The FabLab Laser lab is open from 12:00PM-5:30PM on Sunday, and 9:00AM-5:30PM Monday-Friday. Please plan accordingly.

FabLab Laser Lab

The College of Design Laser Lab contains six OneLaser Cobra 10 CO₂ laser cutters. These machines use a focused beam of light to cut or engrave approved materials with speed and precision.

Laser cutters are useful for architectural models, prototypes, templates, patterns, graphics, engraved surfaces, and accurately cut components. They also create heat, smoke, fumes, and a real risk of fire. Safe laser use depends on correct training, material identification, file preparation, and continuous attention.

Before using a laser: Review the General Rules and Safety Guidance, complete the required laser training, and confirm that your material appears on the Approved Laser Materials list.

Your Path Through the Laser Lab

A successful laser-cutting job follows this basic path:

Confirm that you are trained
Reserve a laser or confirm walk-in availability
Verify your material
Prepare and inspect your file
Check the machine and ventilation
Run a small test
Start and continuously monitor the job
Allow fumes to clear
Remove your work and clean the machine
Report problems and preserve reusable material

TRAINING → SCHEDULING → MATERIAL → FILE → TEST → CUT → VENT → CLEAN → REPORT

Scheduling and Walk-In Use

The Laser Lab supports both appointments and walk-in use, but appointments always take priority.

Use the UK’s EMS reservation system to reserve a machine when you need a dependable time.

Walk-in use is permitted when an eligible machine is available. However:

A walk-in user does not gain priority over an existing appointment.
If a scheduled user arrives for the machine you are using, you must yield that machine.
FabLab staff may help you restart on another available laser.
If another machine is not available, you may need to return at a later time.
Plan enough time for file setup, material testing, cutting, ventilation, and cleanup.
Do not begin a long walk-in job if it will overlap an upcoming appointment.

An appointment reserves machine time. It does not waive training, material, safety, or file-preparation requirements.

Before You Arrive

Prepare as much of your project as possible before your appointment.

Bring:

Your completed design file
A backup copy of the file
Material from a known and verifiable source
The intended dimensions and scale
An estimate of how many pieces you need
Enough extra material for testing
Any questions about settings, assembly, or process

Leave time for testing and revision. The first attempt may reveal problems with scale, fit, material behavior, linework, or settings.

Material Approval

Only materials listed on the Approved Laser Materials page may be placed in a laser.

Never identify a material by appearance alone

Materials that look nearly identical can behave very differently under a laser.

For example, acrylic and polycarbonate can look almost the same, but they are not interchangeable. An unknown clear plastic should never be assumed to be acrylic.

Before cutting, confirm:

The exact material type
The material’s source or product label
Its thickness
Whether it contains coatings, adhesives, laminates, or unknown additives
That it appears on the approved-materials list

If you cannot positively identify the material, do not place it in the laser. Ask a FabLab staff member or student worker for help.

A material setting or preset does not prove that a material is approved. Approval comes from the FabLab’s current material policy.

File Preparation

The Laser Lab uses LightBurn to prepare and send jobs to the OneLaser Cobra machines.

Before running your file:

Confirm the document units.
Confirm the final dimensions and scale.
Remove duplicate or overlapping lines.
Separate cutting, scoring, and engraving operations.
Confirm that each layer is assigned the intended operation.
Check the order in which operations will run.
Position the design within the usable material area.
Use LightBurn’s preview to inspect the complete job.
Confirm that the estimated run time fits your appointment.
Save a backup before making machine-specific changes.

For most projects, interior cuts should occur before exterior cuts so parts remain stable as long as possible.

Settings depend on material type, thickness, condition, and desired result. Use approved FabLab starting points and run a small test before committing valuable material.

Do not respond to a failed cut by repeatedly increasing power without understanding the cause. Focus, material identification, dirty optics, file duplication, incorrect settings, or machine condition may be responsible.

