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Over the previous 5 months, I’ve been spending lots of time enjoying round with the FLUX beamo laser cutter and testing totally different sorts of supplies to see what it’s able to. As a “Beginner” who has by no means used a laser cutter earlier than, and who was initially intimidated by the thought of proudly owning one – it has been a really attention-grabbing and rewarding expertise.
Again in July, I used to be despatched the FLUX beamo to see simply how straightforward it could be for somebody like me who has no expertise with these machines, to set it up, join it, and get it to work. I used to be capable of efficiently unbox it and documented my expertise in a video, in hopes of inspiring others who could be underneath the idea (as I used to be) that it’s much more difficult than it truly is.
It has been actually enjoyable to check all types of various supplies for this new video, however I’m now actually excited to begin utilizing it for my very own tasks and to problem myself as an artist and be taught to assume like a 3D designer and see what I can provide you with by myself.
Under, you possibly can see the video displaying the totally different sorts of supplies I examined and should you watch to the tip, you possibly can see why it’s such an journey to maintain your FLUX beamo within the storage within the Pacific Northwest within the winter!
FLUX beamo Supplies Testing with 3D Universe | Video
On this video, I present you quick clips of the FLUX beamo slicing and etching a wide range of supplies and share a bit in regards to the course of and my observations of every.
Under, I share which supplies I used and slightly bit extra about each I attempted working with.
Plywood Supplies Assessments
The primary materials I attempted was the plywood that got here with the beamo in the course of the setup of the machine. It reduce and etched properly with the preset parameters that got here with the Beam Studio software program.
I did uncover nonetheless that relying on the place you buy your plywood and the way it’s made, drastically impacts the way in which wherein it etches and cuts with the laser cutter. The identical settings for plywood won’t have the very same outcomes every time attributable to potential chemical substances, glues, or varied layers within the piece you might be working with.
I had lots of burn and scorch marks on a few of my take a look at tasks as I attempted various kinds of plywood utilizing the preset parameters in Beam Studio.
Generally, as seen above in my “Homicide Hornet Belt Buckle” that I made for Halloween, the plywood caught hearth behind the laser and a flame adopted it across the whole design because it reduce. There was additionally lots of scorching and yellow discoloration within the etched design.
I like to recommend doing a small take a look at reduce and etch first on any materials you employ, however particularly with the plywood.
MDF | Medium-Density Fiberboard
After spending a while battling plywood, I examined MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) and fell in love with how clean and crisp the etches have been and the way simply it reduce. I had no points with burning or scorching whereas utilizing MDF for just a few tasks.
As a result of MDF is created from wooden fibers, it doesn’t have noticeable grain and it’s all one large, flat layer vs the inconsistency of common plywood which has a number of layers pressed collectively.
Throughout my supplies testing, I had no points with the MDF having totally different outcomes from one finish of the fabric to the opposite whereas, with the plywood, I had struggles with inconsistent leads to the identical piece of fabric mere inches away from the final venture I accomplished.
Applewood Rounds Take a look at
We had some little applewood rounds laying across the workshop that my roommate had used for making some rune banners for Yuletide. They etched fantastically and we can be utilizing these for some tasks developing!
Leather-based Testing on the FLUX beamo
I wished to check out a wide range of leathers to see how they might react to being etched and reduce on the FLUX beamo. I left the preset parameters for leather-based because it got here with the Beam Studio software program to see what would occur to totally different sorts of leathers with totally different textures, colours and tanning processes.
I did some analysis earlier than beginning my leather-based exams and found that it was beneficial to moist your leather-based beforehand to assist cut back the chance of burning.
I soaked every bit of leather-based in water earlier than testing them and patted them dry with a paper towel. Nevertheless, with the preset settings, most of the samples of leather-based ended up burned and scorched when it got here time for the slicing, even with wetting the leather-based first.
There have been just a few strips of various kinds of leather-based that etched pretty properly however failed to chop by way of the strip with the unique first go of the laser and have been so burnt that I used to be not capable of attempt a second go.
The very best outcomes got here from the thicker, sturdier leather-based items we had laying across the workshop.
One factor I found that I used to be not anticipating, was how disagreeable leather-based can odor when it’s reduce or etched on a laser cutter. For some purpose I anticipated it to odor like a pleasant heat reminiscence from childhood together with your Harley-loving grandpa while you buried your face into his jacket as he vroomed you across the block on the again of his bike, however alas…that was not the case.
I want it was!
Etching Bone and Antler on the Laser Cutter
My roommate Bryce and I wished to attempt etching a design onto bone and antler that will finally be become items of bijou. Whereas we weren’t capable of reduce these supplies with the laser cutter (and didn’t attempt), it etched the design onto the surfaces flawlessly.
What would have taken him just a few hours by hand to etch into the bone or antler, took mere seconds with the laser cutter and can enable him to provide much more product, way more rapidly going ahead.
There isn’t a setting for bone or antler on the Beam Studio software program so I used the preset for leather-based and it was good for each of the etchings we did.
After the design was etched onto the bone, my roommate took it to the store and used the grinder to complete the items that will finally grow to be a rosary and a set of rune earrings.
