For the purpose of these instructions I will assume you have CorelDraw X4.He loves taking things apart to see how they work, and will sometimes put those things back together.Laser cutters work by directing a very powerful laser beam, at a precise focal length, onto a material which they either cut or etch, depending on how the laser cutter has been set up.
Laser cutters cut materials similarly to other computer controlled tools, only they do so using a beam of light as opposed to a blade. When laser cutters are set up to etch something on the surface of a material, they operate like a printer, literally using their laser beam to etch an image onto something. This Instructable is meant to be a resource to anyone who is looking to do some laser cutting for the first time, learn a bit more about how laser cutters work, or just explore the wonderful world of laser cutters. Laserdrw Download Step 1Add Tip Ask Question Comment Download Step 1: Materials - Part 1 - the Machine The first thing youre going to need to use a laser cutter, is the laser cutter. Though, chances are if you dont have one yet, purchasing one may not be within your budget. Epilog recently released a line of budget laser cutters that come in just under 8,000.00. With that in mind, Im going to explore other ways of getting your hands on a laser cutter. Community colleges are fairly cheap for classes, and it cant hurt to see if they offer any classes in art or engineering that involve laser engraving. Less then a hundred dollars (depending on cost per credit) for a class, and you should have access to a laser cutter for a whole semester. Laserdrw Plus Constant HandsGoing about it this way, you not only get cheap access to a laser cutter, you also get to learn some tips and tricks, plus constant hands on experience. If you just want your design made and dont have the cash for, or want to buy, the machinery, you can do some searches in your local area for businesses that will laser cut for you. Theres a lot of places that make a business of laser cutting items for other people. You can also try to find places that use laser cutters, and see if they wouldnt mind helping you out. Another way to get your design made without buying a laser cutter is with a company like Ponoko, who will cut whatever design you send them, and send you back the finished product. There is an excellent set of Instructables on doing just that. If you really want your own laser cutter and just dont have the money for it, there are a couple of options. You can go to manufactures websites and see if they have an option to purchase pre-owned models, or go to a site like ebay and hope that what you buy is what you get. You could also treat it as you would a car, since it costs just about as much, and lease-to-own. Laserdrw How To Go AboutAdd Tip Ask Question Comment Download Step 2: Materials - Part 2 - the Hardware Now that we have (or know how to go about getting access to) a laser cutter, lets move onto what materials we can cut, and basic things we can do with them. Cast Acrylic - can be etched and cut (has a nice frosted appearance). This includes bottles (both full and empty) drinking glasses, and plain flat glass. Wood - can be both etched and cut Too High of a power can distort engraved images. There are also several materials that places wont tell you you can cut, such as: Skin Cake Chocolate Gingerbread Meat Pancakes Finger Nails Card Stock Paper Stamps Add Tip Ask Question Comment Download Step 3: Materials - Part 3 - the Software The final thing youll need, in addition to your laser cutter and materials you plan to cut, is a computer with some form of vector graphics software loaded onto it.
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