Laser Cutting

What Is It?

Laser cutting is a manufacturing process that uses a high-powered laser beam to cut, engrave, or etch materials into specific shapes or designs. This process is controlled by a computer and is often used on materials like wood, metal, plastic, and fabric. The laser precisely follows a digital design, allowing for intricate and accurate cuts and engravings.

WHAT CAN A LASER CUTTER DO?

Cut

The laser cutter directs the beam of a laser to burn through the material in whatever pattern you design

Etch

The laser cutter can decrease the laser power to burn the surface of the material, but not cut through

Laser Cut

Laser Etched

MATERIALS

Cardboard  3/16” 

Ensure it is laying flat

Cardstock Paper  60lb or thicker 

Be careful to watch while cutting

Plywood & Hardwood  1/8" or thinner  

Baltic Birch plywood is best

Acrylic  1/8" or thinner  

Don’t cut any other types of plastics

Leather  1/8" or thinner  

Ensure it is laying flat

Glass and Metal  Etching only

Cannot cut through

Laser Cutting

Student Work

The "Klutz" Robot

Lottery Pig

Rivalship

NuVu Tool(box)

3D Printing

What Is It?

3D printing is a manufacturing process where a digital model is turned into a physical object by adding material layer by layer. This process is controlled by a computer and commonly uses materials like plastic, metal, or resin to create a wide range of objects, from prototypes and tools to final products.

3D Printing

Considerations

Build Volume

Support Material

Infill Percentage

Layer Orientation & Resolution

Part Orientation

Slip-Cast Ceramic

Zoom Widgets

Open-Source VR Headset

Polar Bear Cake

3D Printing

Student Work

3D Printing

Laser Cutting

Can create more complex parts

Low cost & less waste

Huge support community

Generally slower than laser cutting

Post processing may be required

More experience needed to 3D model parts

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Extremely fast & precise

Can quickly etch details

Material range

Requires active ventilation

Higher cost

Less community support

VS

Tinkercad

TinkerCAD

2D Export

Click TOP to look straight down at the workplane because we will be designing for 2D cutting

Click Flat View

to look straight down at the workplane also

Click Export

when you are done designing and select SVG as your file type to laser cut

Laser Cut Workflow

TinkerCAD

3D Export

Click Export

when you are done designing and select STL as your file type

3D Printing

Slicer Workflow

2 MINUTE TINKERCAD BEGINNER TUTORIAL

Activity

1. Use different shapes to create an abstract form in 3D!
2. For example, look at the image ->
3. Unfold the 3D form to make it 2D so you can laser cut some pieces to then build out
4. Once you have the different parts, laser cut your pieces.
5. Reflect: how close is it to your 3D model on TinkerCAD?

• Finish your 2d Drawing in RHINO.
• Make sure that all your lines are closed.
• Check for duplicated lines and erase them.
• Separate the lines you want to cut than those you want them to be burned only.
• Make sure all the areas to be scanned are closed polylines.

• Delete all unnecessary lines and shapes.
• Save the file as AI or DXF format.
• Make sure that the printing scale has the same unit as the file's one.

• Open the laser cutter's application (RDWorks V8) and start adjusting the cutting parameters.

• Import the design you want to cut by clicking on "Import" in the top toolbar.
• Once the design is imported, you can resize it to fit your material by clicking on the lock icon and change the scale percentage.

• All the elements are imported to the same layer by default (Black), you have to separate the elements manually to new layers to give them different cutting parameters.
• Create different layers according to the type of cutting mode you need. then adjust each layers parameters separately. Layers are distinguished by colors not names.

• You can create a new layer by clicking on a chosen line from the other layer and change it's color. Select all the elements that will have the same properties and give them the same color. you will see a new layer holding that color in the layers tab. Start to adjust each layer's parameters

Adjust the cutting parameters such as speed, power, and frequency by clicking on "Parameters" in the top toolbar.

The main cutting modes are:

Cut mode: is used when you want to cut through the material completely. In cut mode, the laser beam is focused on the material and moves along the cutting path at a speed and power level that you have specified. The laser beam melts the material along the cutting path, creating a cut all the way through the material.

Scan mode: is used when you want to mark or engrave the surface of the material without cutting all the way through. In scan mode, the laser beam moves across the surface of the material at a high speed and a lower power level than in cut mode. The laser beam heats the material enough to change its color or texture, but not enough to cut all the way through.

Cutting parameters change according to the properties of the material you cut.

We usually use the following for the 3mm wood sheets:

Changing the scan mode's parameters leads to different results as you can see in the photo.

Save your project by clicking on "File" in the top toolbar and selecting "Save As". Choose a location and file name for your project.

• Make sure the laser cutter is connected to your computer, and turned on.
• Adjust the laser head to the point you want to be the origin point of your cutting using the arrows on the laser cutter's control panel.
• press the origin button to set the origin point.
• Adjust the laser head's hight to 6mm above the wooden surface, make sure the sheet is flat.

• Make a test to ensure that whole drawing fits into the wooden board you chose, by pressing (go Scale) and choose the head's speed during this process. (better to be 300).
• When you are sure everything is OK send the project to the laser cutter by clicking on "Start" to begin the cutting process.
• You can pause / stop / resume the process anytime by clicking the related button on the panel.

That's it! Follow these steps and you should be able to use RDWorks V8 software for laser cutting.

 Good luck!

3D Printing

• Export your 3d Rhino design as STL file

• download 🌐 PrusaSlicer
• Choose i3 MK3S & MK3S+

• import your STL file

• Use this tool to move the object

• Use this tool to scale the object

• Use this tool to rotate the object

• Use this tool to place a specific object's face onto the ground.

• Use this tool to cut the object

• infill, is how much you want the object to be filled from the inside

• Choose the printer you are going to print this design on

• Supports provide stability and prevent overhangs during the printing process.

• Choose how detailed you want your model to be, keep in mind;

more details = more printing time

• Finally, Export G-code and copy it to an SD card

• By sliding this slider, you can see all the layers of the design

That's it! Now you can take your sd card to the 3d printer

Insert the SD card into the 3D printer's SD card slot on the left side.

Choose;

print from SD card

Choose your G-code file

Nozzle temperature

Bed temperature

the process of printing in percentage

File's name

It will start by getting rid of a the plastic in the nozzle

To edit the setting you can go to "Tune"

Printing speed

Nozzle temperature

Bed temperature

Fan speed

Material Flow

ACTIVATE BEHAVIOR . Score

TRIGGERS