Laser Cutters
Laser cutters use CO₂ laser technology to cut and score flat surfaces such as sheet timbers, cardboard and acrylic.
In the Digital Fabrication Lab we have three Trotec SP500 (large) and three Trotec Speedy 360 (small) laser cutters available for student use.
As it is a popular option for many students, we recommend planning ahead for assessments and booking in advance.
Tina Yun - Basswood and Acrylic
Tina Yun - Screenboard and Basswood
Yijie (Betty) Liu - Birchwood
Maddie Gallagher - Boxboard and Plywood
Laser Cutters
$15 per 30 minutes
Saturn
Jupiter
Neptune
Trotec SP500
Bed Size: 1200mm x 700mm
$10
per 30 minutes
Mars
Venus
Mercury
Trotec Speedy 360
Bed Size: 800mm x 500mm
How can I access the laser cutters?
Ensure the following steps are completed before booking the laser cutters:
Complete the DMaF Lab Online Site Induction in your DMaF Lab Hub (Canvas).
Complete the Laser Cutting Induction module in your DMaF Lab Hub (Canvas). The module introduces students to laser cutting file setup and safety of machine use. The module is compulsory for all new students who wish to use the laser cutters.
Digital Fabrication inductions are open to all currently enrolled students at the Sydney School of Architecture Design and Planning..
We only run Laser Cutting Inductions during the first weeks of semester.
What do I need to bring to the booking?
Download the appropriate Rhino template , for the machine you have booked and follow the instructions provided for proper file setup.
USB flash drives are not allowed in DMaF Lab.
Best practice to transfer your files to our computers is to email them to yourself or to access them via an online storage site such as DropBox or GoogleDrive.
Remember:
work in millimeters
account for an offset tolerance for your drawing; the drawing cannot go to the exact boundaries of the equipment or material dimensions. Use at least the dimension of the thickness of the material as a margin, for example; 3mm ply should have at least a 3mm margin.
set up drawings to fit on the material size you will be using not just the equipment bed size
remove any double lines to prevent the laser cutter from going over twice
External Materials.
External materials are allowed. However, if the material is different to the ones we supply, you must contact one of our laser technicians at the lab and provide a Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) to ensure the material is safe and not toxic. If you are bringing your own materials, allow extra time for the technicians to assist in setting the laser cutting power to work with the new material. MSDS Sample
Regardless of type, your material must be flat (tolerance ±1mm).
Maximum thickness for cutting is 8mm.