I can still remember the satisfaction of printing a card on a dot-matrix when I was 10. And now? We can design, create, and laser cut. Acrylic, wood, metal. Cut the pieces, assemble your art. I had an idea for a hanging lamp and I wanted to see what I could find to help me figure out how I could possibly assemble it. A quick Google Search led me down a rabbit hole of creativity I may never escape… The Laser Cutter.
I think I have overlooked it’s power and undervalued it’s possibilities. I saw it as a fancy Exacto Knife and failed to recognize what it truly can do. I apologize, Laser Cutter. And all I can say now is, holy moly… possibilities indeed.
1.) Turn your drawing into an acrylic light up.
2.) Laser cut alphabet letters to use as stencils, stamps for clay, or even layer transparent plastic behind the wood and hang in the window for letters that let the sun shine through.
3.) Geometric patterns take on a whole new level of inspiration when you can design them and then cut them out of wood. Create ornaments, window decor, or even a wooden book cover for a classroom journal.
4.) Create a monument to represent a famous individual or place. The London Skyline below is just one possibility for design. The thought that goes into planning, measuring, designing? It’s math, science, language arts, and problem solving all rolled into one.
5.) Value creativity in a whole new way. When work comes out of the computer into a tangible product you can hold in your hand? You’ve just shared your genius with the world… and you know you are important. Shouldn’t all of our kids feel that?
Here are five pieces of work that inspired me, and I bet they will you, too.
Laser cut rocket by Instructables.
London Skyline from Inplas
Nike Quote on WeHeartIt
Steel Cut Swiss Cheese from The Laser Cutter Blog.
WOODOO from Andre Maat on Vimeo.
