How to Laser Cut Acrylic Shapes

There are many things you can use laser cut acrylic for, including making small shapes and words for jewelry making. To make shapes from sheets of acrylic you will need to use the right technique and a laser cutting machine to give you a clean, precise cut. You will need to know the basics of using a graphic editing program to create the shape so you can easily transfer it to the laser cutting machine.

Things You'll Need

• Laser cutting machine
• Computer
• Acrylic sheets
• Graphic editing program

Instructions

1. Make sure you have access to a laser cutting machine. Laser cutting machines are expensive--around $8,000 for the cheapest ones. Find someone who already has a laser cutting machine or save up the money to buy your own. When you have access to a laser cutting machine, find out the thickness required by the machine. Connect the laser cutter to your computer with the appropriate cable and install the software that comes with the machine into your computer.

2. Buy the sheets of acrylic in the colors and sizes that you need. Find them in department stores, online or where craft supplies are sold. Make sure the thickness of your acrylic is compatible to the laser cutting machine and that it is appropriate for what you are cutting the acrylic for. For example, if you are cutting a small acrylic shape to hang from a necklace, the ideal thickness is between 2 and 5 mm.

3. Open a new document in a graphic editing program. Draw a shape with the pencil tool and size the document to the size you want your shape to be when you cut it out. Alternatively, you can scan a picture of the shape you want to use or download a free one from the Internet. Save the document to your computer's hard drive.

4. Follow the directions on the owner's manual that came with the laser cutter and load the sheet of acrylic into the machine.

5. Go to "File, Print" in your graphic editing program and select your laser cutting machine from the drop down menu that appears on the print dialogue box. Refer to the instructions that came with your laser cutting machine for the settings to use when cutting the sheet of acrylic.

6. Make sure the machine is done before you open the lid to remove the acrylic. There is a safety feature in some laser cutting machines that will stop the laser if the door is opened before it is done cutting.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also make engravings in the acrylic by adjusting the settings on the laser cutting machine.

References

• Using the Laser Cutter
• How Lasers Work
• CD-Demo: 3b Demonstration