Introduction to Laser-Cutting from Udemy

In this course, you will learn how to use free software to make designs that you can cut on any laser cutter. We will take things step-by-step.

In the first part, you will be learning Inkscape, which is free software that can be used for making designs.
Once you are comfortable with Inkscape, we’ll start with easy designs that have only one part.
Then we’ll get into slightly more complex designs. And finally, by the end, you’ll learn how to create projects with multiple interlocking parts, using different types of joints.
You’ll also learn the different ways a laser can affect the material you’re cutting, like scoring and engraving. We’ll also cover non-design things, like material selection, preventing burn marks, finishing your projects, and more.
By using this project-based incremental learning method, you won’t feel overwhelmed trying to do something that is beyond your current skill level. And you will practice by creating actual products that you can use in your house.

I made the projects used in this course using my Glowforge laser-cutter, but you don't need your own laser-cutter. There are many maker spaces and libraries that now provide access to laser-cutters. For the first 3 years of this hobby, I used an Epilog laser-cutter at my library. The files you learn to make in this course can also be cut on almost any laser-cutter.

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Teaches free software that is industry standard in design and laser cutting

Builds a strong foundation for beginners in laser cutting with Inkscape

Develops proficiency in laser cutting with increasingly complex designs

Explores different ways that a laser can affect material as a finishing tool

Covers material selection, preventing burn marks, and finishing projects

Meets learners where they are by using a project-based incremental learning method

Reviews summary

Laser-cutting fundamentals

Learners say this Introduction to Laser-Cutting course is easy to understand, beginner-friendly, and interesting. Students appreciate the clear and well-structured lessons with plenty of examples. They describe the course as comprehensive and enjoyable.

Interesting and enjoyable learning experience

"very interesting, easy to follow, easy to understand."

"Absolutely Amazing! Love how Sal is so detailed with her teaching and explains so well."

"Sal makes the material engaging and easy to understand."

Organized and easy to follow

"I like the way the course is set up."

"Easy to understand for beginners. Well-structured."

"Sal's background as a teacher really shows in the way she structures her courses and in the way she produces the content."

Examples make concepts easy

"good easy to understand"

"easy to understand and lots of examples"

"very interesting, easy to follow, easy to understand."

Great for beginners

"It was great course for beginners. simple to follow"

"Easy to understand for beginners. Well-structured."

"it is absolutely great! I am a total beginner and the explanations are great to understand the tarot clearly!"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Laser-Cutting with these activities:

Review basic computer-aided design (CAD) principles

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Refreshing your knowledge of basic CAD principles will help you get up to speed on the laser cutting software more quickly.

Browse courses on Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

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Review the basics of CAD, such as coordinate systems and drawing tools.
Create a few simple CAD models to practice your skills.

Create Practice Designs in Inkscape

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Practice creating designs in Inkscape to improve understanding of the software.

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Open Inkscape and become familiar with the interface
Create basic shapes, such as rectangles and circles
Combine shapes to create more complex designs
Save your designs in SVG format

Read Laser Cutting for Beginners by John Smith

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Reviewing the basics of laser cutting will help provide a solid foundation before starting the course.

View John Pinto’s Little Green Book of Ophthalmology... on Amazon

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Read the first three chapters.
Do the practice exercises at the end of the chapters.

Seven other activities

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Watch YouTube tutorials on laser cutting

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Watching tutorials by expert instructors can help you practice your skills and learn new techniques.

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Search for laser cutting tutorials on YouTube.
Watch several tutorials on different techniques.
Try out the techniques you learned in your own projects.

Design and cut a simple shape using Inkscape and your laser cutter

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Creating something of your own will help you develop a deeper understanding of the course material.

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Choose a simple design.
Create the design in Inkscape.
Cut the design using your laser cutter.

Answer questions and provide support to other students in the course discussion forums

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Helping others can help you deepen your own understanding of the material and develop your communication skills.

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Participate in the course discussion forums.
Answer questions from other students.
Provide support and encouragement to other students.

Practice cutting different materials with your laser cutter

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Getting hands-on experience with different materials will help you develop your skills and confidence.

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Choose different types of material to cut.
Cut the materials using different settings on your laser cutter.
Compare the results and make adjustments as needed.

