Revision as of 11:20, 12 August 2026

AutoCAD Laser Cutting Guide

1. Choose the correct laser cutter based on the material and its maximum cut size.

Your job should be smaller size then then Max Material Size.

TROTEC SPEEDY 400

DIGITAL MODELLING @ BUILDING 202

MAX MATERIAL = SIZE 900 x 600 x 12.7mm

Strawboard, Plywood, Acrylic, leather , other upon request

TROTEC SP500

DBE MAKERSPACE @ BUILDING 418

MAX MATERIAL SIZE = 1245 x 710 x 12.7mm

Strawboard, Plywood

2. Download the template

AutoCAD Laser cutting template Trotec SP500 (dwg)

AutoCAD Laser cutting template Emblaser 2 (dwg)

ALTERNATIVELY SET UP YOUR LAYERS FROM SCRATCH.

3. Job Setup

Import your work into the template and setup your layers.

Make sure your work fits within the material boundary. Create multiple sheet if necessary.

Ensure that your objects are at the appropriate scale.

The Laser Cutter cuts at 1:1 scale. For example, if you need your models at 1:100, they should be scaled down by 0.01.

Having trouble with Scale | Try a scale converter:

https://www.ginifab.com/feeds/cm_to_inch/scale_converter.html

4. Finalise your file

Complete the following actions before exporting your work

Lineweight

Check all your cut lines (red lines) and etch lines (green lines) are set to 0.00mm line weight. Explode Select All (CTRL+A) and type EXPLODE - hit Enter

Overkill

Select All (CTRL+A) and type OVERKILL - hit Enter. A window will appear

No need to change any of these setting – Just push OK

Join

Select All (CTRL+A) and type JOIN - hit Enter

5.Export file as a PDF

Make sure you are plotting in Model page

1) Nest all pieces to be cut within selected material template or correct sheet size

2) Go to Print and select Plot, or type in Plot into the Command Line

3) Under Printer/Plotter, select:

AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print)

4) If plotting from AutoCAD for the first time, you will need to set up a custom paper size to match the material you are using.

- Go to Properties

- Select Custom Paper Sizes

- Click on Add

5) Select Start from scratch

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-= AutoCAD Laser Cutting Guide =
+= <big>AutoCAD Laser Cutting Guide</big> =
-===  '''1. Choose the correct laser cutter based on the material and its maximum cut size.''' ===
+===  '''<big>1. Choose the correct laser cutter based on the material and its maximum cut size.</big>''' ===
 {{Note
 | inline = 1
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
-=== '''2. Download the template''' ===
+=== '''<big>2. Download the template</big>''' ===
 [[Media:TEMPLATE AutoCAD TORTEC SP500.zip|AutoCAD Laser cutting template Trotec SP500 (dwg)]]
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
-===  '''3. Job Setup''' ===
+===  '''<big>3. Job Setup</big>''' ===
 Import your work into the template and setup your layers.
 {{Note
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
-=== 4. Finalise your file ===
+=== <big>4. Finalise your file</big> ===
 Complete the following actions before exporting your work
@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
-=== 5.Export file as a PDF ===
+=== <big>5.Export file as a PDF</big> ===
-SUMMARY/QUICK GUIDE
+[[File:AutoCAD PDF 1.jpg|left|frameless|587x587px]]
+{{Note
+| inline = 0
+| type = warn
+| text = Make sure you are plotting in Model page
+}}
+) Nest all pieces to be cut within selected material template or correct sheet size
+[[File:AutoCAD PDF 2.jpg|left|frameless|528x528px]]
+) Go to Print and select '''Plot''', or type in '''Plot''' into the Command Line
+[[File:AutoCAD PDF 3.jpg|left|frameless|690x690px]]
+) Under Printer/Plotter, select:
+'''AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print)'''
+[[File:AutoCAD PDF 4.jpg|left|frameless|691x691px]]
+) If plotting from AutoCAD for the first time, you will need to set up a custom paper size to match the material you are using.
+- Go to '''Properties'''
+- Select '''Custom Paper Sizes'''
+- Click on '''Add'''
-Always check the following when plotting as PDF:
-- Plot in Model page
-- Printer/Plotter set to AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print)
-- Select or set Custom Paper Size to match selected material
-- Make sure custom paper margin are all set to 0
-- Select Window under Plot Area
-- Select Center the Plot
-- Uncheck “Fit to paper”, make sure scale is 1:1
-- Check page orientation is correct
+[[File:AutoCAD PDF 5.jpg|left|frameless|601x601px]]
+) Select '''Start from scratch'''
 __NOTOC__