Let’s be honest, nobody is impressed if you tell them you got a 3D printer at home. Considering how cheap these devices have become over the past years, most people already own one themselves. Plus, the look of the things created with a 3D printer is rather limited to smooth, even surfaces. However, the addition of a laser cutter has greatly expanded 3D printers’ capabilities without breaking the bank.
With that being said, if 3D printing was all the rage a couple of years ago, now it’s laser cutting that’s become the new “it” hobby. Laser cutting is a process that uses a powerful laser beam to cut and/or engrave flat materials along a determined scheme. As a result, a 3D printer laser cutter can create objects with more intricate looks featuring decorative carvings.
In fact, the 3D printer laser cutter is considered the best tool when it comes to precision cutting and engraving. The cuts that the laser makes can be microscopically small. As a result, a laser cutter allows to produce or decorate very tiny objects. The precise laser beam also allows for smoother cut surfaces that rarely need any additional finishing.
Additionally, the fact that a laser beam is used means that there’s no direct contact between the machine and the material. As a result, the material doesn’t undergo any additional stress which can lead to damage. This allows you to work even with the most delicate materials. What’s more, after you’re finished you don’t need to clean up the machine, considering it doesn’t even touch the material. This way, you’re free to use the laser cutter on a variety of different materials at the same time.
While mechanical heavy duty cutters are difficult to operate and mainly reserved for large manufacturing plants, laser cutters are easy to use by artists, amateur makers, and students alike. What’s more, you don’t even need to have any advanced knowledge of graphic design either. Most 3D printer laser cutters allow you to create your design with the help of any popular application, such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Photoshop, Solidworks or other.
Aside from being easy to operate, laser cutters present the user with unlimited ways to express their creativity. As the laser beam is free to move in all directions, laser cutters are not restricted by physical boundaries like regular cutters are. With that being said, the user is free to create all kinds of patterns and shapes. The process itself resembles drawing on a sheet of paper. As a result, you can create all kinds of objects, from toys and sculptures to jewellery and business cards.