<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p><img src="https://www.ponoko.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Laser-Cut-Cardboard-And-Taskboard.jpg" alt="Design Better 3D Interlocking Models With Three New Materials"></p></blockquote></figure>



<h2 class="has-text-align-center">Prototype Laser Cutting Article</h2>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Yet another technology for translating digital designs into physical prototypes is laser cutting. Like 3D printing and CnC Machining this uses a<a href="https://eduengteam.com/2019/03/are-embedded-systems-smaller-versions-of-computers-just-like-pcs.html" data-type="post" data-id="1487"> computer</a>-controlled machine to create prototype parts.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><img src="https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5bcc/d8d4/f197/cc4e/4000/00be/large_jpg/Casa_no_Pomar_-_%C5%A0%C3%89PKA_ARCHITEKTI.jpg?1540151504" alt="Laser Prototype "/></figure>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Laser cutters use a laser powerful enough to ablate the material and generate tiny cuts to cut items from sheets of material. By lowering the laser's power,almost all laser cutters can also engrave in addition to cutting.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Laser cutters use a laser powerful enough to ablate the material and generate very small cuts to cut items from sheets of material. By lowering the laser's power,almost all laser cutters can also engrave in addition to cutting.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/asFTR-7dxqQ
</div></figure>



<h2 class="has-text-align-center"><strong><em>What is Laser Cutting?</em></strong></h2>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Among the other prototyping methods presented in this series,laser cutting fills a unique niche. The fact that laser cutters can only operate with sheets of material is the most unique component of using laser cutting for prototyping. Laser cutters may work with a variety of materials depending on the laser's power,although all of the materials are sheets of different thickness.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://maker.pro/storage/VVzdv6g/VVzdv6g0yEGTNdZSdFGMxQP47BOXywmBE7ODCzLX.png" alt="Laser_Cutting_SH_MP_image5.png"/><figcaption>Ponoko,a laser cutting business,has this assortment of materials accessible.</figcaption></figure></div>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Cutting and engraving sheets of material yields pieces that perform effectively without assembly or post-processing for some sorts of prototypes. For LED projects,laser-cut acrylic,for example,is an excellent light diffuser. These laser-cut light-diffusing pieces can be used for prototype parts or low-volume production.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://maker.pro/storage/1VCnDoP/1VCnDoPLro8vfuTxJSIBVFfNkDpKN9XDqpfNguVb.jpeg" alt="Laser_Cutting_SH_MP_image7.jpg"/><figcaption>This is a clear acrylic LED diffuser that has been laser cut. The laser was used to cut the portion's periphery,and the little dots that covered the part were engraved into the material.</figcaption></figure></div>



<h2 class="has-text-align-center">Laser cutters are ideal for intricate designs</h2>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Laser cutters are frequently utilized for artistic products as well as bespoke,custom-designed,or personalized products due to the exceptionally high level of detail they can offer.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Laser cutters can cut complicated designs out of a wide range of materials. They can also engrave intricate designs into materials or other items to produce custom-engraved electronic devices,for example.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://maker.pro/storage/FWZy5Jh/FWZy5Jh3JyDQ1YyF0StuUaxQeU2gSyqy5aCeKyWM.jpeg" alt="Laser Cutting"/><figcaption>Laser cutters are capable of producing incredibly detailed designs.</figcaption></figure></div>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Although laser cutting produces flat items,it can also be used to manufacture parts that fit together to form three-dimensional structures. Many early 3D printers,for example,were made of laser-cut wood that was fitted together to form the printer frames.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://maker.pro/storage/ZFFurRh/ZFFurRhEN8IpWOo1YUx3VMlaYbTjlcG1O2HbyM7H.jpeg" alt="laser cutting"/><figcaption>This is the Printrbot Jr.,which is made up of laser-cut wooden elements that connect.</figcaption></figure></div>



<p class="has-text-align-center">To make more sophisticated structures,laser cut parts can be combined with other hardware such as simple screws,nuts,and brackets.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://maker.pro/storage/2CoqaTL/2CoqaTLxjgeS7Py2cYXPwhAJdwp51od5iyJ1Bb9E.jpeg" alt="Laser Cutting"/><figcaption>This robot is built up of laser-cut hardwood panels,as well as other gear and servo motors.</figcaption></figure></div>



<h2 class="has-text-align-center">This robot is built up of laser-cut hardwood panels,as well as other gear and servo motors</h2>



