{"id":153,"date":"2025-10-30T14:20:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki2\/?page_id=153"},"modified":"2026-07-21T10:11:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T09:11:02","slug":"laser-cutting-quick-start-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/laser-cutting-quick-start-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Laser Cutting Quick Start Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cp-timeline-content-timeline-block Cool-Content-Timeline\"><div class=\"cool-timeline-block-e2eeb0b1-428a-4c58-8245-30b1cd800254\"><style>.cool-timeline-block-e2eeb0b1-428a-4c58-8245-30b1cd800254 .cool-vertical-timeline-body{--ctlb-line-color: #c8c8c8;--ctlb-icon-bg: #000000;--ctlb-story-border-color: #afafaf;}<\/style><div class=\"cool-vertical-timeline-body ctlb-wrapper both-sided left\"><div class=\"cool-timeline-block-list\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cp-timeline-content-timeline-block-child swiper-slide\"><div class=\"timeline-content icon-false \"><div class=\"timeline-block-timeline ctl-row  position-left\"><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-time\"><div class=\"story-time\"><p><strong>Prepare your 2D file<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-block-icon\"><svg stroke=\"currentColor\" fill=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" height=\"1em\" width=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-detail\"><div class=\"story-details\"><div class=\"story-content\">\n<p class=\"ctlb-block-title wp-block-paragraph\">You need a file to laser cut before you can start. Export your designs from Solidworks or Fusion as a DXF file, then import them into Adobe Illustrator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to work directly in Illustrator that&#8217;s fine too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you&#8217;re importing DXF files into Illustrator remember to set the scale correctly. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cp-timeline-content-timeline-block-child swiper-slide\"><div class=\"timeline-content icon-false \"><div class=\"timeline-block-timeline ctl-row  position-right\"><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-time\"><div class=\"story-time\"><p><strong>Find suitable material<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-block-icon\"><svg stroke=\"currentColor\" fill=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" height=\"1em\" width=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-detail\"><div class=\"story-details\"><div class=\"story-content\">\n<p class=\"ctlb-block-title wp-block-paragraph\">Avoid using fresh, new sheets of material wherever possible. Look through the offcuts to find material that will work for your design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spread your design over several pieces if you need to, and remember you can use the camera to align your work to oddly shaped material.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cp-timeline-content-timeline-block-child swiper-slide\"><div class=\"timeline-content icon-false \"><div class=\"timeline-block-timeline ctl-row  position-left\"><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-time\"><div class=\"story-time\"><p><strong>Engrave or cut?<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-block-icon\"><svg stroke=\"currentColor\" fill=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" height=\"1em\" width=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-detail\"><div class=\"story-details\"><div class=\"story-content\">\n<p class=\"ctlb-block-title wp-block-paragraph\">Set all the parts of your design that you want to cut to one colour &#8211; black, red, green, they&#8217;re all acceptable options &#8211; and all the parts of your design that you want to engrave to another colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can engrave bitmaps or raster images, but only vector lines can be cut. If you&#8217;ve got a image that you want to cut then you&#8217;ll need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-0NVoQK6N5Q\">convert <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FKyeVgqk8go\">it using<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OZg8rvl0Vwk\">Image Trace<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cp-timeline-content-timeline-block-child swiper-slide\"><div class=\"timeline-content icon-false \"><div class=\"timeline-block-timeline ctl-row  position-right\"><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-time\"><div class=\"story-time\"><p><strong>Set up the laser cutter<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-block-icon\"><svg stroke=\"currentColor\" fill=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" height=\"1em\" width=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-detail\"><div class=\"story-details\"><div class=\"story-content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are a a few laser cutters to choose from &#8211; varying in the types of material they can cut to the maximum size of the material. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can either scan the QR code on the laser cutter itself, or you can<a href=\"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/laser-cutting\/setting-up-the-lasers\/\" data-type=\"category\" data-id=\"6\"> choose the machine you need from the list.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cp-timeline-content-timeline-block-child swiper-slide\"><div class=\"timeline-content icon-false \"><div class=\"timeline-block-timeline ctl-row  position-left\"><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-time\"><div class=\"story-time\"><p><strong>Print to the laser software<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-block-icon\"><svg stroke=\"currentColor\" fill=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" height=\"1em\" width=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-detail\"><div class=\"story-details\"><div class=\"story-content\">\n<p class=\"ctlb-block-title wp-block-paragraph\">Select Print from the File menu in Illustrator. Set the printer as &#8220;Epilog Engraver&#8221;. Turn off auto-rotate, and then select the top left position square. Finally, select Print once more to send the job to Epilog Dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/332\/sending-a-laser-cutter-job-from-adobe-illustrator\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"332\">Sending a job to the laser cutter<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cp-timeline-content-timeline-block-child swiper-slide\"><div class=\"timeline-content icon-false \"><div class=\"timeline-block-timeline ctl-row  position-right\"><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-time\"><div class=\"story-time\"><p><strong>Run the job on the laser<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-block-icon\"><svg stroke=\"currentColor\" fill=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" height=\"1em\" width=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-detail\"><div class=\"story-details\"><div class=\"story-content\">\n<p class=\"ctlb-block-title wp-block-paragraph\">Once the job has been sent to the laser cutter you can start cutting. Make sure the extraction is turned on and your material is in place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All three laser cutters have the same interface, so once you know how to use one you can use them all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/350\/starting-a-job-on-the-laser-cutter\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"350\">Starting a job on the laser cutter<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cp-timeline-content-timeline-block-child swiper-slide\"><div class=\"timeline-content icon-false \"><div class=\"timeline-block-timeline ctl-row  position-left\"><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-time\"><div class=\"story-time\"><p><strong>Log your cutting<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-block-icon\"><svg stroke=\"currentColor\" fill=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" height=\"1em\" width=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-detail\"><div class=\"story-details\"><div class=\"story-content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While you are waiting for the laser cutting to finish, scan the QR code on the top of the laser and fill in the short form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The information we get from this helps keep the material available for you to use free of charge, so please make sure that you complete it every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.cloud.microsoft\/e\/1YVLCTkDQb\">Laser Cutter Log Form<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cp-timeline-content-timeline-block-child swiper-slide\"><div class=\"timeline-content icon-false \"><div class=\"timeline-block-timeline ctl-row  position-right\"><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-time\"><div class=\"story-time\"><p><strong>Clean up<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-block-icon\"><svg stroke=\"currentColor\" fill=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" height=\"1em\" width=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"ctl-6 timeline-block-detail\"><div class=\"story-details\"><div class=\"story-content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the cutting is complete make sure the laser cutter is left clean and tidy. Remove the material you have been using and return any usable offcuts to the material rack. If you have been cutting small parts that have fallen through the grating make sure these are cleaned out. Ask a technician if you need help gaining access to underneath the grids. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-153","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/153\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":372,"href":"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/153\/revisions\/372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/makeinsalford.com\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}