For my project, I want to incorporate laser printing with some sort of table. This means either a desk with some sort of organizational drawers or a nightstand/side table. As for the aesthetic, I am thinking about going with a futuristic, circuit board style of design. That way I’ll have the nice burnt wood from the laser cutter forming a futuristic pattern before treating the wood myself to give a smoother look the the project.
So showcase this in a prototype. I decided to create a very basic mini table by laser cutting some wood and etching a design into it. Below is my Rhino 3D model that I used to set up for the actual cutting.
I then created the design that would be etched into the wood.
The next step was to do the actual laser cutting.
This left me with my final cut pieces shown below.
Finally, I assembled the pieces together to get my prototype.
What I learned from the experience is that I still want to do laser cutting and etching. However, because I am limited by width, I will most likely create a basic skeleton out of 2×4’s before laying higher quality laser cut wood over the top. I really feel like I have a lot to work with and can make the project look amazing.
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I really like the concept you’re going for! The prototype looks like it turned out really well, and it should really help with the final project! I also really like the idea of laser cutting the material. I personally do not have any experience on the laser cutter, but I could only imagine how much time it would save if you did! Do you plan on putting any finish or anything on the wood? Super excited to see the finished product!
Your prototype really captures that design aesthetic you were going for. Since it was a fairly small scaled prototype, do you think there will be any major changes when you scale up to full size? Also since there is a size constraint for the laser cutter, do you plan on doing sections for the final product? You could explore other options such as water jet cutting. Great Job!
I liked hearing about your motivations and constraints for building your project. The laser engraving you have already completed looks great! Excited to see the finished product!
I’m glad you are piggybacking off of your previous experience with the laser cutters in the BTU lab to push the boundaries of what’s possible for this project. If depth does become as issue you may consider water jet cutting, it is cheap and is not as limited by the depth constraints. I’m having issues with the same challenges now on a small production run. If you want to discuss any ideas, we can follow up!
Love your idea to etch lines into your desk pieces to add the aesthetics. The burnt look of the laser cutter really added to this. Maybe you could add some stain to the wood to enhance the look f your aesthetic. Also, have you thought about how your are going to add a kinetic component to your design?
I like the aesthetic designs of this table. The holes on the table could limit the use but adds depth. It might be difficult to laser etch a huge piece of wood though, so other alternatives should be looked at. Can’t wait to see the outcome.
This is a big project to take on! I had no idea there was a laser cutter in the Atlas Building that is available for us students to live. When you passed the wood around, I noticed the amount of precision involved with this project. It is very detailed and I think doing a whole table of laser cutting would be cool. I also liked Emily’s idea of you cutting the pieces separately like a puzzle and then putting them together, because they may be to large scale.
I love your project! I think using the laser cutter to make an aesthetic design is a great idea. I even think you should laser cut the pieces out like a puzzle and then you could glue those together or place them on plywood to hold them. Great project though! Can’t wait to see how it turns out.
The prototype wound up looking really good, I definitely think that laser cutting the surface of the table gives it a unique look. Besides the size, are there any aspects to the surface design that will change for the final project?