About
The laser cutter is a fantastic and easy to learn tool for 2D digital fabrication. As its name implies, it uses a focused beam of energy to cut and engrave materials. Paper, cardboard, acrylic, and most woods can be used with our cutter and lend a professional feel to your prototypes. Unlike 3D printers, the laser cutter can process jobs much faster, making it an ideal choice for your rapid prototyping needs.
For safety reasons, Training is required prior to using the laser cutter. After you've done that, you'll be able to make one hour long reservations on the machine. Are technicians are always available to help too.
Materials
We provide many materials free of charge. You're also welcome to bring your own materials for cutting, but there are limitations. Some materials can damage the machine or produce dangerous corrosive fumes. Always speak with a StudioLab Technician before cutting.
| Allowed | Banned |
|---|---|
| Wood | 3D Prints |
| Acrylic | PVC |
| Paper | Styrofoam |
| Fabric | Polystyrene |
| Leather | Polycarbonate |
| Matte Board | Mirrored Surfaces |
| Ceramic | Foam Core |
| Cork | Corrugated Cardboard |
Software and File Types
The laser cutter can print from PDF, DXF, SVG, and AI file types. We recommend using Adobe Illustrator to create designs and saving them as AI or SVG. Other software can be used with the laser cutter, but our staff has only been trained to support these standards.
| Program | About |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | 2D Vector Drawing |
| Inkscape | Open Source Alternative |
| AutoCAD | 2D CAD Design |
| Fusion 360 | 3D CAD Design |
| Rhino | 3D Parametric Modeling |
Resources
Material Vendors
Project Templates
Ponoko Templates
Instructables
FreePatternsArea
Epilog Sample Club
Glowforge Community
SVG Files
Box Generators
Leary Box
MakerCase
Boxes.py
templatemaker.nl
Gear Generators
Leary Gears
Wood Gears
Spur Gear Builder
Other Generators
Maze Generator
Leary Laser Slicer