Anyone using Laser Cutters at home for pattern making?

[stormdevil]

Hi

I'm using a laser for many things. Have used it to "engrave" patterns on leather, but also for cutting acrylic template patterns. You can create the patterns on the supplied software, but I find it better to create in Adobe Illustrator and then import into the laser software. Have made some nice belt end templates in acrylic.

Laser is  an LS3020 desktop laser: http://hpclaser.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=92 It's a hobby machine and not cheap - but my husband bought it for doing some wood work, so why wouldn't I take advantage of it :-)

Showing an ebook cover I did with it

[AmyK]

I cut and engrave with a Glowforge and I also use a Cricut Maker. 

The Maker can cut very thin garment weight leather. The Glowforge can cut much more- most I’ve done is 5-6oz veg tan but you might get thicker out of it. I’ve done tiny filigree earrings with the Glowforge  

I use Inkscape to draw patterns or digitize the ones I already have. Inkscape is FREE. Check out Punished Props Academy for a great overview video of digitizing patterns. 

[Paultalks]

AmyK, 

Thank you. It has been almost a year now. Do you still like the Glowforge? I heard it can ignite items. Can you really just use it to scan one image and then replicate that same image on the media easily? Also interested in reliability. I am disabled and can't carve leather very good anymore. I wanted to use it to cut multiple shapes like coasters and then carve the basic design. I can then go in with my craftools and finish. Thank you very much

 

[AmyK]

21 hours ago, Paultalks said:

AmyK, 

Thank you. It has been almost a year now. Do you still like the Glowforge? I heard it can ignite items. Can you really just use it to scan one image and then replicate that same image on the media easily? Also interested in reliability. I am disabled and can't carve leather very good anymore. I wanted to use it to cut multiple shapes like coasters and then carve the basic design. I can then go in with my craftools and finish. Thank you very much

 

Paul,

oh yeah, you’ll get some small flames from time to time. That usually means you need to adjust your settings. I’ve never had anything straight up catch fire- just flame up a bit and char. You do need to stay near it and watch for flames when it’s cutting. 

It’s very good for cutting out repetitive pieces. I hate cutting circles by hand so I think that would be a good use for it. Haven’t been able to use it recently because of Covid- it’s at a makerspace im a part of- and cutting some circles the other day I did miss it! I have lupus that makes my hands stiff and painful some days - I can’t use a swivel knife at all! I use a combo of a NT swivel cutter, wax modeling spoons, sometimes my Cricut. I don’t pretend to be good at carving, but with all these work around a I can usually make something happen! I prefer to burn in a design using the Glowforge, but like I said before, it’s across town and hasn’t been available recently  

reliability wise, ours takes a beating since it’s communal use. It’s been down a bit, but I can’t speak to how many of the breakdowns wouldn’t have happened if it was a single user machine  

as far as scanning, I do that with my phone, upload to Inkscape to clean up and manipulate the image, then export to Glowforge. it’s easier than you think. 
 

[Paultalks]

Amy,

So sorry you haven't been able to get to the machine. What model is the Glowforge? They have 3 and don't want to go with biggest and baddest if there is no need to.

Thanks again

P.S. I have a condition similar to yours that they have not been able to diagnose. It has the symptoms of Lupus and ME/CFS.

 

Do you knhow AmyK, 

Thank you. It has been almost a year now. Do you still like the Glowforge? I heard it can ignite items. Can you really just use it to scan one image and then replicate that same image on the media easily? Also interested in reliability. I am disabled and can't carve leather very good anymore. I wanted to use it to cut multiple shapes like coasters and then carve the basic design. I can then go in with my craftools and finish. Thank you very much

 

[AmyK]

We have the biggest mama-jama one. It’s got a bigger bed and a pass through slot. I wouldn’t buy the cheapest one, it has a smaller bed and (I think) not as strong of a laser. I’d do the midrange one if I could afford one. 
 

Best of luck to you with your health. It can be a slog to get things figured out diagnosis and medication wise. 

[AmyK]

I almost forgot to address your question about scanning. Most people use a free program called Inkscape to prepare files. It has similar (though limited) functionality as Adobe Illustrator. There are lots of YouTube tutorials on how to use it. There are also some free and paid svg files online.