Laser Cutting Cardboard

I was gifted a laser/blade cutter recently (xTools M1). I’m testing various ways to incorporate the technology into ceramics, but in the meantime I’ve been testing the ability to cut cardboard.

I’ve been cutting 2-3mm corrugated cardboard boxes with 40% power, 40mm/s speed, and 3 passes, which has been getting a very clean cut with no burning. I haven’t tested many other settings though.

Here are some of the files I’ve been playing with:

Reindeer

I’ve done this every year for a while now, but I’ve always had to cut the design by hand. The design is an angular geometric interpretation of a reindeer, with found twig antlers:

It’s SO much easier when you can outsource the cutting to a robot

Print Files:

PDF with build instruction (or see previous post for a better how-to)

SVG of just the print page

T-Rex

I designed this many years ago, and cut one out of steel. It’s even more fun out of cardboard though.

This one has holes marked for bolts (when made of steel) but can be effectively fastened together with rolled up paper when cut from cardboard. Alternatively, don’t cut the holes and just glue it together.

Print Files:

PDF

SVG

PDF of the build instructions (note: this was a gift to my brother, and I may have got slightly carried away with the joke instructions)

If you like this sort of content and want to support the creation of more, I now have a Patreon specifically for it or a page on my website if you just want to make a single donation.