laser engraver

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

 

 

 

Reservation Information

The Lab at Indian Creek has:

  • 2 Trotec Speedy 300 80w Laser Engraver/Cutters

The Trotec Laser Engraver may be reserved for a maximum of two hours per session. Limit of two reservation sessions per week.

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

 

 

 

What kinds of designs can I engrave/cut?

It is possible to achieve a really fine level of detail with a variety of materials. Pictures don't work well on glass, but letters and logos are a great choice.

How do I make a file for laser cutting?

There are various sources on the web to download cutting projects, such as Vecteezy and Thingiverse. To make your own file for cutting, we recommend vector graphic software such as CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator. Save the file in a format such as .svg.

How do I prepare the file?

All the engraving areas need to be in black and the cut lines in red with a hairline width. At the Lab, your file will be loaded in CorelDraw to print on the laser cutter. 

How big can my design be? 

The laser cutters can engrave and cut designs up to 16.5" x 28.5". The maximum height your material/object can be is 7.8". The maximum thickness for cutting is .25".

Can you help me design my project?

Staff is available to get you started, but the Makerspace is a DIY area providing the tools and equipment for you to use and experiment. 

Do you have a rotary attachment?

Yes.  Each Trotec has a rotary attachment that can be installed to engrave tumblers, glasses, etc. Just let staff know if you would like to use it during your appointment.