Dear All,
I love patterns and would love to make laser cut patterns once Glowforge arrives.
Where I can get patterns for laser cutting. A collection or library online.
Thank you.
2 Likes
(I moved this to Q&A - the Free Laser Designs category is for existing designs that users are seeking feedback on)
There are a few threads that have popped up on free designs elsewhere on the Internet. You should be able to pin down a few of them using the search function.
Here’s one topic that should get you started though:
3 Likes
Free or paid?
Pinterest used to be pretty good for the free stuff. Or any of the free vector sites. Most offer patterns.
Vecteezy
Vector4Free
For paid, the usual sites like iStockphoto or Shutterstock will make sure you don’t wind up infecting your computer with some nasty malware.
2 Likes
Ok. Thanks
Can you clarify what you mean by pattern? For example, you may be referring to a repeated set of lines or images that covers a large area, such as the geometric patterns of floor tiles, or decorative patterns in fabric or wallpaper.
Or you may be thinking of a pattern in the context of a shoe or dress design which is called a pattern or template which guides the cutting of the material which is later assembled.
2 Likes
Check out old scrollsaw pattern books or Google scrollsaw pattern. If they can be cut by a scrollsaw they can be cut by a laser 
4 Likes
Adobe stock has a lot of good stuff. Very reasonable pricing, especially compared to shutterstock.
1 Like
I could spend years browsing https://www.thingiverse.com/.
For boxes (and other designs), I like http://cartonus.com/ - also look on Etsy.
6 Likes
Thanks for this suggestion. I’ve been experimenting methodically with my own leather designs and AI in general (will share some of those results when there’s more to show) … but I’ve been wanting to step back from that and just do some plug and play stuff that will let me explore other materials and actually finish something quickly.
1 Like
Just simple ornamental or floral patterns. Geometric as well
One very easy way to get floral highlights and patterns is to download dingbat fonts and then convert the text to outlines. I’ll demo that for you tomorrow.
3 Likes
What is the bed size of glowforge basic. What should be the dimension of the material sheet to be put in glowforge basic. The description was confusing…haha.
10.25 inches by 17.5" is what I can process on mine at once right now. It will fit a 12" by 20" sheet though.
2 Likes
ok thanks, thats great. 12 by 20 inches. I t will be better to cut big size sheets to this dimensions.
1 Like
Correct. Although we can’t use the full bed size to engrave/cut (we get margins of unusable/wasted material) that’s on deck to be fixed so we can do 20x11.5" which will cut how much wasted material we’ll have out of full sheets.
Right now we have to do a bit more shuffling of material to get to use it all up but that’s no big deal.
As @cynzu said THINGIVERSE.COM !! I too find myself falling down the rabbit hole… while I too love the other sites for vectors it is a site dedicated to user uploaded 3d printing projects AND laser/CNC cut full projects with directions which will help advance your knowledge in the why and how much more than the vectors will. 
I have a collection of things I am planning to try or have tried. I apologize for those who also fall down the rabbit hole with us. lol http://www.thingiverse.com/whiterabbit79/collections/laser/
M
PS oh and they are all free…but with that comes the fact they aren’t normally clean and polished and perfected and you may have to mess with it a bit… which is where the learning happens
4 Likes
Very good set of bookmarks. Thanks. I am interested in this one:
4 Likes
I haven’t made that one yet, but I made the one that shows you what your grayscale depth on each material and setting is… super helpful in learning your machine and media…
2 Likes
The greyscale and depth engraving is good. I need to be a bit more organized. Had to retest plywood to see how what settings to get exactly 1/2 way through Proofgrade plywoods. On mine it’s 3 passes at 50% power and 335 speed at 340. That’s a good balance without burning and taking away each layer.
And here are some dingbat examples (or as the font calls them “wingdings”
And here are some of those changed into vectors to cut or convert to fill and and engrave.
And finally if you are up to the task of converting found design into vectors, this book not only gives you finished patterns and designs, but has a great introduction for making them from scratch using geometry.
14 Likes