In one of our classrooms, we have a laser. This is used to both cutout things and engrave our designs. Along with printing and producing our magazines, this is probably one of the most fun, engaging, and physical hands-on things we have done. Software is one thing, but there is just something about seeing a finished product all printed and laid out that is rewarding. This blog will primarily outline the steps for engraving or cutting out your work. The process would be very similar, but there are a couple of things to look out for and change between the two, and even from one engraving project to another, or vice versa.
The first thing you can do with the laser is engrave. The first thing we had to do was design something to engrave. In this process you not only have to worry about your design but also the material you are using. This is because the material you use will have different, if not similar, settings for speed, power, and frequency. These are used so that you can see your design at its best. However, be careful not to accidentally cut through your design. After you know your design and the numbers, you will select raster so that it will engrave and not cut. But you can do both; that is a little different.
Another use for the laser is cutting. The cutting process is similar to engraving, as it requires knowledge of speed, power, and frequency, but with one key difference: you need to select vector instead of raster in the preferences. Vector is the option to cut instead of engraving. Additionally, to cut effectively, you should set your cut stroke width to 0.001. This is why your strokes should not be this small when using raster or engraving.
Overall, you must always be wary of what and how you want to use the laser. Since the options for each material will likely vary, it’s essential to know what and how to do it correctly to avoid wasting any material. Nonetheless, it was lots of fun to learn this new skill. Even though we only had a few assignments, we were still able to experience it for ourselves. And I would 100% say that this was enough to be able to get a taste of it, without longing for more.