Laser cutting cutting out a piece of plywood Laser cut snowflakes out of plywood

Laser Cutter

Laser cutters cut with a laser that moves along a 2D shape, generally from a flat piece of material. Our laser cutters can cut and engrave acrylic, wood, paper, some fabrics and more. In a vector cut, the laser travels along a path and fires a powerful beam that cuts all the way through the material. In a raster etch (also known as engraving), the laser travels back and forth rapidly and fires a less powerful beam, engraving a shape row-by-row. The laser cutters can recreate nearly any vector file with near-perfect accuracy. Some laser cutters may be equipped with a rotary tool, which can cut designs into cylindrical stock.

Models at EXP

Universal 6.150D (x3) and an Ultra R9000 (x1): The build envelopes are 32″ x 18″ x 8.5″ and 48″ x 24″ respectively.

Safety Considerations

  • Never let a laser cutter operate unattended: laser cutters cause fires very easily. Never walk away from a laser cutter while it is working! Always pay active attention and check for fire.
  • Be careful with your eyes: Some materials produce very bright lights when being cut. While it’s okay to look at the laser while it cuts, you should never stare at it for long periods of time. We’ll provide tinted safety glasses if you’d like to watch your part for long periods of time.
  • Only use identified, approved materials: Some materials cause fires and some materials emit deadly gasses when cut. Please always double check your materials with a staff member to see what is allowable in the particular machine.
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