An introduction to the basics of laser operation and 2.5D prototyping
Difficulty: ★
If you’re the type to put on something to watch while you work, you’ve noticed it too: modern smartphones keep getting harder and harder to prop up on their own. As our screens get larger, so too does our need to consume a stream of content at all times… and Big Phone has been playing us all for fools. Maximize your multitasking and make a stand – then take it home!
Info
| Price | $120.00 |
| Discounted Price (Active members) | $100.00 |
| Minimum / Maximum Participants | 3 – 6 |
| Date | Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 |
| Duration | 4h |
| Number of Sessions | 1 |
| Location | In Person |
| Age Requirements | Open to participants 13+ (Minors must be accompanied by an adult also in attendance) |
| Instructor | Morgan Wable |
Description
Welcome to Intro to Laser Crafting! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of operating our shop’s laser cutter. Students will leave with a small assortment of unique phone stands – each demonstrating different core laser crafting techniques – and ready to get to work on their own projects.
Itinerary
Walkthrough:
Our instructor will showcase the standard operating procedures for the laser cutter, then invite students to follow along and create one each of their own from several provided templates.
Guided Workshop:
After the demonstration, students will learn the basics of executing simple customization tasks in our laser design software in order to engrave their initials into a phone kickstand keychain.
Open Workshop:
Finally, students will be provided several more templates to choose from (or use as a starting point), given the opportunity to personalize their designs, and reserve a time slot during which they will operate the laser on their own. Our instructor will be present throughout the duration of open workshop hours to provide one-on-one guidance and answer questions.
Office Hours:
Optional and by appointment. Contact instructor via email and/or Slack.
Prerequisites:
No laser crafting experience required. All resources will be provided as part of admission to the class. Attendance and participation are required for training clearance at instructor’s discretion.
No-shows will NOT be refunded. If you must cancel, please contact HackPGH at least 48 hours before the scheduled time!
Learning Goals
- Students will be able to safely and effectively operate HackPGH’s laser cutter. Students will also gain a cursory understanding of several fundamental laser crafting concepts such as living hinges, 2.5D design, and rapid prototyping in general.
- At the instructor’s discretion, students completing this class will be granted access to use the shop’s laser cutter outside of class hours.
In order to use the space and its tools outside of class hours, one must be an active member and in good standing.
Students will be given the option of joining and completing basic member orientation directly after the class during the open workshop period. Alternatively, students wishing to join HackPGH are invited to complete their orientation immediately after the next scheduled tour date (Mondays and Saturdays, 7:30pm).
Take Home
- Students will take home a small assortment of wooden phone stands based a variety of templates, each showcasing different approaches to laser crafting design.
Lesson Plan
Introductions (Early Arrival)
- Personal intros: Allow each student to introduce themselves and share why they are interested in laser cutting.
- Verbal diagnostic assessment: Quick assessment to gauge students’ prior knowledge and experience with laser cutting.
- Introducing the course: Overview of what the course will cover, objectives, and expected outcomes.
Walkthrough (90 minutes)
- Training
- Laser Safety Protocol
- A detailed walkthrough of safety procedures and emergency preparedness.
- Standard Operating Procedure
- Setup: Power on the machine and perform initial checks.
- Asset Import & Preparation: Import vector and raster files into Lightburn and make necessary adjustments.
- Registration & Focus: Align materials and adjust focus.
- Layers & Operations: Set up Line and Fill operations, configure power and speed settings accordingly.
- Coordinate System Configuration: Verify expected tool path orientation.
- Run Job
- Cleanup & Power Down
- Laser Safety Protocol
Project #1: Basic Interlocking Stand
A quick and simple project based on one of several provided templates. Each student will make one independently following initial setup.
- Job Setup: Assisted first run of setting up the laser cutter, dividing the process between multiple students as participation allows.
- Make Project #1
Provided variations:- Solid
- Solid with Pop Socket slot
- Solid with negative space
- Slats
- Hexagons
- Dots
- Voronoi pattern
- Art deco pattern
Guided Workshop (30 minutes)
After concluding the training session, the instructor will introduce the second project.
Project #2 : Keychain Kickstand
A smaller, more streamlined design for a phone stand, demonstrating efficient prototyping and manufacturing concepts.
- Vector Design Basics: Students will customize their own version of the second project using Lightburn.
- Job Setup Phase 2: The instructor will demonstrate the process of preparing a job for multiple operations.
- Arrange each student’s keychain in one layout to demonstrate the use case for disabling “Use Selection Origin”.
- Make Project #2
Variations:- Small
- Medium
- Large
Open Workshop (120 minutes)
Open for 2 hours following the class. Light refreshments will be provided.
Students are provided the design assets for several more example projects. The instructor will then demonstrate the procedure for reserving time on the laser cutter, after which students will reserve time on the schedule to try out their own designs or any of the provided templates:
Living Hinge Stand
Harness laser precision to create a flexible mechanism from one solid piece.
Adjustable Stand
Try out a more advanced interlocking design and make acute adjustable phone stand.
Variations:
- Slider
- Angled slot
- Perpendicular slot
Silhouette Stand
Give your phone someone to lean on. Another minimalist design.
- Sisyphus
- The Thinker
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Our instructor will be available for providing assistance and answering questions in person during scheduled office hours, as well as asynchronously via Slack. Please do not hesitate to reach out should the need arise.