{"id":26592,"date":"2019-06-17T13:03:45","date_gmt":"2019-06-17T03:03:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/?p=26592"},"modified":"2022-08-25T14:54:09","modified_gmt":"2022-08-25T04:54:09","slug":"how-to-get-started-in-laser-cutting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/how-to-get-started-in-laser-cutting\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Get Started In Laser Cutting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So you want to get into the laser cutting business. At the moment there\u2019s a huge demand for unique designs and engravings that can only be achieved by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/browse\/metalworking-machinery\/laser-cutting-marking-100\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">laser cutters<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, so it\u2019s a great time to get started. But where do you begin?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we\u2019re going to cover the major things you need to consider when getting into the laser cutting business. Our main talking points are: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut, Engrave or Raster?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buy a Machine, or Use a Service?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Types of Laser Cutters<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What You Can &amp; Can\u2019t Cut<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, though these are our major points, the first and most important step is knowing what your product will be. Once you have a basic idea of what you\u2019re going to create\u2014whether it\u2019s commercial or just a hobby\u2014you can get to the fun stuff.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut, Engrave or Raster?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first thing you\u2019ll need to decide is whether you need to cut, raster or engrave to get your look. Not sure what that means? We\u2019ve got you covered!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Laser Cutting<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-26594 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121232\/Cut-300x171.jpg\" alt=\"Laser cutting\" width=\"300\" height=\"171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121232\/Cut-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121232\/Cut-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121232\/Cut-500x286.jpg 500w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121232\/Cut.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 8pt;\">Image Courtesy of Core Electronics<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cutting is the simplest of the three, and it\u2019s exactly as you\u2019d imagine. The laser cuts through the material to create your design. There are different types of machines that create different strength lasers (read more on this below), so it\u2019s important you know the material you want to use and whether you will need to cut it or not before getting started.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Laser Engraving<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-26595 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121318\/engrave-300x146.jpg\" alt=\"laser engraving\" width=\"300\" height=\"146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121318\/engrave-300x146.jpg 300w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121318\/engrave-768x372.jpg 768w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121318\/engrave-500x243.jpg 500w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121318\/engrave.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 8pt;\">Image Courtesy of Core Electronics<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next option is another simple one, engraving. In fact, the only difference is that the laser doesn\u2019t cut all the way through the material. Instead, it simply etches a fine line. The depth of the cuts will depend on your design, program settings and the strength of the laser.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Laser Rastering<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-26596 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121402\/raster-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"laser rastering\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121402\/raster-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121402\/raster-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121402\/raster-500x250.jpg 500w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121402\/raster.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 8pt;\">Image Courtesy of Core Electronics<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, we have rastering. Rastering is where a shallow engraving or cut is made along the surface of the material. This usually creates a two-tone or greyscale raster effect. This is commonly done to create stunning artwork on a material without having to actually cut through it. Rastering uses a very thin laser and makes multiple runs over the material to create the effect. This means rastering can be a very time consuming process. Though it is worth the wait. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buy a Machine or Use a Laser Cutting Service<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you know what you want to create, and how you will create it, your next major decision will be to buy a machine or use a service. And, for the majority of people, using a service will be the way to go. There\u2019s no way to sugarcoat it, laser cutters are expensive. This isn\u2019t to say you can\u2019t get cheaper machines. There are plenty of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/browse\/metalworking-machinery\/laser-cutting-marking-100\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">laser cutters<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> available for less than $1000. However, most of these will be suited to cutting or engraving lighter materials, such as paper and cardboard. They will struggle to cut through wood, let alone aluminium or tougher materials. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is where service providers come in. Many businesses offer their laser cutting services to hobbyists and commercial users alike. They have a full range of equipment available and are able to cut through basically everything, including wood, cork, cardboard, leather, paper and MDF. Simply provide your designs in the correct file format (see our software section for more info) and the service provider will create your design!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if you\u2019re looking to start your own business, or have more than a passing interest in laser cutting, then investing in a machine might be the right choice. While they can be expensive, if you are good at what you do, you should be able to pay off the machine with your products in no time. In fact, according to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epiloglaser.com.au\/how-it-works\/applications\/start-a-laser-business.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Epiloglaser<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, some businesses have even recouped their costs with their first job!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Pros of buying a machine:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No middle man<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can modify machine to suit<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quicker turn-around (once you know the process)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Pros of using a service:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quicker turn-around for beginners<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cheaper upfront<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wider range of machines means more materials can be cut<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, hobbyists and small start-ups are generally better off going for a service where their upfront costs are lower, there\u2019s a quick turn-around and no need to learn how to use a laser cutter. While larger businesses or companies looking to scale up their product range may benefit from investing in a laser cutter that suits their needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Types of Laser Cutters<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-26597 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121445\/laser-1-1024x388.jpg\" alt=\"laser cutter\" width=\"800\" height=\"303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121445\/laser-1-1024x388.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121445\/laser-1-300x114.jpg 300w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121445\/laser-1-768x291.jpg 768w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121445\/laser-1-500x190.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you do decide to buy your own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/browse\/metalworking-machinery\/laser-cutting-marking-100\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">laser cutting machine<\/a>, you\u2019ll need to know the different types and what they can do. There are 3 common types of laser cutters: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CO2 <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neodymium<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fiber<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each type of laser has its own advantages and factors to consider when making your decision.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>CO2 Laser Cutters<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most popular and affordable of the 3 is the CO2 laser. Using electrically-stimulated gases, these machines generate a laser that is able to cut through a wide variety of materials, like wood, paper, leather, acrylic and glass. They are the most popular because of their low power consumption, relative affordability and their versatility.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Neodymium Laser Cutters<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neodymium laser cutters utilise crystals to create a laser with a smaller wavelength than CO2 machines. This means they have a higher intensity and can cut thicker materials, like metals, plastics and some ceramics. But, because they do have more power and cutting intensity, there is more wear-and-tear (on average) so maintenance costs will be higher than most CO2 models.