As with the leather-based, bone and antler are additionally very disagreeable within the “odor division” when being etched by a laser cutter. If you’re a standard artist and have used the grinder to type a bit of bone or antler, you possibly can count on that very same odor while you use the laser cutter.
Felt Supplies Testing
I had some felt laying round that I had used for an additional venture and wished to see how properly it could reduce and etch. I didn’t have very excessive expectations for the etching half, as it’s such a lightweight materials already however was excited to see how simply and easily it reduce.
For the primary take a look at, I attempted utilizing the preset parameters for cloth and as you possibly can see from the picture above, it just about disintegrated it so I needed to dial it again a bit on the second attempt.
I don’t assume I can be utilizing the laser cutter to etch on felt going ahead however slicing will make my stitching tasks way more attention-grabbing!
Etching and Chopping Denim with a Laser Cutter
I used to be pleasantly shocked to find how straightforward it was to work with denim on the laser cutter and the way as a substitute of the darkish brown on the etch that I had seen beforehand with different supplies I had tried, it turned out to be extra of a lighter shade.
The laser reduce by way of the denim like butter with the preset parameters on Beam Studio and I’m trying ahead to seeing what sort of enjoyable tasks I can do sooner or later. I’ve a sense that a few of my favourite denims are going to get some artistic etchings on them! Keep tuned!
Canvas Laser Etched Bag
I used to be actually curious to learn how canvas would etch with the laser cutter. I’ve some tasks that I’m engaged on that I’m going to be utilizing small canvas luggage for and was occupied with how a lot work it could be to have at hand paint all of them.
Now with the laser cutter, I can merely etch the design proper onto the tote and have it constant each single time in addition to create fast customizations with ease. I used the preset settings for cloth etching for this and it turned out fantastically.
I’m curious nonetheless, how it will maintain up within the wash. I haven’t tried washing it but however once I do, I’ll replace the weblog right here!
Etching on Cork
Cork was certainly one of my favourite supplies to check. There isn’t a preset for this on Beam Studio so I used cloth etching and it labored like a allure. I beloved how a lot distinction there was between the etched design and the cork background.
I can be enjoying round extra with cork sooner or later.
Laser Chopping Acrylic on the FLUX beamo
I used to be actually impressed with how clean and exact the laser labored on acrylic. I used the preset parameters within the Beam Studio and bumped the passes right down to 1 as a substitute of two because it didn’t want a second run.
Acrylic is asking to me now and I’ve all types of concepts for what I could make with it on the FLUX beamo!
Laser Etched Paper Mache Containers
Considered one of my favourite little fellas in my life occurs to be an avid rock collector and had stored his assortment in a wide range of plastic containers. I wished to offer him a particular field for a few of the rocks I picked up for him on my travels this summer time and bought a cardboard/paper mache field to etch for him.
There was no preset for paper mache so I used the wooden etching setting and it turned out fairly properly. I needed to dial it again a bit on energy however in any other case stored the pace the identical.
He beloved his field and it’s now overflowing with much more treasures!
Etching and Chopping Paper
Actually, as a brand new particular person utilizing a laser cutter, paper was truly one of many supplies I used to be most anxious about attempting by myself! In my thoughts, paper + flame supply = hearth.
Fortunately, that wasn’t the case once I etched and reduce this small take a look at token for a venture I’m engaged on and nothing required me to name the hearth division and have to clarify how I set the storage on hearth with a laser.
Chopping Leaves on a FLUX beamo Laser Cutter
I obtained this loopy concept to see if I might reduce a jack-o-lantern face out of a fallen autumn leaf and make a enjoyable ornament for Halloween.
My first attempt had me merely laying the leaf onto the FLUX beamo laser cutter mattress and going for it, which resulted within the leaf getting scooted throughout the mattress and folded in half and destroyed because it began slicing.
I believed the double-sided sticky tape would assist maintain it in place, and it did…however getting a fragile, decaying leaf off of the laser cutter mattress with sticky tape holding it down turned out to be a little bit of a battle. I managed to get it out of bed for this beautiful picture above however the sticky tape refused to come back off with out tearing the leaf so my goals for a garland of cool creepy leaves was dashed.
For the leaves, I used the preset for cloth slicing.
I believed I might attempt once more with a extra sturdy, wholesome leaf that was much less prone to tear if I needed to get tape off of the again and was fairly impressed with the consequence. I’ll try to work with pure supplies like leaves once more sooner or later.
I’m intrigued.
Upcoming FLUX beamo Materials Testing Movies
Within the subsequent few weeks, Bryce and I are going to do some testing with the FLUX beamo on metals, glass, tile, and a wide range of different supplies.
I can be sharing our outcomes from these exams in a follow-up video and weblog submit so please verify again and see what sort of adventures we go on as we proceed to experiment, be taught new issues, and be taught from our errors as new laser cutter customers.
When you’ve got a fabric you want to have us take a look at, please attain out to us at data@3duniverse.org and tell us what you have an interest in having us attempt!
For extra data on the FLUX beamo (30W) , the Beambox Compact (40W) or the Beambox Professional (50W) laser cutters, please go to our store at 3D Universe!
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