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Acceptable Formats

The Laser Cutter will cut from either AutoCAD (.dxf) or Adobe Illustrator, accommodating materials up to 18"x32".

1-Preparing AutoCAD Files

The pre-configured template file has labeled cut order layers and a no-print boundary representing the space of the laser cutter bed.  It is located on the desktop and is attached below.  Please use this template for all files.

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1. Open your AutoCAD file and select all lines you wish to cut.  Paste them into the template using Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, NOT the CO copy command.  
2. Under properties (when an element is selected, right click and select "Properties"), ensure that all geometries are set to "By Layer" in the color, linetype, line weight, and transparency drop downs.
3. If you imported your file from Illustrator, you will need to take extra steps (although these are helpful tips for AutoCAD generated files as well):
   1. Select all the geometry produced by Illustrator and enter command EXPLODE.  Do this twice to ensure that the geometries ungroup (you should see a prompt reading "Cannot explode Spline" at the completion of the second explode)
   2. Enter command PEDIT, enter M for multiple, and select your geometries (if you have a lot of lines or they are complicated, it may be best to do this step in smaller groups).  Enter Y to convert lines to polylines.  Hit enter again (the default precision is fine).  Enter J to join and hit enter twice to exit the command.  If your file has complicated geometries, it is a good idea to run the PEDIT command sequence twice.
   3. Enter OVERKILL to remove duplicate lines (to prevent the laser cutter from cutting over lines twice or cutting slower).  Or, from the menu select Express --> Modify --> Delete Duplicate
4. Set the cut order/color assignments of the geometries.  TIP: It is best to etch first, then cut geometries inside others, and then geometries that lie outside others can be cut (ex:  in an elevation of a brick wall with a window, etch the bricks first, cut the window second, then cut out the whole wall).  This prevents pieces from moving and cutting incorrectly.
5. The order is as follows:
   
   1. black (AutCAD index color #7) - this is a no-cut layer
   2. red (AutCAD index color #1) 
   3. green (AutCAD index color #3) 
   4. yellow (AutCAD index color #2) 
   5. blue (AutCAD index color #5) 
   6. magenta (AutCAD index color #6) 
   7. cyan (AutCAD index color #4) 
   8. orange (AutCAD index color #40) 
6. Your file is now ready to cut!

2-Preparing Illustrator Files

Illustrator Template

Illustrator color swatches

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1. If you want to cut dashed lines, you must use RAST as the pen mode in the Printing Preferences dialog.
2. If you are laser cutting text, select the text, right-click > Create Outlines. Then inverse the fill/outline and double check your stroke is set to .001

3- Preparing Topos/Maps

There are many ways to cut your contour map, here is one way we found to be efficient and may reduce mistakes.

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