Craft a Wooden Keyring

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Apply skills and knowledge to create a practical project to reinforce learning.

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Design the keyring in Inkscape
Cut the design using a laser cutter
Sand and finish the keyring
Attach a key ring

Write a blog post about your experience with laser cutting

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Sharing your knowledge with others can help you reinforce your learning and improve your communication skills.

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Choose a topic to write about, such as different laser cutting techniques or the benefits of laser cutting.
Research your topic and gather information.
Write your blog post.
Publish your blog post.

Contribute to an open-source laser cutting project

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Contributing to open-source projects can help you learn from others, develop your skills, and give back to the community.

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Find an open-source laser cutting project to contribute to.
Read the project documentation and familiarize yourself with the code.
Make a small contribution to the project, such as fixing a bug or adding a new feature.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Laser-Cutting will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical Engineers design and develop medical devices and products, using their knowledge of engineering principles and materials. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides a foundation in laser cutting technology, which is sometimes used in biomedical engineering. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of a Biomedical Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biomedical Engineer

Chemical Engineer

Chemical Engineers design and develop chemical processes and products, using their knowledge of engineering principles and materials. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides a foundation in laser cutting technology, which is sometimes used in chemical engineering. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of a Chemical Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemical Engineer

Environmental Engineer

Environmental Engineers design and develop solutions to environmental problems, using their knowledge of engineering principles and materials. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides a foundation in laser cutting technology, which is sometimes used in environmental engineering. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of an Environmental Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer

Architectural Engineer

Architectural Engineers design and develop buildings and other structures, using their knowledge of engineering principles and materials. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides a foundation in laser cutting technology, which is sometimes used in architectural engineering. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of an Architectural Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Architectural Engineer

Civil Engineer

Civil Engineers design and develop civil infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, and buildings, using their knowledge of engineering principles and materials. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides a foundation in laser cutting technology, which is sometimes used in civil engineering. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of a Civil Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineers design and develop electrical systems and components, using their knowledge of engineering principles and materials. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides a foundation in laser cutting technology, which is sometimes used in electrical engineering. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of an Electrical Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineers design and develop aircraft, spacecraft, and other related systems, using their knowledge of engineering principles and materials. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides a foundation in laser cutting technology, which is sometimes used in aerospace engineering. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of an Aerospace Engineer.

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Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineers design and develop mechanical systems and components, using their knowledge of engineering principles and materials. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides a foundation in laser cutting technology, which is sometimes used in mechanical engineering. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of a Mechanical Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Product Design Engineer

Product Design Engineers design and develop new products, using their knowledge of engineering principles and materials. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides hands-on experience with laser cutting technology, which is sometimes used in product design. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of a Product Design Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Design Engineer

Design Engineer

Design Engineers create and develop products, using their knowledge of engineering principles and materials. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides hands-on experience with laser cutting technology, which is sometimes used in product design. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of a Design Engineer.

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Robotics Engineer

Robotics Engineers design, build and maintain robots used in various industries, including manufacturing and healthcare. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides a foundation in laser cutting technology, which is sometimes used in robotics. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of a Robotics Engineer.

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Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineers design and optimize production processes in various industries. This course may be useful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides a foundation in laser cutting technology, which is commonly used in manufacturing. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of a Manufacturing Engineer.

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Laser Technician

Laser Technicians operate and maintain laser systems used in various industries, including manufacturing and research. This course may be particularly helpful for those seeking a career as a Laser Technician, as it provides hands-on experience with laser cutting technology. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, all of which are relevant to the work of a Laser Technician.

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CNC Machinist

CNC Machinists use computer-controlled machines to create metal parts for various industries. This course may be helpful for those interested in a career in this field, as it provides a foundation in laser cutting technology, which is often used in CNC machining. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of a CNC Machinist.

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Industrial Machinery Mechanic

Industrial Machinery Mechanics help maintain the machinery used in various industries, including manufacturing and energy production. This course may be useful for those seeking a career in this field, as it provides hands-on experience with laser cutting technology, which is commonly used in industrial manufacturing. The course covers topics such as design software, material selection, and project finishing, which are all relevant to the work of an Industrial Machinery Mechanic.

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Introduction to Laser-Cutting

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Laser-cutting fundamentals

Activities

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