Any laser cutter people out there? It seems like every source file option is nickle and dime scam bullshit. Where do you source files? How do you edit?
Seriously confused why this is so much harder than 3d printing. I've designed slip fit boxes that worked and fit the thing they were for but this is making me feel like an idiot.
I make a lot of my own files but also buy a decent amount. etsy is a pretty good source for tested files. Just be sure the seller has a lot of good feedback. What kind of stuff are you looking for?
That's insane to me. Thingiverse and printables both exist but 2d files cost money everywhere and have no open source community?
How do you make them? What software?
No open source community. The laser engraving/cutting community is very (for lack of a better term) cut throat and dog eat dog. It wasnt always that way, when I first got started 6 or7 years ago it was very congenial and full of helpful people. Unfortunately I think when the market got flooded with cheaper and cheaper lasers it became a race to the bottom and the helpfulness dried up.
I use inkscape for my design work. Adobe is also good, but expensive. Lightburn is another good option for both design and running the laser, but I haven't made the jump to that yet.
There are a few really good channels on YouTube that are very helpful. Laser Everything has a ton of very in depth and detailed videos on all aspects of laser work.
I guess people still buy laser stuff where the hope of sales is mostly beaten out of 3d printer people by now. Annoying for those of us who just want to play and make things for ourselves without a huge learning curve.
I'm a total noob, just figured out how to make sure it will cut where my stock is.
I second Inkscape and Lightburn. FreeCAD is also getting very mature. KiCAD is also not just for PCB design/layout tool, it also has a very capable 2d drawing tool that works well for getting things dimensionally accurate. It is a process to learn how to do it well, just like 3d printing. Being able to draw your own files is an excellent superpower to refine over time.
nostr:nprofile1qqswc7d4dz775c72vzgltwztp33ecy9qjx0pwhaqnfx7x920s2gx7fgpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduq3qamnwvaz7tmwdaehgu3wd3skueqpzpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuamfdejsulacej has done laser cutting.
