SCC Makerspace

Universal Laser

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Cuts and engraves wood, acrylic, card stock, fabric, and paper up to 32 x 18” using .pdf, .dxf or .svg files.

Laser Machine Cutting LectureDownload

RGB COLORS

  • Red = Cut
    • #FF0000 in Hex or RGB value of (r255, b0, g0)
    • .001px line
  • Blue = Line
    • #0000FF in Hex or RGB value of (r0, b255, g0)
    • .001px line
  • Black = Engrave
    • #000000 in Hex or RGB value of (r0, b0, g0)
    • Uses Grayscale

How a CO₂ Laser Works

Electricity excites gas → gas releases invisible light → mirrors amplify → focused beam cuts material.

  • Tube filled with CO₂, N₂, and He
  • Electricity excites nitrogen, which passes energy to CO₂
  • Excited CO₂ molecules release infrared light
  • Mirrors bounce the light, one mirror lets it out → laser beam
  • A lens focuses the beam, hot enough to cut, engrave, or burn

How Machine Cutting Works

A cutting tool moves on the X and Y axis, with the Z axis controlling depth, force, or focus.

  • Laser cutting: Focused light vaporizes material
  • CNC cutting: Router or mill spins to remove material
  • Waterjet cutting: High-pressure water/abrasive stream slices material
  • Plasma cutting: Ionized gas jet melts and blows away metal
  • Blade cutting: Knife follows path (Roland, Silhouette, Cricut)

Safe to Cut

  • Wood – plywood, MDF, hardwood, softwood
  • Paper & cardboard – cardstock, chipboard, craft paper
  • Acrylic / Plexiglass (PMMA) – polished edges
  • Leather – real, veg-tanned (not chemically tanned)
  • Fabrics – cotton, felt, denim, polyester blends
  • Plastics – Delrin (acetal), styrene, ABS (engrave only)
  • Rubber – natural or laser-safe types (no chlorine)
  • Food – chocolate, cookies, fruit (novelty engraving)

Engrave Only

  • Glass
  • Stone, ceramic, tile
  • Metals (only very thin with coating – Talk to STAFF)

Do Not Cut ⚠️

  • PVC / Vinyl – releases chlorine gas (toxic, corrosive)
  • Polycarbonate (Lexan, PC) – burns, toxic fumes
  • ABS plastic – melts, catches fire, cyanide gas
  • Fiberglass – nasty fumes, damages optics
  • Carbon fiber (with epoxy) – hazardous fumes
  • Unknown foams – can release toxic gases or ignite violently
  • Any halogen-based material (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, etc.)

Design for Laser Cutting

Vector vs Raster

  • Vector = math → scalable, precise (used for cutting/scoring)
  • Raster = pixels → resolution-limited (used for engraving, shading, photos)

File Formats

Reliable vector-based cut line formats:

  • SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics
  • DXF – Drawing Exchange Format
  • DWG – AutoCAD Drawing
  • AI – Adobe Illustrator
  • EPS – Encapsulated PostScript

File Tips

  • Convert text to outlines (no fonts)
  • Design at 1:1 scale with correct units
  • Clean files: remove unused objects, notes, overlaps, open paths

Core Design Principles

  • Kerf: Laser burns away 0.002–0.02 in of material — account for it
  • Compensation: Tabs slightly larger, slots slightly smaller
  • Tolerances: Tight fits need force, loose fits may need glue
  • Minimum Feature Size: Holes ≥ ½ material thickness
  • Edge Effects: Wood = dark edges, Acrylic = polished edges
  • Spacing: Keep lines ≥ 2× material thickness
  • Corners: Add dog-bones or small radii for square fits
  • Nested Parts: Arrange shapes tightly, share cut lines

Preparing Your Files

  • Export from Canva as SVG, open in Illustrator
  • Expand layers, isolate paths, delete clipping masks
  • Rename paths clearly
  • Use Image Trace + Pathfinder for cleanup if needed

Cut Commands (Illustrator)

  • Red (Hex #FF0000, 0.001 px): Cut on path
  • Blue (Hex #0000FF, 0.001 px): Vector line engrave
  • Black/Grayscale (Hex #000000): Raster engrave

Engrave bitmap → vector engrave → cut last.

Transferring Files

  1. Save Illustrator file to flash drive
  2. Check RGB colors + cut line settings
  3. From Illustrator:
    • Print → Setup → More Settings → ULS Database
    • Select material + thickness → Press OK
    • Hit Print (loads job)
  4. Open ULS RIP Software → load material & design

We use Adobe Illustrator and Universal Laser System User Interfaces

Vector Design Tutorial in Canva, Illustrator and Silhouette Studio

Link to Video

Tutorial in Inkscape: https://www.xometry.com/resources/sheet/dxf-laser-cutting/

What is Your Material Made of?

https://makezine.com/article/science/identifying-unknown-plastics

Check out this great list of safe and hazardous materials for laser use by the Cleveland Public Library

NEVER-CUT-THESE-MATERIALSDownload