Architecture Computing: Laser Cutting

The Hardware:

The Art East Annex (Arch Annex) maintains four computer-driven Universal Laser Systems 60 watt laser cutters:

One Universal Laser Systems Laser Cutter V-460, 24"x18" cutting area
Three Universal Laser Systems Laser Cutter X-660, 32"x18" cutting area

Use of the School of Architecture laser cutters is restricted to students and faculty of the Schools of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning. Architecture Students will be assessed a fee of $2.50 per half-hour for a maximum of 2 hours per day and up to 4 hours per week. Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning students will be assessed a fee of $30 per hour in advance of use. Note that everyone must undergo a training session before using the cutters. Please visit the Equipment Checkout (TRS) to make reservations for training and cutting. Use of the laser cutters is restricted to hours when the Laser Lab is staffed, typically only when reservations have been made:

Hours: 9am-10pm Monday-Thursday, 9am-8pm Friday, 12pm-5pm Saturday, and 12pm-9pm Sunday, excluding breaks and holidays.

Documentation:

Before attending your training, it is mandatory to review the Introductory AutoCAD Tutorial

Additional material for all you laser cutting fiends...
Advanced AutoCAD Tutorial
Materials and Safety Guide
Material Suppliers Guide

Tips About Cutting:

Find out if your material is suitable for laser cutting before you buy!! We are not responsible if you cannot use a material you have already purchased. Please ask a lab tech if you are unsure about a particular material.

Have your material cut down to fit the size of the laser cutter you have signed up to use! For the X-660, this means 18"x32", for the V-460, this means 18"x24". Err on the side of smaller when you cut. If you don't have your material cut when you come down, you will waste everyone's time, yours included.

Bring some tape - it comes in handy for holding warped material to a backing sheet of flat material, masking to reduce smoke deposits on the surface of your material, taping the cut pieces together before removing them from the laser cutter, etc.

Bring a strategy to deal with cut pieces - be it tape, a plastic bag, or an extra sheet of material to lay the cuttings on.

If you leave your material here, it belongs to us! We will not take responsibility for storing your material - please be careful to take everything with you as you leave.