Construction Paper Template Layered Cutting

[csiffermann]

Our school has a Pro HD and the art teacher asked of we can bulk cut a firefly template on PRANG Medium Weight Construction Paper.

My question is can I staple multiple sheets together and cut a number of layers at a time having the design cut on 20 layers of construction paper (for example), or more or less?

The goal is to minimize time and maximize output without putting the Glowforge (or more) in danger.

[evansd2]

Hey, welcome!

This thread was just updated today. It’s exactly what you’re asking.

Cutting Multiple Pieces of Card Stock at Once

Hi All, Has anyone ever cut multiple pieces of card stock at once, stacked on top of one another? I am trying to cut around multiple big head shapes so it won’t be a complicated cut, pretty much a big circle. The paper measures 330 GSM, so it is very thick card stock, thinking of stacking 5 of them on top of each other to cut through. Any advice helps, thanks!

You might like number 12 on this list, it’s about how to search the forum effectively:

Common problems/questions

Hello! You’ve been referred to this post because you have a common problem or question. Check out the list below to see what this post can do for you. Just click on a topic that interests you. • 1: I’m new to Glowforge and really have no idea where to start • 1a: What other tools/materials should I buy to go with my Glowforge? • 1b: What are the overall best practices for my laser designs? • 2: All about masking/protecting your materials • 3: I want to design/make a box • 4: What materi…

Of course you’re always welcome to ask, but sometimes a search is faster and easier.

[dklgood]

Welcome to the forum.

As stated previously, the search function is very robust.

The short answer to your question is…no. Stacking paper and cutting with fire is a bad idea.

[evansd2]

See I think the answer is “yes”, if you know what you’re doing.

I’d be pretty comfortable cutting stacks 5-6 sheets deep, but then I know how to avoid fire-prone design and settings.

I wouldn’t go much more than that, not because of fire risk but because you’re likely to get too much char and smoke marks.

I mean don’t get me wrong, this is all a bit theoretical and I’d be there with a way to stop the fire as it ran, but I don’t think of it as impossibly dangerous.

[dklgood]

20 layers?? The user has read 4 minutes on the forum. I think this is a fire asking to happen and certainly doesn’t teach students to operate equipment as suggested by the manufacturer.

[eflyguy]

I won’t do that. The closest I’ve gotten is when I full bond paper or another image to chipboard (jigsaw for example), but there’s no air gap to worry about.

[evansd2]

@dklgood

suggested by the manufacturer

Good point, moved to beyond the manual.

[dwardio]

Multiple sheets are contraindicated by Glowforge, add in the school setting & twenty sheets and that should be a hard no.

Direct quote from the GF Support website:
Do not stack materials; for example attempting to cut two or more sheets of material at a time.

Given that GF has published recommendations against doing this, I’d imagine your school’s insurance carrier would deny coverage for any damage that occurred through misuse.

[csiffermann]

Thank you for your time and consideration, I will cut one layer at a time.

Sorry to sound ignorant, our school has only had our device for a couple weeks and have only cut cardboard.

Is there any limits to how thin a sheet of paper that can be cut on the Glowforge (like tracing paper or newsprint)?

Best,
Charles

[dwardio]

Technically, no. Realistically, the thinest possible will be that which isn’t blown around by the air-assist fan (that cannot be turned off),
So tissue is probably not going to work.

[evansd2]

I’m cheating because I went to great lengths to do it… but I cut tissue paper:

Find out how much I cheated here:

Vacuum tray replacement for cutting lightweight materials

The chase: [image] So I made a fullsize tray replacement vacuum table. The idea is that it allows me to cut very lightweight materials without worrying about flyaways. A quick disclaimer: It’s possible that this is a fire risk, airflow and contained spaces and all. I feel as though it isn’t, but I’m just a dude with a laser who thinks he’s got decent risk assessment skills. Use your noodle if you try something like this Say you wanted to cut some rolled trace paper: [im…

[jamesdhatch]

@evansd2

See I think the answer is “yes”, if you know what you’re doing

I find it fascinating that GF says not to stack paper and folks point out the danger of an air gap between layers but cardboard is okay and that’s nothing but a couple of sheets of paper separated by an air gap with a 3rd sheet creating a baffle.

[deirdrebeth]

It’s brilliant with paper - and you can make a sticky pad to go underneath with a piece of waste material (cheap plywood) sprayed with repositionable spray adhesive.

Place that under your paper and when its cut the pieces won’t blow away - but are still easy to pull off (delicate bits you have to be extra careful with).

[evansd2]

Yup.

If you don’t know what you’re doing you can ignite cardboard easily, but if you have some experience and understanding of what’s high risk it’s not terribly dangerous.

Same goes for stacked paper. Just gotta be careful and follow good fire prevention techniques.

[evermorian]

What you can do with different kinds of paper and how much effort it takes depends on the specifics.

Although I have gone to similar lengths as @evansd2 (making a vacuum tray to hold paper and using his hack to control the air assist power), and frequently use a Seklema mat for making pop up cards, you can sometimes cut even very thin paper with the standard setup, depending on what it is.

For example, a simple cut outline (possibly a firefly template, if it is just an outline with no or little internal detail) could be done by carefully placing shielded magnets [1] to keep the cut piece from blowing around.

You can also make inexpensive alternatives to the Seklema mats. There is more on that in other posts here. Search on “Seklema.”

Note that you should watch cutting paper attentively, especially if using any of these unsanctioned hacks to avoid disasters.

Feel free to ask for suggestions for specific projects.

[1] Magnets can mess with the sensors in the machine, causing it to abort cuts, but a magnet that doesn’t have a field facing upwards will be fine. The typical way to get those is salvaged from old hard drives. There is more on that in other posts here.

[deirdrebeth]

This might be of interest - or at least a starting point to double your production speed…

But yeah, carefully

Cutting Multiple Pieces of Card Stock at Once

Thanks everyone for the advice. After some tests of my own, I have been cutting thick card stock no problem and not even a candle sized fire. Details are follows: Cutting in piles of 2. Size of the cuts are about 10"x10" Thickness .02 Speed 500 Power 55 number of passes 2 putting 4-5 magnets on top of them so there is no air between the paper These setting have proved worthy, not one fire mishap and no char marks on the bottom cut!