Laser Cutting Interactive Training
By Alex Janis
Click to Start
Part 1: Adobe Illustrator
- Ensure you have your file as a .dxf, .ai, .pdf, or .svg
- You can use an image (.png, .jpeg) but it will require extra steps. Consult a staff member for help
- Open the Adobe Illustrator software on one of the laser cutting computers and proceed to set up your file.
Set up your file
Back
Click the New file button to make a new file
Back
Click the create button to make a new file
Back
For this tutorial, let's make a rectangle. Click the rectangle tool
Back
Now that the rectangle tool is selected, click anywhere on the white artboard to make a rectangle
Back
Once the size of the rectangle is defined, click the OK button
In order to cut out our rectangle, we have to assign it the correct line color and thickness
To vector cut, we need the lines to be: 1. RGB Red 2. 0.001 inches thick
Next
Back
Back
Click the arrows on the upper right to open the menu
Back
Click on the black square next to "Stroke" to change the line color
Back
Click on the paint palette icon
Back
Click on the Red slider to answer a question
Hint: Use the slider values to choose the correct one
Next
Back
Back
Let's change the line thickness. Click the number field next to the word, "Stroke"
Back
Now that our line thickness is 0.001 in, the laser will register this rectangle as a vector cut.
Next
Back
We can change the size of our rectangle by editing the Width and Height fields on the right.
Back
We can change the position of our rectangle by editing the X and Y fields on the right.
Back
To move the whole rectangle, use the black selection arrow
To move one side or one vertex of the rectangle, use the white selection arrow
Back
To undo any changes, you can use CTRL+Z
Back
Next
Back
Let's add some vector engraved text, click the text tool.
In order to vector engrave our text, we have to assign it the correct line color and thickness
To vector engrave, we need the lines to be: 1. RGB Blue 2. 0.001 inches thick
Next
Back
Back
In order to vector engrave our text, change the stroke color to RGB Blue in the color mixer.
Hint: Use the slider values to choose the correct one
Next
Back
Back
Now, change the line thickness to 0.001 inches
Back
Let's remove the "Fill" of the text. Click the color mixer next to the word "Fill"
Back
Click on this option that has a red line through it to indicate no fill.
Back
We can zoom in on our design by holding down the Alt key and scrolling on the mouse wheel
Next
Back
Now that our line thickness is 0.001 inches, the laser will register this text as a vector engrave.
Next
Back
Let's add a rastered rectangle, click the rectangle tool.
Back
In order to raster this rectangle, change the fill to black
Back
In order to raster this rectangle, remove the stroke color
Back
Click on this option that has a red line through it to indicate no stroke
Back
Our design is ready to be sent to the laser cutter software! To do that, click the file drop down menu
Back
Click Print
Back
Click Print
Great work!
Your file has been sent to the lasercutter!
Next
Back
Part 2: Universal Control Panel (UCP)
Now that your file has been sent to the laser cutter software, let's set up our laser cutter job
Open UCP
Back
Back
Click the carrot on the taskbar
Back
Click on the red icon for UCP
Back
This is UCP, we can control the laser from this software
Learn More
Next
Back
Let's choose our material settings. Click the settings button
Back
Click on the Materials Database tab to access our preset material settings
Back
We can scroll down to find the custom presets for the machine. Click in this Material Database area to continue.
Back
Click on the plus sign next to "UW Makerspace Materials" to open the menu of presets
Back
Let's choose the material we are cutting. For this tutorial, choose HDF
Next, we would measure the thickness of our material with calipers as shown below:
Next
Back
Back
Then, we type in the measured thickness in the Material Thickness section.
Back
Now that we have typed in our thickness, we must click the Apply button.
Back
Now, click Ok
Aligning the design
We want to make sure that our design fits on our material. For example, our design is 4x2 inches. If we were cutting it out of this scrap piece, we would need to check that it fits on the upper right corner.
Back
Next
Aligning the design
If we look closer at the rulers, we can confirm that our design will fit in this corner, notice the numbers on the top and side.
Lorem Ipsum
Back
Next
Back
Click the move tool that looks like a compass
Back
Click the highlighted square to drag our design to the desired position
Back
Next, we will prepare to focus the laser. Click the tool that looks like a nozzle
The tool we just clicked:
This tool allows us to move the cutting head anywhere in the laser cutter by clicking. The cutting head will move wherever you click. To prepare for focusing, we will move the cutting head near the center of our design by clicking near the middle of our design.
Next
Back
Back
Click near the middle of our design
Great work!
At this point in file set up, you would focus the laser as shown in this video.
Next
Back
LaserOS
Before pressing play, you must unlock the laser cutter by entering the code into LaserOS. There are two ways to do that:
Dropping in? Go to the website on the laser cutting computer and fill out the form to get your code. Enter it into the LaserOS device to unlock the laser
Made a reservation?Get your code from your confirmation email and enter it into the LaserOS device to unlock the laser cutter
Title
Title
Title
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Subtitle
Subtitle
Subtitle
Next
Back
LaserOS
The laser will be unlocked for 30 minutes after entering your code. If you need to use it for longer than that, enter a new code when the time expires to keep the machine running. When finished, click logout.
Next
Back
Thank you for completing this interactive training!
