laser engraver

Laser cutting and engraving is a precise method of cutting or engraving a design into a variety of materials, using a computer-aided design (CAD) file as the guide. 

Reservation Information:

  • 2X Trotec Speedy 30080w Laser Engraver/Cutters

 Customers may reserve up to two hours per session, with a limit of two sessions per week. Customers cannot reserve both machines with overlapping time for safety reasons. 

Only one (1) customer will be allowed per laser cutter reservation. This is critical for maintaining clear exits in alignment with our Fire Safety and Emergency Exit procedures. Rest assured, our staff will remain available to assist customers as needed.   

Materials Suitable for Cutting/Engraving :

What kinds of materials can I cut/engrave?
 Engraving  Cutting
  • wood
  • acrylic
  • fabric/cloth
  • glass
  • coated metals
  • delrin
  • leather
  • marble
  • matte board
  • melamine
  • paper
  • mylar
  • pressboard
  • rubber
  • wood veneer
  • painted metals
  • cork
  • corian
  • anodized aluminum
  • wood
  • acrylic
  • fabric/cloth
  • delrin
  • leather
  • matte board
  • melamine
  • paper
  • mylar
  • pressboard
  • rubber
  • wood veneer
  • cork
  • corian

 

 

 

Design Capabilities 

Intricate details can be achieved across many materials. The laser engraves images by burning the design and cannot print in color since it does not use ink. Although images are not well-suited for glass etching, lettering and logos are excellent options. 

Design Size Limitations 

  • Maximum design size: 16.5" x 28.5". 

  • Maximum material/object engraving height: 7.8". 

  • Maximum cutting thickness: 0.25" (8mm). 

Engraving on Tumblers or Mugs 

Each machine is equipped with a rotary attachment for engraving cylindrical items like tumblers and drinking glasses. If needed, inform the staff during your appointment, as setup requires additional time. The attachment will not be installed for sessions under one hour. 

Design Assistance 

Makerspace staff can help you get started, but the space is primarily a DIY area designed for you to explore and experiment. Staff may be assisting other customers simultaneously and are unable to give long one on one tutorials. 

File Creation for Laser Cutting 

Files for cutting projects can be downloaded from sites like Vecteezy and Thingiverse or purchased directly from designers online.

To create your own cutting file, we recommend using vector graphic software such as CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator. Optimal file formats include SVG, EPS, DXV, and DWG. 

File Preparation 

Engraving areas must be in black and cut lines should be in red with a hairline width. Files will be loaded into CorelDraw for processing via Job Control or Ruby at The Lab.