Laser cutting is incredibly versatile, beautiful and easy way to fabricate, especially on the Glowforge. When you get your certification you are free to use the Glowforge, but that doesn’t mean you know the process of going from prototype to final design for laser cutting. This mini course made for you to get comfortable with the workflow of laser cutting.
Before starting this mini course, you are expected to have:
- Glowforge Level 1 Certification
- Understand the difference between Cut, Engrave, and Score functions on the Glowforge
- 2-5 Hours dedicated to the completion of this mini course
Your goal is to design and laser cut a box! This is a perfect intro in using 2D design to create 3D objects and get a better understanding of all the capabilities of the Glowforge.
This is a fully asynchronous course, however asking for help and collaborating ideas are very encouraged. This collaboration goes only to ideas though and all the designing should be done on your own. You are also encouraged to do research and find laser cut boxes to get inspired by, but you should not be copying the files that those inspiration boxes were made from. Please ask questions along the way and come to the Fab Lab to get help in the iteration process if you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
There are a few requirements for this box:
- The box should be sturdy and not fall apart without the use of any glue
- The box has to be able to be opened and closed - this is probably by using a lid of some kind, but you can very much be creative in how you want the lid to work
- It has to be more than just a box - Use engraving and/or scoring to make it unique and personalized to what you want it to be. Bonus points if the engraving/scoring is continuous onto multiples sides
- The box dimensions should be around 4” wide x 3” deep x 3” tall.
This is the box that I created, where I made a treasure chest :)
Workflow:
This is the workflow you are encouraged to follow to create the box, but if this doesn’t work for you, don’t feel trapped by this.
- Do some research into laser cut boxes and see what ones you like
- Pay attention into how different boxes connect the sides together
- Also pay attention into how different boxes are able to be opened and how the lids work
- Make some sketches into how you think the box will fit together and make a cardboard prototype
- Design a prototype in Illustrator - make sure your document is set up in inches and you are setting the dimensions of your pieces appropriately
- For the creation of your box, you should mostly be using the shape tool and the shape builder tool. Pen tool is great for the engraving, but not needed
- Shape Builder Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMqc3sRQ_-M
- It also may be helpful to start with some tests before making the box especially to make sure the friction fit works for the sides of your box
- As a tip, all the wood you should be using is Proofgrade medium thickness which is approximately 0.125” thick which is a helpful number to know when connecting multiple laser cut pieces
- Cut out your prototype in the Glowforge using medium draftboard, which should be used for all prototyping, try and assemble it and see what needs to be changed.
- Continue the prototyping phases until you are satisfied with a box that works
- When you are done with your box, cut it out on nicer wood and bask in the glory of your creation!