Let the laser teach you: it’s all about focus.
- Decide on an object. Pick a free laser design one.
- Open design in whatever design software you use to familiarize yourself with what cuts/scores/engraves are needed.
- Personalize the design in some way if needed, but keep it simple. If it is text, you need to understand how fonts work.
- Decide on material.
- Research settings on said material.
- Put material in Glowforge
- Load design.
- Click the set focus command (under the gear) and place the target in the center of the material where you want the design but about an inch to the left and slightly higher. Watch where the red dot hits to ensure that it is an appropriate spot to measure.
- Position design on material.
- Get the settings entered in.
- Double check design position and settings.
- Insure venting is set.
- Click print.
- Press print button.
Post processing:
Before moving the material or the design in the GFUI, after the print ensure that pieces needing to be cut are totally free. If not, repeat cut lines as needed with slightly less speed.
Rinse and repeat.
Perhaps I forgot a thing or two.
The key is focus on one object or a design, then choose the material. The design will tell you what to learn and the material will tell you settings. Repeat that design or object several times. Use different materials. Try variations. It will allow you to get familiar with the process while limiting the variables.
On going over this list, notice what things are not clear. Do you have this process understood enough that you could tell somehow how to use a Glowforge without notes? What step did you notice seems the most challenging. Note that and come back here and ask questions about it.
Why are airplanes safe? Because everyone involved knows exactly what to do and can do it over and over again without missing a step. check lists and procedures are effective.
Don’t worry about the creative stuff. Planes just need to get from point A to point B. They follow the flight plan. The fun comes when you arrive at your destination.
Remember that it’s ok to make one object and ensure that everyone in your family and your friends have a copy. Perhaps the minimum is to personalize it with their name. Doesn’t have to be dramatic. One 4" tile coaster with a one color marker and a synthetic felt backing will be enough for people. You can get by for a long time with this.
With this design you can totally ignore the wood part and use the outer square box vector to align the design on the tile by cutting it out in a sheet of cardboard. But if you use set focus and have the tile fairly square in the bed, it should be accurate enough for placement. Then the outer square can cut out some polyester felt for a backing (Joann’s)
Download this font: Goudy Initialen Font | dafont.com
It will give you a perfect square design to go over a square tile. People love these.
Here is another version that allows you to use the name of the person. The text is the entire design.
Or you could download one of these free monogram fonts. I’ll help you learn to split it to put the full name in the middle.
Or you can totally ignore the idea of a backing and a targeting jig with cardboard and just use the tile. It’s not going to explode or start a fire, so you’ll feel a bit safer. Doesn’t need masking at all.
Well, at least that is how I operate. On my CNC machine, I have been making the same slip fit box over and over again. Each time I am able to tweak settings because the wood is different for each. I then stick it in the Glowforge and put the initials on. I could make these for everyone and everyone will think they have a custom gift because you customized it with their name and maybe just a little flair with the font choice.