Laser Cutting and Engraving

Reserve the laser cutter. If you’ve never used it before and/or are unsure of the process, feel free to stop by the MakerSpace and speak with our staff about your project.

You can bring your own items to be cut/engraved OR you can purchase a variety of plywood and acrylic in the Friends Bookstore inside the Central Resource Library. You will also need to bring in a digital file of your logo, image or pattern that you intend to cut or engrave onto your material. If you are unsure of anything, we recommend that you just pop into the MakerSpace before the day of your reservation so that we can review your digital files and materials that you intend to use with the laser cutter.

Engraving:

• Wood
• Acrylic (No cast acrylic thicker than ~1/8")
• Fabric/Cloth
• Glass
• Coated Metals
• Ceramics (Including Tile)
• Delrin
• Leather
• Marble
• Matte Board
• Melamine
• Paper
• Mylar
• Pressboard
• Rubber
• Wood Veneer
• Painted Metals
• Cork
• Corian
• Anodized Aluminum

Cutting:

• Wood
• Acrylic
• Fabric/Cloth
• Delrin
• Leather
• Matte Board
• Melamine
• Paper
• Mylar
• Pressboard
• Rubber
• Wood Veneer
• Cork
• Corian

Of course! We don’t expect everyone to be familiar with using laser cutters. Feel free to stop by with questions about your project or if you’d like to stop by just to see how it works and get some ideas. We’ll be happy to help.

For cutting: The Zing can cut up to 24" in length x 12" width, and 3/16" thickness. The Helix laser cutter can cut up to 24" in length x 18" width, and 1/4" thickness.
For engraving: The Zing can engrave up to 24" in length x 12" width x 8" deep. The Helix can engrave up to 24" in length x 18" width, and 8.5" deep. The Zing can engrave cylindrical objects up to 19 inches long, at a maximum diameter of 5.25". The Helix can engrave cylindrical objects up to 19 inches long, at a maximum diameter of 8".

The time it takes varies on the size of the project, whether you are cutting or engraving, and the complexity of the file. Examples of times:
- 24" x 12" x 1/4" plywood cutting with many pieces: Approximately 20-45 min
- Engraving aluminum travel mug: Approximately 7 min

The laser cutters do not give estimated times for each job, so please overbook the time you think it will take when reserving.

The laser cutters will engrave anything from vector designs and logos to photographs. Additionally, it can engrave on a variety of materials from denim and fleece to glass and anodized aluminum. It will also engrave cylindrical objects.

The laser cutter is free to use. Patrons can bring your own items to be cut/engraved OR you can purchase a variety of plywood and acrylic in the Friends Bookstore inside the Central Resource Library.

You can download cutting projects from various sources on the web including:

• Thingiverse
• You can also do a search for images appropriate for cutting or engraving

Options are limitless!

To make a file for cutting, we recommend using CorelDRAW or another vector graphic software like:

• Adobe Illustrator
• Inkscape

(You can find these in the MakerSpace)

Check out this tutorial for more information on how to create files in CorelDRAW to work with the laser cutter. In short:

• you’ll use Hairline lines to cut materials
• All other images will be engraved in grayscale
• Once you have a file prepared, we will load it into CorelDRAW to print on the laser cutter for you

Don’t know how to use these software programs? Check out our eLearning resources free with your library card!