Pre-Use Check

Before pressing Start, confirm that:

You are trained and authorized to use the laser.
The machine is available and not marked offline or restricted.
Your material is approved and positively identified.
Your material lies flat and does not interfere with the laser head.
The cutting bed is clear of unnecessary debris.
Exhaust and ventilation are operating.
Air assist is operating.
The lid closes completely.
Your file is positioned correctly.
Your scale and units are correct.
Cutting, scoring, and engraving layers are correctly assigned.
You have run or planned a small material test.
You can remain with the machine for the entire job.

If any part of this check fails, do not begin the job.

Laser Safety

Laser safety is not limited to protecting yourself from the beam. It also includes fire prevention, ventilation, material control, equipment condition, and protecting everyone else in the room.

Non-Negotiable Rules

Never operate a laser without completing the required training.
Never cut an unknown or unapproved material.
Never leave a running laser unattended.
Never disable or bypass a guard, lid interlock, exhaust system, air-assist system, or other safety feature.
Never open a machine enclosure or attempt electrical, optical, or mechanical repairs.
Never place combustible materials around or on top of the laser.
Never begin a job if the machine, exhaust, air assist, or cooling system appears to be malfunctioning.
Never assume a preset guarantees a safe or successful result.
Follow all instructions from FabLab staff and student workers with delegated safety authority.

FabLab staff may pause or stop any job that appears unsafe. This is a normal part of operating a shared fabrication environment.

While the Laser Is Running

You must remain close enough to continuously monitor your machine throughout the job.

Watch for:

Persistent flame
Excessive smoke
Unexpected sparks
Material lifting or shifting
Parts falling through or interfering with the laser head
Unusual sounds
Unexpected movement
Loss of exhaust or air assist
A job running differently from the LightBurn preview

Monitor the work through the protective viewing window, but do not stare continuously at the active cutting point.

You may not leave the room, work somewhere that blocks your view, wear headphones that prevent you from noticing a problem, or ask an untrained person to monitor the laser for you.

If you must step away, pause the job and ask a FabLab staff member or trained user for assistance.

If Something Goes Wrong

Stop the job if you observe a persistent flame, excessive smoke, unexpected movement, unusual sound, ventilation failure, or any other unsafe condition.

Pause or stop the job immediately.
Use the emergency stop if there is an immediate hazard.
Alert a FabLab staff member or student worker.
Follow the posted fire and emergency procedures.
If a fire cannot be immediately controlled, evacuate and call 911.
Do not restart the machine until FabLab staff have inspected the situation.
Do not conceal a failed job, fire, collision, or equipment problem.

A brief spark may occur during some approved cutting operations. A sustained flame is not something to “wait and see.”

After the Job Finishes

When the laser stops:

Keep the lid closed.
Allow the exhaust system to continue removing fumes.
Wait at least 30 seconds, or longer if visible smoke or strong odor remains.
Open the lid carefully.
Check for heat, glowing edges, or smoldering material before removing anything.
Confirm that all intended cuts completed.
Remove your parts and material.
Remove loose scraps and debris from the work area.
Place useful offcuts in the designated material-reuse area.
Dispose of unusable waste in the correct container.
Leave the machine ready for the next user.
Report unsuccessful cuts, unusual behavior, or machine damage to FabLab staff.

Do not leave hot, smoking, or smoldering material unattended after removing it from the laser.

Asking for Help

Ask a FabLab staff member or student worker for help if:

You cannot positively identify your material.
You are unsure whether a material is approved.
Your file contains unexpected or duplicate geometry.
You do not understand a LightBurn setting.
The preview does not match your intended result.
You are unsure how to focus or position the material.
The exhaust, air assist, cooling system, or machine behaves unexpectedly.
A cut does not complete as expected.
You see more smoke, flame, or charring than expected.
You have not used the lasers recently and need a refresher.

Uncertainty is a reason to stop and ask—not something to work through alone.

Being confused is not a failure. Continuing while confused can create an unsafe condition.

Quick Laser Checklist

Before Starting

Before Leaving

I waited for fumes to clear.
Nothing is hot, glowing, or smoldering.
I removed my work and loose scraps.
I placed useful offcuts in the reuse area.
I cleaned the machine and surrounding workspace.
I reported any machine, material, or job problem.
The laser is ready for the next user.