How Do You Use A Laser Cutter?
Improper use of a laser cutter can result in fires and other dangers, so proper training is required. Laser cutters should not be used on certain materials, including many types of plastic, because of the toxic fumes they emit. Always wear protective clothing, gloves and eye protection when running a laser cutter. Create the image to be cut using the computer drawing tool appropriate for the cutter you are using. Many laser cutters use CorelDRAW software, but your particular cutter may use a different software. Set a cutting line width to 0.004 of an inch unless specifically directed to do otherwise. Wider lines take considerably more time to cut and often result in somewhat jagged cuts. Set the cutting speed, cutting depth and PPI (pulses per inch) based on the thickness and hardness of the material you are cutting and whether you wish to etch the surface or to cut completely through the material. Settings will vary between machine manufacturers and even between different models from