The code for the quiz is: 4973
Back
Correct, this is RGB Blue
Correct, this is RGB Red
LASEROS included- Laser Cutting Interactive Training
Maker Contact
Created on April 7, 2026
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Magazine dossier
View
Momentum: Onboarding Escape Game
View
Momentum: Manager Guide
View
Wizardry Letter
View
Search Bar Card
View
Piñata
View
Microlearning: When to Use Chat, Meetings or Email
Explore all templates
Transcript
Laser Cutting Interactive Training
By Alex Janis
Click to Start
Part 1: Adobe Illustrator
Set up your file
Back
Click the New file button to make a new file
Back
Click the create button to make a new file
Back
For this tutorial, let's make a rectangle. Click the rectangle tool
Back
Now that the rectangle tool is selected, click anywhere on the white artboard to make a rectangle
Back
Once the size of the rectangle is defined, click the OK button
In order to cut out our rectangle, we have to assign it the correct line color and thickness
To vector cut, we need the lines to be: 1. RGB Red 2. 0.001 inches thick
Next
Back
Back
Click the arrows on the upper right to open the menu
Back
Click on the black square next to "Stroke" to change the line color
Back
Click on the paint palette icon
Back
Click on the Red slider to answer a question
Hint: Use the slider values to choose the correct one
Next
Back
Back
Let's change the line thickness. Click the number field next to the word, "Stroke"
Back
Now that our line thickness is 0.001 in, the laser will register this rectangle as a vector cut.
Next
Back
We can change the size of our rectangle by editing the Width and Height fields on the right.
Back
We can change the position of our rectangle by editing the X and Y fields on the right.
Back
To move the whole rectangle, use the black selection arrow
To move one side or one vertex of the rectangle, use the white selection arrow
Back
To undo any changes, you can use CTRL+Z
Back
Next
Back
Let's add some vector engraved text, click the text tool.
In order to vector engrave our text, we have to assign it the correct line color and thickness
To vector engrave, we need the lines to be: 1. RGB Blue 2. 0.001 inches thick
Next
Back
Back
In order to vector engrave our text, change the stroke color to RGB Blue in the color mixer.
Hint: Use the slider values to choose the correct one
Next
Back
Back
Now, change the line thickness to 0.001 inches
Back
Let's remove the "Fill" of the text. Click the color mixer next to the word "Fill"
Back
Click on this option that has a red line through it to indicate no fill.
Back
We can zoom in on our design by holding down the Alt key and scrolling on the mouse wheel
Next
Back
Now that our line thickness is 0.001 inches, the laser will register this text as a vector engrave.
Next
Back
Let's add a rastered rectangle, click the rectangle tool.
Back
In order to raster this rectangle, change the fill to black
Back
In order to raster this rectangle, remove the stroke color
Back
Click on this option that has a red line through it to indicate no stroke
Back
Our design is ready to be sent to the laser cutter software! To do that, click the file drop down menu
Back
Click Print
Back
Click Print
Great work!
Your file has been sent to the lasercutter!
Next
Back
Part 2: Universal Control Panel (UCP)
Now that your file has been sent to the laser cutter software, let's set up our laser cutter job
Open UCP
Back
Back
Click the carrot on the taskbar
Back
Click on the red icon for UCP
Back
This is UCP, we can control the laser from this software
Learn More
Next
Back
Let's choose our material settings. Click the settings button
Back
Click on the Materials Database tab to access our preset material settings
Back
We can scroll down to find the custom presets for the machine. Click in this Material Database area to continue.
Back
Click on the plus sign next to "UW Makerspace Materials" to open the menu of presets
Back
Let's choose the material we are cutting. For this tutorial, choose HDF
Next, we would measure the thickness of our material with calipers as shown below:
Next
Back
Back
Then, we type in the measured thickness in the Material Thickness section.
Back
Now that we have typed in our thickness, we must click the Apply button.
Back
Now, click Ok
Aligning the design
We want to make sure that our design fits on our material. For example, our design is 4x2 inches. If we were cutting it out of this scrap piece, we would need to check that it fits on the upper right corner.
Back
Next
Aligning the design
If we look closer at the rulers, we can confirm that our design will fit in this corner, notice the numbers on the top and side.
Lorem Ipsum
Back
Next
Back
Click the move tool that looks like a compass
Back
Click the highlighted square to drag our design to the desired position
Back
Next, we will prepare to focus the laser. Click the tool that looks like a nozzle
The tool we just clicked:
This tool allows us to move the cutting head anywhere in the laser cutter by clicking. The cutting head will move wherever you click. To prepare for focusing, we will move the cutting head near the center of our design by clicking near the middle of our design.
Next
Back
Back
Click near the middle of our design
Great work!
At this point in file set up, you would focus the laser as shown in this video.
Next
Back
LaserOS
Before pressing play, you must unlock the laser cutter by entering the code into LaserOS. There are two ways to do that:
Dropping in? Go to the website on the laser cutting computer and fill out the form to get your code. Enter it into the LaserOS device to unlock the laser
Made a reservation?Get your code from your confirmation email and enter it into the LaserOS device to unlock the laser cutter
Title
Title
Title
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Subtitle
Subtitle
Subtitle
Next
Back
LaserOS
The laser will be unlocked for 30 minutes after entering your code. If you need to use it for longer than that, enter a new code when the time expires to keep the machine running. When finished, click logout.
Next
Back
Thank you for completing this interactive training!
The code for the quiz is: 4973
Back
Correct, this is RGB Blue
Correct, this is RGB Red