Laser Cutting

We have two HPC Laserscript LS6090 PRO 80W laser cutters with bed size 900mm x 600mm

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Training Process

Laser cutter training must be completed before using the laser cutters.

1. Download and read the training document

3. Search for RA ID number #3634 titled Laser Cutting - Dyson Centre on the Engineering Department Risk Assessment App. You will need to log in 

5. Read the whole risk assessment, then click Agree

6. Come to the Dyson Centre Helpdesk and ask for a technician to do a laser cutter induction with you. This will involve the physical set up of placing material and focusing the laser, then the digital setup of importing a DXF file, setting the cutting power and speed and then running the cut. Please create a DXF file of something you want to cut and have it ready on a memory stick before your induction. You can use the memory sticks in our laser cutting and 3D Printing area.

7. Once you've had the induction with a technician, email dyson-helpdesk@eng.cam.ac.uk with the date you were trained and the name of the technician. We'll add you to the training register.

You'll then be free to use the laser cutter for coursework, society projects and personal projects during Dyson Centre opening hours. Training expires after a year so you will need to ask a technician for a refresher if it's been more than a year since you were last trained.

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Paying for your laser cutting

Please see our how to buy materials page to learn how to pay.

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Who Can Use Them?

Please see our Access page to see who has access to our laser cutters. Charges varying depending whether or not you are an engineering undergraduate/masters student. So check out our how to buy materials page for costs.

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Materials

Safety Warning

You must check with a technician that the material you want to cut is laser-safe before using the laser cutter. PVC for example releases chlorine gas when burnt and that's fatal if inhaled. Other banned materials include Polycarbonate and MDF that hasn't been certified as laser-safe.

Materials we stock

All dimensions in millimeters and 600x300 sheets

Plywood 3, 4, and 6 thick

MDF 3, 4 and 6 thick

Acrylic clear 3, 5 & 6 thick

Acrylic coloured 3 thick

There are usually offcuts of the above sizes available for free, ask at the desk to find out where.

We often have a few larger sheets of MDF and Plywood if your design won't fit on the 600x300. Please ask at the desk for details.

If the material you're looking for isn't listed above, see the 'materials available on order' section below.

Materials available on order

Our main supplier is Hobarts Laser Supplies. Anything they rate as laser safe we can cut. Email dyson-helpdesk@eng.cam.ac.uk with a link, quantity and whether it's for coursework, a society or a personal project. Please see our How to Buy Materials page for how to pay.