Glowforge Pro

The Makerspace has a Glowforge Pro laser cutter machine.

How to Prepare Files

A photo of the Glowforge Pro laser cutter in the Makerspace.

1. Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document.
2. Set the document size to match the size of the work area of the laser (11"x19").
3. Design your project using any shapes, text, or images you like.
4. Once you are finished designing, select all objects of the same operation type (ie, cutting, engraving, etching) and go to Object > Group to group them together.
5. Next, you need to convert your design to an SVG file. To do this, go to File > Export > Export As.
6. In the Export As window, select SVG (.svg) from the Format dropdown menu.
7. Click Export and save your file to your computer.

How to Use a Glowforge Pro Laser Cutter

1. Place your material on the Glowforge bed and secure it with masking tape or honeycomb pins.
2. Open the Glowforge app and upload your SVG file.
3. Select the appropriate settings for your material and project.
4. Press the small remote on top of the laser cutter to turn on air filtration.
5. Click the Print button to start cutting.

Additional tips for using Adobe Illustrator

• Use hairlines for all of your cut lines. Hairlines are the thinnest stroke weight in Illustrator and will produce the cleanest cuts.
• Make sure that all of your objects are closed paths. If an object is not a closed path, the laser will not be able to cut it correctly.
• If you are cutting text, make sure that it is converted to outlines. To do this, select the text and go to Type > Create Outlines.
• If you are engraving an image, make sure that it is converted to grayscale. To do this, select the image and go to Image > Mode > Grayscale.

Additional tips for using the Glowforge Pro

• Always wear safety glasses when operating the laser cutter.
• Clean the laser bed after each use to remove any residue.
• Never leave the laser cutter unattended while it is in operation.

Laser Cart Reservations

This cart can be reserved for Curricular and Workshop use. Please use this calendar to make a reservation.