Equipment Guide
Laser Cutter
Located in Clean Prototyping
The Laser Cutter is a machine that allows for precision cutting or etching onto surfaces such as wood and acrylic. The machine uses a consentrated laser to burn through the material to cut desired designs.
Guide Last Updated: Fall 2022Example Projects Materials Software Warnings Instructions Troubleshooting
Usable Materials
When using this piece of equipment, please use materials from this list below:
Materials
*The links to find these products are not the only place you can buy material from, just a reference*
- 1/8 inch (5mm) or thinner plyood Shopping Link
- 1/8 inch (5mm) or thinner acrylic Shopping Link
- Foamcore Shopping Link
- Cardstock
- Cardboard
- Muslin Fabric Shopping Link
Dangerous Materials
- Lexan
- Material with paint or stain on it
- Plastic
- Flamable Material
Helpful Software
These applications are often used to help create a project with this piece of equipment:
Resources
Software
- BossLaser (Laser Cutting Software already Installed on computer)
- Inkscape (A design creation tool)
- Fusion 360 (3D modeling software)
- Signing up with your Berry.Edu email will provide you access to the FREE student version
Websites
- Noun Project (A free website for finding SVG designs)
- Maker Case (A free website for DXF box designs)
If you need help setting up or using software, please ask a Lab Assistant for help!
Tool Warnings
If any of these things occur, take precaution and get a lab director:
Dangerous Signs
- Material catches fire
- Stop the cut
- Put out fire (Or take material outside)
- Loud, uncommon grinding noises occur
- Stop the cut, something may be caught or broken
- Toxic smell appears
- Stop the cut immediately and leave the lid CLOSED (Keeping the vent on is key)
- Get Zane or a Lab Director before continuing cut
This piece of equipment is always to be supervised while in use. Never leave the Laser Cutter while there is a cut in progress.
Equipment Instructions
If you have already used this piece of equipment before, below is a short guide to get you ready to create.
If this is your first time using this piece of equipment, please ask a Lab Assisant for supervision and advice!
Quickstart Guide
Prepare your design
- Step 1: Save design as a DXF file (R14 is best if there is an option)
- Step 2: In the BossLaser Software Click "File" then "Import"
- Step 3: Scale design on software using the measurements in the top left corner of BossLaser
- Select your design before scaling
- Step 4: Verify that machine is set to cut your specific material (See below)

Laser Cutter Settings
- Verify you can see your design in the software
- Adjust Material Settings
- If cutting and etching, select the path you would like to cut. Then select a color to cut with
- Repeat in a different color with paths you want to etch on
- The right pannel shows your layers, if you are cutting and etching you should see multiple layers
- Double click the color of the layer you would like to cut with
- Click "Paramater Library" to open the cut settings
- Select the type of material you are trying to cut, then click "Load"
- Double click on the color of the material you are cutting with to open the settings menu
- Repeat with other layers if also etching your material




Cutting Your Material
- Step 1: Request a Lab Assistant to level the Laser Cutter bed
- Step 2: Have a Lab Assistant look over your design, and then click "Cut" in the bottom right of BossLaser
- Step 3: Keep an eye on the Laser Cutter throughout the entire process to make sure nothing is burning
Helpful Videos
Exporting a DXF from Fusion 360 (2022)
Simple Troubleshooting
If something is not working, here are a few things to check:
- File not showing up?
- Make sure your file is saved as a DXF
- Make sure you are looking in the correct folder
- Make sure you clicked "Import" and not "Open"
- DXF lines look werid?
- If you did a bit map trace in Inkscape, try doing the process again at a different threshold
- See if you can delete 'extra' lines, sometimes DXF picks up some imperfections that need to be deleted
- If you have converted the design from a PNG/JPG to a DXF, your design may be too complex and you may need a more simplistic design
- Not Cutting?
- Is the Laser Cutter on?
- Make sure tempature is not above 28C
- Make sure the "Output" is set to "Yes" on the layers tab (double click it if it says "No")