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Fiber Laser Cutters<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fiber lasers offer basically the same wavelength and cutting capacity as neodymium cutters but, thanks to the way they\u2019re built, they are cheaper to run as they generally require less maintenance. That said, these machines are commonly used for raster and engraving jobs, rather than cutting. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Picking the right machine for your needs will come down to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What you want to cut<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your budget<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The size of your business<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are plenty of choices when it comes to laser cutters, so you won\u2019t struggle to find a machine that suits your needs. Have a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/browse\/metalworking-machinery\/laser-cutting-marking-100\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">browse through our listings<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, talk to your local dealer, and ask other business owners about their experiences with different machines. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve got your machine picked out and have a good idea of what products you\u2019re going to create, it\u2019s time to choose the right software to make your dreams come to life. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laser Cutting Software<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-26598 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121548\/laser-2-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"laser cutting\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121548\/laser-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121548\/laser-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121548\/laser-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/magmedia.machines4u.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/17121548\/laser-2-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This may come as a surprise, but laser cutters operate and connect to your computer just like a regular printer. So, once you get your head around the basics they are actually very easy to use. One of the biggest technical challenges is getting the right software. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Luckily there are a number of free or paid programs available that will get you into the laser cutting business quick. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For free programs, you\u2019ll want to check out: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inkscape<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">QCAD<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fusion 360<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blender<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tinkercad<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And for the paid programs, look for: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adobe Illustrator<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AutoCAD<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sketchup<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onshape<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, this isn\u2019t an exclusive list, and there are plenty of other programs out there that can create the files you need. Specifically, you want an illustrator program that can create vector files.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vector files are a type of image file that uses lines and algorithms rather than the usual pixels most people are used to. This means that vector images can be zoomed without getting the pixelation you would expect in a super-zoomed picture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re looking for a program, or have one and are getting ready to export, ensure you export it as the right file type. The common vector file types are: SVG, EPS, PDF, DXF, DWG. With SVG being the primary type.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re looking to raster or engrave, rather than cut, you won\u2019t need to worry about vector files, as your standard JPG, PNG or GIF are all raster file types.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you have your image, and you\u2019ve exported it in the right file type, simply follow the instructions for your chosen laser cutter, and you\u2019ll be able to see your design come to life right in front of your eyes. Or, if you are using a service, simply send them the file type and they\u2019ll import it to their machines and create the product for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What you Can &amp; Can\u2019t Cut<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, we\u2019ll have a look at what you can and can\u2019t cut. While it might seem like lasers can cut through anything, there are a number of materials that are labelled as dangerous and hazardous to cut . <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Never cut anything made from or containing:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PVC<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leather or artificial leather with chromium in it<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PVB<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PTFE\/Teflon<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coated or thick carbon fibers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beryllium oxide<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ABS<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anything with halogens, epoxy or phenolic resins<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are all potentially hazardous to the operator and anyone in the vicinity, so avoid cutting them at all costs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The following <\/b><b><i>can <\/i><\/b><b>be cut, but they will usually melt, burn or (in the worst case) catch fire: <\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HDPE (milk bottle plastic)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PolyStyrene foam<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PolyPropylene foam<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you can technically cut them with virtually no health risks, these products tend to melt or vaporise in a way that can damage the product or your laser cutter. And, that\u2019s generally not worth the risk. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>So, with those out of the way, the things you <\/b><b><i>can <\/i><\/b><b>cut, raster and engrave includes:<\/b><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 508px; height: 480px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Material<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; height: 24px; width: 423px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Laser Method Applicable<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Wood<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut,\u00a0Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Plywood<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut,\u00a0Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>MDF<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut,\u00a0Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Cork<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut,\u00a0Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Cardboard<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut,\u00a0Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Paper<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut,\u00a0Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Leather<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut,\u00a0Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Felt<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut, Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Cotton<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut,\u00a0Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Acrylic<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut,\u00a0Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Delrin<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut,\u00a0Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Granite<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Marble<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Stone Tiles<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Ceramic<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Porcelain<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Glass<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engrave &amp; Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Stainless Steel<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 145px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><b>Aluminium<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 423px; text-align: center; height: 24px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raster<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking for a laser cutting machine and don\u2019t know where to start? Have a look through our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/browse\/metalworking-machinery\/laser-cutting-marking-100\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">new and used laser cutters<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to get started.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Sources:\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Epiloglaser, Maker Design Lab, Core Electronics, Instructables<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So you want to get into the laser cutting business. At the moment there\u2019s a huge demand for unique designs and engravings that can only be achieved by laser cutters, so it\u2019s a great time to get started. But where do you begin? In this article, we\u2019re going to cover the major things you need [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":26599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7842],"tags":[13389,3031],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-26592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-metalworking","tag-laser-cutter","tag-metalworking"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26592"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26592\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29621,"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26592\/revisions\/29621"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26592"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=26592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}