- Choose your Operating system and download the software
- Drag the Software icon to the Application folder when prompted
2
Open the software
- Open the XTool software from your Applications folder
- Turn on the power to the cutter in the back right corner
- Connect the cutter to your laptop with the cord
- Select the cutter from the menu and click Connect
3
Create a File
- Begin by drawing a simple shape from the shape library
- Change the scale by pulling the square tabs around the shape
- Remove the locked pixel aspect ration by deflecting the lock feature
3
Create a File cont.
- Add more shapes to create a more complex shape. (you can use features such as rotate, align, and mirror to quickly build your collection of shapes).
- Once you have some shapes, select them all and click on Outline to create a line drawn around the exterior of the shapes
- Now you can delete the individual shapes and keep the outline
4
Choose the Settings
- With the shape not selected, choose the thickness of the material from the right side panel. This will tell the laser head how far vertically from the bed to be.
- With the shape selected, drop down the EasySet panel
- Choose whether you want to Score, Engrave, or Cut
4
Choose the Settings cont.
- There is a library of materials that have associated settings. You can choose from these materials as a starting point, though you may have to adjust them as you go to get the result you want.
4
Choose the Settings cont.
For cardboard
- Power 95 and Speed 10 seems to work well. One pass.
- For small shape cuts we recommend Power 95 and Speed 15 seems to work well. One pass.
- For scoring: power 70 and speed 15
For Paper
- Cut: Power 90 with speed 29, and one pass
- Scoring: Power 70 and speed 130, one pass.
5
Send to the cutter
- Place the material in the bed of the lasercutter. Make sure the materials is lying flat and doesn't have any parts that the laser head could get caught on
- Turn on the filter that is below the lasercutter to full power
5
Send to the cutter
- With the object not selected, press Refresh in the right panel to see where your shape will land on the material
- Be sure the whole shape is on the material
- Click on framing to test where the object will cut, you can use marking feature too!
5
Send to the cutter
- Click Go to process
- Press Start
- Press the glowing blue button on the machine to start the cut
5
Send to the cutter
- You can usually see if the cut went all the way through the material. If it doesn't seem like it did, without opening the lid, you can click Process again to recut
- Wait for fan to filter all the smoke out before opening the lid
6
Pop out your cut!
Cutting parameters change according to the properties of the material you cut.
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