Laser Cutters

Step #1: Permits and Fee

Before making a reservation for the equipment or using the Laser Cutter, you must have:

[-] A CoE permit (blue, red OR green is sufficient) and have paid your materials fee for this semester

or

[-] A valid M-Pass with Laser Cutter access

Note: College of Engineering faculty and staff are not required to pay the materials fee, however, they must have a CoE permit. 

Step #2: Obtain a Laser Cutter Upgrade (CoE Students)

Seminar dates, times, and locations are posted in EMU under the “My Status” page.

Step #3: Prep File

The Makerspace has a desktop computer dedicated to prepping files for the Laser Cutter. You are welcome to use this File Prep Station or to bring your file in on a thumb drive.

Step #4: Obtain Approved Material

See below for the list of approved and unapproved materials.  We recommend buying the material from the Makerspace Shop – the list of materials we sell is here.

Step #5: Create an Equipment Reservation

Beginning 1/22: Online Reservations will be required for the Laser Cutter. Learn more & create an online reservation by following this link.

Step #6: Check In with Student Staff at Your Reserved Time

• 10-15 minutes before your reserved time, go to the check-out window and ring the bell. Student staff member will help you as soon as possible.
• The student staff member will log into the laser cutter using their personal CAE account and help you load the file and material. The light above the Laser Cutter will turn green for the duration of your cut.
• Once the laser is cutting, the user is responsible for monitoring the cut until finished and press the pause or e-off if anything looks weird (e-off if there’s a fire).
• Once the user’s job is completed, the light above the Laser Cutter will turn red. Users should let staff know they are finished and the student staff will log off of the machine.

Click here for a complete list of equipment.

• Laser Processing Area = 36” x 24”
• Maximum material cut depth = .5”

You will need a 2D vector file, which can have the following file types: .dxf, .ai, .pdf

These files can be generated from multiple software packages including:

• 3D (CAD): Solidworks, Onshape, Fusion 360
• 2D: Illustrator, Gravit, Inkscape

The Makerspace has a computer available for file prep – just look for the file prep station near the laser cutter. CAE login not required.

Google Doc source is here

Google Doc source is here

• Laser Cutter Reservations
• Universal Laser Guide
• Make a Box on the Laser Cutter
• Accounting for the kerf of the laser
• Making Laser Cut Maps
• Solid Works to Universal Laser

Check out the calendar below for events. If you have questions, please contact maker-laser@lists.wisc.edu.