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Foley Library Digital Scholarship Lab: Laser Cutting

The DSL offers laser cutting and engraving with our Glowforge Plus. 

Designing for the Glowforge

Designs for use with the Glowforge should be in .svg format. This is a vector-based format, which means the files are not pixel-based and can be scaled up or down without losing quality due to pixelation. Vector files also result in faster prints than standard rasterized (pixel-based) file formats like .jpg, .png, etc.  

Software 

There are a number of different pieces of software that can be used to create .svg files.  For best results, it's recommended that users create their designs directly in a program that can save or export the final file as a .svg. 

However, in some cases, it is possible to convert a .jpg, .png, or .webp to a .svg for use with the Glowforge. For simple designs, a free SVG converter tool (like the one from Adobe Express) might be able to do it easily in the browser, but results will vary widely depending on the size, complexity, and content of your image. 

In the DSL 

The following software is available on desktop stations in the DSL: 

  • Adobe Express: a simple design tool from Adobe where users can quickly create multimedia content, including vector (.svg) and raster (.jpg/.png) files. 
  • Adobe Illustrator: a graphic design software primarily used for creating vector-based works.
  • Adobe Photoshop: an image-editing software that can be used for graphic design and digital art; primarily used for working with raster (pixel) images but can also create and manipulate .svg or vector works (to a limited degree).
  • Inkscape: this free and open-source vector graphics editor can be used to create, edit, or finalize files for use with the Glowforge; all user-created designs will be examined using Inkscape before upload into the Glowforge.

Software Recommendations

Other software can also be used to create files for laser-cutting and engraving with the Glowforge as well, but can vary widely in cost, interoperability, and function. Some offer the ability to save or export directly to .svg format for use with the Glowforge, others provide file formats that can be converted into the correct format by Inkscape.

  • Autodesk Fusion 360: is a powerful tool that can be used to create 3D designs and 2D outlines of items to be cut by the Glowforge and then assembled into a 3D end-product. While the full software carries an expensive price tag, Autodesk does offer two options for free use by students and hobbyists:
    • Educational Use plans where verified students at qualified institutions can download and install it for free (with a yearly verification and renewal process). This can be installed on Windows and Mac operating systems, and Chromebook users have access to a browser-based version. 
    • Personal Use option, where individual users can download and install a limited version with basic functionality for free home-based use (not for commercial use or development). This can be installed on Windows and Mac operating systems. 
  • GIMP: a free and open-source graphics editor that can be used with Windows, Mac, and GNU/Linus operating systems.
  • Sketchup: this is a 3D modeling software. Like Autodesk Fusion 360, it can be used to design a model that will be cut and then assembled into a 3D final product. There are a variety of plans and versions available for purchase, but a limited-functionality version is also available for free. The free version is browser-based, so it can be used modern browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

The Glowforge Plus is a user-friendly tool used to cut, score, and engrave materials. It works with a wide variety of materials including wood, leather, acrylic, paper, fabric, and more. 

Material Dimensions

The maximum dimensions for material used with the Glowforge are:

Cutting Area: 279mm x 495mm or 11x19.5"
Maximum Material Depth: 455mm or 18"
Maximum Material Width: 515mm or 20"
Maximum Material Height (w/tray): 50mm (13mm) or 2" (0.5")

Glowforge Materials

The Glowforge Proofgrade materials have been specifically designed for use with Glowforge 3D laser printers. These materials are known for their precision, consistency, and ease of use. They come with a protective masking and are digitally encoded with a barcode used by the Glowforge to automatically apply appropriate settings for optimal cutting and engraving. 

Proofgrade materials come in standard sizes and thicknesses. For acrylics and woods, these are the standard sizes that the DSL stocks:

  • Dimensions: 12x20"
  • Thickness: Medium (3mm), Thick (6mm)

Materials Available

The DSL at Foley Library has the following filaments available for use with the Glowforge: 

Acrylic

  • Blue (Medium)
  • Clear (Medium)
  • Purple (Medium)
  • Red (Medium)
  • Teal (Medium)
  • White (Medium)
Wood

  • Draftboard (Medium)
  • Basswood Hardwood (Medium)
  • Cherry Plywood (Medium, Thick)
  • Maple Plywood (Medium)
  • Walnut Plywood (Medium)

Personal Materials

The DSL will permit the use of personal materials (materials purchased and supplied by the user) with the Glowforge. However, there will still be a machine usage fee based on the duration of the print (in hours). 

Any personal materials used must be approved by DSL employees. We will ask you to provide a sample for us to test in the unit before we can approve it. 

The DSL reserves the right to disallow the use of material that is not compatible with our Glowforge.