<p class="has-text-align-center">For designers designing their products,laser cutting,like the other technologies covered so far,offers some advantages and downsides.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center">The greatest benefit of laser cutting over 3D printing or laser cutting is the high level of precision it provides. In prototype parts,laser cutting and laser engraving can reach exceedingly fine features.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://maker.pro/storage/eHtPDiP/eHtPDiPj1uWnOFqoMUg4svP2dNIQg5zuEoyISZeK.jpeg" alt="Laser Cutting"/><figcaption>Laser-engraved acrylic is edge lit from the bottom to create illuminated numbers in these "Lixie" displays.</figcaption></figure></div>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Similarly,unlike CNC machining,where designers must consider the diameter of the cutting tool when creating a part,the "diameter" of the laser beam,known as the kurf,is tiny enough that it can be overlooked in most designs.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Anywhere in the design,laser cutters can produce pieces with right-angle corners.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://maker.pro/storage/iaFXamx/iaFXamxsbDpB6ZkcdpXrkiiNh2kgyzYsQGWDTCd8.jpeg" alt="Laser_Cutting_SH_MP_image1.jpg"/><figcaption>Laser cutters can make right-angle inside corners and incredibly precise etching since the laser beam is extremely narrow.</figcaption></figure></div>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Another advantage of laser cutting for prototyping is the variety of materials that can be used. The material variety for laser cutters is not as large as it is for CNC machines,but it is significantly larger than that for 3D printers. Acrylic (plexiglass),various types of wood,cardboard,delrin,cork,aluminum,stainless steel,PETG,styrene,MDF,and many other materials can be cut with laser cutters.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Because laser cutters don't make direct touch with the workpieces they cut and engrave,they can manufacture items out of materials that aren't suitable for CNC machines. Soft materials such as leather,paper,felt,silicone rubber,many types of fabric,and even meals fall into this category.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/s3RNPA9kqts
</div></figure>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Finally,several materials that can only be cut with a very strong industrial laser cutter,such as glass,marble,titanium,ceramic,stone,and Corian,can nevertheless be engraved with laser cutters available to makers.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://maker.pro/storage/C0dtjBo/C0dtjBoEXLaHE71U5KLYX1gwwA8W4NqaVYD9bL5M.png" alt="Laser_Cutting_SH_MP_image2.png"/></figure></div>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Although laser cutters cannot cut marble,they can etch it.</p>



<h2 class="has-text-align-center"><em>Disadvantages of Laser Cutting Prototypes</em></h2>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Laser cutting has a number of drawbacks,including material selection and cutting technology. Despite the wide range of materials available,laser cutting technology necessitates that all of them be cut in thin sheets. Materials up to 6mm thick can be employed depending on the type of material and the laser's power rating. In contrast to CNC devices,laser cutters can only cut straight through materials. They can't be utilized to make cavities or blind holes.</p>



<p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://maker.pro/storage/8jxnE7S/8jxnE7SLavUGyRNcCDiegW6JQZThqbprRTVfw53e.png" alt="Laser_Cutting_SH_MP_image4.png"/><figcaption>Adobe Illustrator may be used to create design files for laser cutters.</figcaption></figure></div>



<p class="has-text-align-center">However,unlike 3D printers,laser cutters require some infrastructure. Laser cutters emit nasty,sometimes toxic fumes because of the way they evaporate material to cut it. As a result,laser cutting exhaust must be vented outside or fed via a HEPA filter.</p>



<h2>Final Thoughts on Prototyping using Laser Cutters</h2>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Laser cutting is comparable to CNC milling in many aspects. Both technologies manufacture pieces from sheets of material using computer-guided cutting machines. Laser cutters employ powerful lasers to cut items from a variety of materials,whereas CNC machining uses mechanical cutting tools.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center">Laser cutting is particularly good at producing items with precise features or right-angle corners. Laser cutters can also engrave elaborate designs on a variety of various materials.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://maker.pro/storage/q8XxzNg/q8XxzNgPbM4R2cIc5c4EK83GRrvtfgrrRnKubGcr.jpeg" alt="Laser_Cutting_SH_MP_image6.jpg"/><figcaption>Laser cutting allows for exceedingly fine detail in items. Laser cutters may also engrave intricate designs on components.</figcaption></figure></div>



<p></p>

How Laser Cutting Can Help You Prototype Your Design

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How Laser Cutting Can Help You Prototype Your Design

How Laser Cutting Can Help You Prototype Your Design

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