WHAT CAN YOU MAKE?

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

THE PARTS OF A LASER CUTTER

Cutting Bed Limits the size of materials to 10" x 19" and 1/4" thick

Air Filter Must be turned on before any cut by turning the knob all the way

Lid Needs to be closed the entire time during a cut

Camera Captures the objects on the cut bed before a cut. Can be used to trace artwork to cut.

Laser Tube Creates the laser that will then bounce off of mirrors to cut your material

Power Switch Is in the back

Cut Button Starts your cut once you have sent your file from your computer 

app.glowforge.com. >

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1 Add Artwork

Use the Trace or Upload buttons to add artwork on the cutting bed

2 Cut Settings

Use the material presets, or set custom power and speed settings  

3 Send Cut File

Ensure your Glowforge is connect with this button and send your cut file

CREATING YOUR DESIGN

Easy, fast, outlines bold black marker lines

Precise, professional, computer drafting

How to

Step #1 Drag a square around the artwork that you want to trace

Step #2 Click the white areas you want to cut away

Step #3 Click (top right)

Place a bold, black marker drawing in the Glowforge

Move / scale your drawing

How to

Image Files (jpg. png.)

are made of pixels

Vector Files (svg. dxf.)

are line geometry

Laser cutters can cut along vector lines and etch inside their closed shapes

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

CREATING 2D DESIGNS IN TINKERCAD

2 MINUTE TINKERCAD BEGINNER TUTORIAL

CREATING 2D DESIGNS IN TINKERCAD

Remember

to set your lines to the material settings for what you are cutting

Remember

to turn on the air filter before you start your cut

ENJOY LASER CUTTING!