Ten tutorials on digital fabrication
Best of the blog 2011 – Tutorials Knowledge-sharing is central to the open design and distributed manufacturing movements. Here are ten of the best tutorials from 2011: 3D printing and laser-cutting...
View ArticleLaser-Cut head with a secret compartment
Instructables tutorial: slice up your loved ones, hide your treasures inside. Ever wondered what the CEO of Autodesk gets up to in his spare time? This guide from CarlBass on Instructables gives us a...
View ArticlePibow: stacked laser-cut enclosure
A new way of building DIY electronics project boxes Since the Raspberry Pi launched six months ago, a huge ecosystem of enclosure designs have sprouted up out of the creative commons community. The...
View ArticleGet to know your laser cutter better
DIY Kerf measuring tool refines your laser cutting precision Although it isn’t critical on all laser cut projects, for anything with parts that fit or slot together, kerf is something that is worth...
View ArticleWhat is Laser Cutting?
Taking a step back to go through some laser cutter basics. What is laser cutting, and why are we so excited about it? As we’ll see in this brief overview, laser cutting is a relatively simple...
View ArticleThe basics of laser cutting with Ponoko
Helpful advice on how to get started with the Ponoko Personal Factory For those who have always wanted to give Ponoko a go but are not sure where to start, this training video shows just how easy it is...
View Article10 things to know before laser cutting with Ponoko
Useful information for both new users and laser cutting veterans Are you a seasoned Ponoko maker? Or perhaps your imagination has been tingling and you are bursting to make your very first Ponoko...
View ArticleVector Path Crosshatching
A quicker, cheaper alternative to raster fill engraving Vector or Raster? It’s a question that has goes back to the earliest days of laser etching. Here is an interesting little exploration from the...
View ArticleStep-by-Step: Laser Cutting Tutorial – Part 1
Getting started with your Ponoko Personal Factory In this back-to-basics tutorial video, we walk through the process of making a set of laser cut coasters from a free design file. Following these steps...
View ArticleStep-by-Step: Laser Cutting Tutorial Part 2
Using free design software to customize a design file For the second instalment of Ponoko’s back-to-basics tutorials, we walk through the process of customizing a design file using freely available...
View ArticleStep-by-Step: Laser Cutting Tutorial Part 3
Using Inkscape to design your own laser cut product from scratch Welcome to the third instalment of Ponoko’s back-to basics tutorials. This time we get creative and generate a laser cut design from...
View ArticleStep-by-Step: Laser Cutting Tutorial Part 4
Watching the laser cutter in action In this four-part series of introductory laser cutting tutorials we have shown you just how easy it can be to become a digital maker with Ponoko. Now it is time to...
View ArticleWhat to do with your first laser cut design
Four scenarios and next step options for first-time makers You’ve created a design and uploaded it to Ponoko, placed and order, and now you have your first piece of laser cut delight. So now what? It...
View ArticleLaser cutting 3D forms: 123D Make tutorial
Slicing up a T-Rex for laser cutting that roars The software options available to digital makers just keeps getting better, and one of our recent favourites would have to be Autodesk’s 123D Make. Why...
View ArticleHow to get the best results out of laser cut cardstock
Useful tips to get the optimum cut quality from this versatile material Both NZ and US hubs now offer several cardstock options. This material is a wonderful choice for greeting cards, business cards,...
View ArticleHow to etch mirror acrylic
Laser etched impact made easy As the Festive Season approaches and we become more and more enamoured with all things shiny, here are our tips on how to use laser etching for some serious impact on...
View ArticleVector and Raster engraving examples
Free design shows exactly what will happen in your material of choice The mysteries of how to get the right settings for vector and raster engraving is something that can take time and practise to...
View ArticleUsing white wood filler to fill etchings
Making those detailed designs and laser etched text really pop Laser etched details do often stand out pretty well in their own right, but sometimes it is a good idea to give them a helping hand. Today...
View ArticleDesign tip: Ponoko Color Palettes
Keep these swatches handy to streamline your workflow Here is a neat tip from the Ponoko Support Forums. Follow the links below to download Ponoko-friendly custom color palettes for your favorite...
View ArticleHow To Make Glue-less Interlocking Parts
Using the SketchUp plugin SliceModeler for the best friction fit There are several ways to create 3D shapes from flat laser cut material, and each have their merits. Many Ponoko users ask questions...
View ArticleHow far into the material does laser engraving cut?
All you need to know about laser etched depth When your design calls for laser etching, whether it is Line Engraving or Area Fill Engraving, the laser burns away a very small amount of material – just...
View ArticleHow to: Turn a Logo into a Laser Cut Item
Achieving low cost, high quality results quickly and easily Starting your own line of products can be a challenge, particularly if you’re competing against companies with established backgrounds in...
View ArticleBeginners Laser Cutting Cost Saving Guide: Part 1
Keep your laser cutting costs down with the Ponoko Product Recipe Product Recipe #1 Jill is a graphic designer from Oakland, CA. While riding her bike to work, she was inspired to create a set of...
View ArticleBeginners Laser Cutting Cost Saving Guide: Part 2
Keep your laser cutting costs down with the Ponoko Product Recipe Product Recipe #1 – Part 2 Jill is a graphic designer from Oakland, CA. While riding her bike to work, she was inspired to create a set...
View ArticleBeginners Laser Cutting Cost Saving Guide: Part 3
Keep your laser cutting costs down with the Ponoko Product Recipe Product Recipe #1 – Part 3 Jill is a graphic designer from Oakland, CA. While riding her bike to work, she was inspired to create a set...
View ArticleBeginners Laser Cutting Cost Saving Guide: Part 4
Product Recipe #1 – Part 4 Jill is a graphic designer from Oakland, CA. While riding her bike to work, she was inspired to create a set of custom-made bike gear-themed coasters to sell at local bike...
View ArticleHow To: Design a Living Hinge
De-mystifying the ins and outs of laser cut curved surfaces For the most part, laser cut objects consist of flat panels that are either cut or etched before being assembled into a final configuration....
View ArticleHow To Make Laser Cut Interlocking Acrylic Designs
The Importance of Radii We’ve written about using ‘nodes’ with 3D objects made from wood before, but suggested it may not work for acrylic because it is more brittle and tends to be less forgiving....
View ArticleHow To Use Nesting Parts in Laser Cutting
A guide to laser cut line optimisation Discussions around the laser cutters at Ponoko continue to highlight how important effective nesting of parts in laser cut files is. Today we are taking a look at...
View ArticleHow To Make a Customized Jigsaw Puzzle
Laser Cut Educational Toys Personalised toys can make a great gift, adding something unique and memorable to show how much you care. It’s one of those things that many people think about doing, but...
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