Laser Cutting Workflow

Announcements

Winter Hours
The Fabrication Lab will close at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 20th and will reopen on Monday, January 6th at 10 a.m.
Required Training
Students are encouraged to complete training as early as possible. All returning students, faculty and staff must complete the Fabrication Lab Refresher.
Reserving Machine Time
Reserve Machine Time using the FabJob App. Use a TMP folder for short-term file storage for walk-up use and consultations.

Workflow

Prepare File -> Reserve Time on Machine -> Cut Parts using Prepared File

You may find it convenient to save files to LASERTMP from your personal device, and then access them again from the same location once at the computer connected to the laser cutter.

Prepare File

We recommend the layers in your file are set up according to the chart below in terms of layer order, color and name.

Layer order	Layer name	Layer color	RGB value
1st	LASER-ENGRAVE/SCORE-LIGHT	Red	255,0,0
2nd	LASER-ENGRAVE/SCORE-HEAVY	Green	0,255,0
3rd	LASER-CUT-INSIDE	Yellow	255,255,0
4th	LASER-CUT-OUTSIDE	Blue	0,0,255
5th	NO CUT	Other	–

For more detailed information and template files, see File Preparation.

If you have any questions about this step, visit a Laser TA during Open Office Hours or email them.

Reserve Time

Although not required in order to use a laser cutter, you may want to reserve a laser cutter for your use.

Online Sign-Up

Walk-ins are always welcome, for any device that is not reserved, or for any device that is unoccupied 10 minutes after the start of the hour.

Each user is limited to 2 hours of reserved time per day.
Users must be present at the reserved laser cutter within the first 10 minutes of the hour, else the entire reserved hour is forfeited.
Users must complete required training one business day before they are able to reserve time.

Step-by-Step:

Step 1:

Prepare file(s) for laser cutting. Rhino is the recommended application.

Save your work to a cloud-based storage application that you can access through a web browser, or to a USB drive.

Step 2:

Reserve time on a machine or make use of any machine that is not being used.

Reservations made by individuals who are not present within the first 10 minutes of the hour are forfeited and may be used by others present at the machine.

Step 3:

Arrive at your chosen device, turning it and exhaust ‘on’,
Open prepared files,
Print using settings appropriate to your material and cut depth,
Focus machine to material height,
Start job,
Observe until finished,
Leave area cleaner than you found it.

Applications

Application	Workflow	Responsibility
Rhino, Illustrator, AutoCAD	Prepare file, Organize Layers	Student
Universal Control Panel	Assign Settings to Layers, Cut	Student

Laser Cutter Hours

While the Laser Cutters are typically available whenever Gund Hall is open during the academic semesters, hours may be limited in the summer and between semesters.

Check the Calendar to determine when Technical Assistants are on duty or whether the space is closed.

Need Help?

Contact a Laser Cutter Technical Assistant by email at [email protected] or visit us in Gund L40 during the office hours listed on the Calendar.

Laser Room Cameras

View the Front Laser Room Camera, Gund L40

View the Rear Laser Room Camera, Gund L40E

(Must be connected to the Harvard network by being on-campus, or connected via VPN to view remotely.)

Reserve a Laser Cutter

Please use the FabJob App to reserve up to 2 hours of Laser Cutter time per day.

The Fabrication Lab is intended for the use of the faculty, staff, and students enrolled in courses at the Graduate School of Design pursuing academic work. Please see our Policies page for more information.