Creating Items to Cut
You can download and modify pre-made files from various sites such as Thingiverse, get ideas and files from the Glowforge Forums, or create your own files. To create your own files you can import from CAD programs using a .dxf file or use Inkscape.
There are several programs that make it easy to custom design boxes or containers which are a staple of laser cutter. One example is boxes.py. You can also download lots of extensions for the graphics program Inkscape which allow you to make boxes.
Where can I get stuff to cut?
At this time, the MakerE supplies a limited set of material to cut on. You can get material from 7th street studio, or buy your own. Here are some good sources for different materials:
Plastics:
Wood
Cole's Hardware, Lewisburg PA
Occoch Hard Woods for exotic materials
Anodized Aluminum Tags:
More material ideas and other useful information is kept by the Glowforge community in the Beyond the Manual spreadsheet
Other Materials
- Other woods can be estimated based on their hardness. Harder woods need slower speeds or more power: Wood Finder Database
- Guide to Laser Cutting Plastics:Plastics Guide
