Many projects require intricately designed parts that would be impossible to make with normal lathing and machining techniques. Laser cutters can make very precise cuts without warping or destroying nearby material, allowing for very elaborate designs.
A laser cutter is a device that uses a focused beam of light to melt or burn through a target material. Laser cutters are computer-controlled to maintain precision. Some things to keep in mind if you are considering using the laser cutter; non-melting materials such as balsa wood will have scorched edges that can be aesthetically undesirable. Laser cutters generally have a margin of error of .001 inches.
Workflow
steps
Material
tips, kerf ...
Files
Links
- Neat inspiration and tutorials on the Ponoko blog
- Some in depth information on the kerf
- General tips on optimizing drawings for laser cutting
- Snug joints in acrylic
- How to make snug fittings in plywood