Laser Cutting and Engraving
OMTech 80W CO2 Laser Cutter and Engraver
The laser cutter can cut materials with precision. It can also engrave or etch designs into the surface of the object. Maximum working area is 20x28 inches (508x711 mm). This machine can accommodate objects that are a maximum of 6 inches tall (160 mm). The maximum engraving depth is 0.4 inches (10 mm).
Materials
Only approved materials can be used. Staff must know what you are engraving prior to your visit and must approve it. It is recommended that you consult with staff prior to your purchase of the material, so that staff can verify that it is safe. If this is not possible, please have on hand information about the makeup of the material. If in doubt, staff will most likely not approve it.
Approved materials include certain kinds of wood, cork, fabric, acrylic, glass, and more! Please refer to our list of compatible and incompatible materials. All materials must be flat or near flat to engrave upon (no glasses, tumblers or bottles). Makerspace staff will deny usage of any material they deem incompatible as it may pose a significant safety risk.
The Makerspace sells 12x12 inch basswood (1/8 inch thick) to be used with the engraver.
Software and Training
For cutting and engraving, CorelDraw, Adobe Illustrator, Canva or Inkscape can be used to design a file. These files will be uploaded to Lightburn, the software that communicates with the engraver.
Engraving requires JPG, or PNG files (Raster files).
Cutting requires SVG, EPS, or AI files (Vector files).
Safety Procedures
When using the laser engraver, the following safety procedures must be followed:
- Material must be approved prior to using the equipment.
- A staff member must approve the settings before use. See the recommended speed/power settings.
- The engraver must never be left unattended while operating!
- The chiller and exhaust vent must be turned on prior to powering on the engraver.
- Take note of the location of the fire extinguisher and blanket.
- Always pause/stop the job if laser flare-ups are too large and keep the lid closed.
Reservations
The laser engraver can be reserved in one-hour increments. The first reservation must be made as a one-on-one reservation. Subsequent reservations can be made without a one-on-one reservation, with staff approval of material and settings before engraving or cutting. Users must check in with a staff member to obtain the key to operate the equipment.
Compatible Materials
| Material | Thickness | Engrave | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Many woods (No oily woods!) | 0.25 inch (¼") | ||
| Certain plywood/composite woods | 0.25 inch (¼") | ||
| Paper, card stock, cardboard | thin | ||
| Cork | 0.25 inch (¼") | ||
| Acrylic | 0.5 inch (½") | ||
| Cloth/felt/cotton/hemp | |||
| Magnetic sheet | |||
| Leather/suede (no artificial leather) | 0.125 inch (⅛") | ||
| Glass | |||
| Ceramic tile | |||
| Anodized Aluminum/painted metal | |||
| Stone, marble, granite |
Noncompatible Materials
- ABS – Strong plastic used in LEGO® bricks, automotive parts
- Fiberglass
- Milk bottle plastic/HDPE
- Mirrored acrylic – Can only cut or engrave dull side, not mirrored side
- Polycarbonate/Lexan® – Very strong plastic used for windshields
- Polystyrene/polypropylene foam - Gatorfoam® Gator Board
- PTFE – Teflon™
- PVC – Often used for plumbing
- PVC-based vinyl – Vinyl, pleather, artificial leather
- Reflective metals – Copper, brass (unless painted), aluminum (unless anodized)
- Wool
Average Engraving Settings
Start with low power and fast speed setting and rerun your design as many times as needed, using progressively greater intensity.
| Description | Acrylic | Glass | Leather | Tile/Stone | Wood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural | Artificial | |||||
| Speed | 325 mm/s | 225 mm/s | 400 mm/s | 425 mm/s | 145 mm/s | 200 mm/s |
| Power | 18% | 18% | 16% | 15% | 18% | 19% |
- When engraving textiles use low power and fast speed.
- Only engrave painted metals—work on coated aluminum should be done quickly at low power, and steel coatings should be done more slowly at higher power.
- When engraving paper or cardboard use low to moderate power and fast speed.
- Plastics should be engraved at low power and high speed.
Average Cutting Settings
Leather
| Description | 1/16" (0.0625 in.) | 1/8" (0.125 in.) | 1/4" (0.25 in.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | 325 mm/s | 225 mm/s | 145 mm/s |
| Power | 18% | 18% | 18% |
Acrylic
| Description | 1/16" (0.0625 in.) | 1/8" (0.125 in.) | 1/4" (0.25 in.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | 25 mm/s | 12 mm/s | 6 mm/s |
| Power | 18% | 18% | 18% |
Baltic Birch
| Description | 1/16" (0.0625 in.) | 1/8" (0.125 in.) | 1/4" (0.25 in.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | 25 mm/s | 12 mm/s | 7 mm/s |
| Power | 20% | 25% | 30% |
| 3D Printer Filament | $0.05/gram |
| Basswood, 12” x 12” sheet, ⅛” thick | $2.00/sheet |
| Button, pin-back | $0.10/each |
| Mug, 11 oz. white | $2.50/each |
| Mug, 15 oz. white | $3.50/each |
| Sublimation Printer page, 8.5” x 11” sheet | $0.50/sheet |
| Vinyl, standard adhesive, 24” roll, per inch | $0.15/inch |
| Print standard adhesive, 8.5” x 11” sheet | $1.00/sheet |
| Vinyl, heat transfer, 12” roll, per inch | $0.25/inch |
| Print Vinyl, heat transfer, 8.5” x 11” sheet | $1.00/sheet |
| Window cling material, 30" roll, per inch | $0.25/inch |
| Specialty/Limited Run Items | Varies |
Makerspace materials fees are charged for all materials consumed, including errors and waste. Not all materials may be in stock. Users may provide their own approved materials at no cost.
Download or print PDF versions of the compatible materials and power settings for the Laser Cutter and Engraver.