Our Epilog Laser 30-Watt Laser Engraver has a maximum working area of 24″ x 12″ (610 x 305 mm) for flat objects. For cylindrical objects, the rotary attachment lets you engrave wine bottles, mugs, glasses, flashlights or any other cylindrical item up to 5.25″ (133.4 mm) in diameter and about 22″ in length. It has a maximum weight capacity of 25 pounds.
General Rules
- The laser is available for use during the hours that the Tinker Lab is open.
- The laser may be reserved online at ccldmakerspace.youcanbook.me
- Reservations will be held for 15 minutes. If you are running behind, please call the Tinker Lab at (607) 733-8609 and we will hold your reservation for you.
- Monitor the laser while it is in use.
- Always wear the protective glasses when looking at the laser and do not look directly at the light from the laser.
- Notify the Makerspace staff if the laser seems to not be working properly.
- Use of the laser costs $0.05 per minute ($3.00 for an hour).
- Do not lean on the glass cover of the laser or touch the machine while it is cutting or engraving.
- Do not place any food or drinks near the laser.
Certification Rules
- Patrons must successfully complete the certification course to use the laser independently.
- Patrons must be 16 years or older to use the laser independently. Children and teens under 16 must be assisted by the Tinker Lab staff.
- If, after taking the certification training course, you are unable to use the machinery proficiently, you will be required to retake the certification course.
Setup and Clean-up
- The air filter must be running while operating the laser.
- Only Makerspace staff may change out the rotary tool & vector grid.
- Make sure there are no scraps of material underneath the cutting tray.
- Please clean out any scrap material from the laser after you are finished.
- Please close any files you have open in the software after you are finished.
Materials
- Only approved materials may be used with the laser. If you are not sure if a material may be used, please ask the Makerspace staff. Certain materials may not be used with the laser (Please refer to the Approved/ Prohibited Materials section below.)
- PVC or other materials containing vinyl may not be used in the laser engraver.
- The CCLD Makerspace is not responsible for any personal materials brought in to be used with the laser.
- The maximum cutting depth of the laser cutter is 1/4 inch. Materials larger than this should not be used when cutting with the machine. Etching materials over 1/4 inch is acceptable.
Approved Materials:
- Acrylic/plexiglass
- Cardboard, cardstock, chipboard, paper
- Ceramic tile
- Cork
- Some fabrics (cotton, denim, fleece, etc.)
- Glass
- Leather (vegetable tanned only)
- Mat board
- Stone (marble, granite, slate, etc.)
- Metal (Must be painted, coated, or anodized)
- Wood (if cutting, 1/8″ birch craft plywood works best)
Prohibited materials:
- Coated carbon fiber
- Fiberglass
- Leather (chrome tanned or synthetic)
- Neoprene
- Plastic (acrylic/plexiglass excluded)
- Polycarbonate/Lexan
- Polystyrene/ polypropylene foam
- PVC and other forms of vinyl
- Teflon
Need ideas for a laser engraved or cut project?
- Laser project ideas from Epilog Laser (with template files)
- Template files from Thingiverse.com
- Laser template files from Obrary
- Ideas and template files from Trotec (some materials might not be compatible with our laser, but designs are usually adaptable to other materials).