Laser Cutting

Wanted to make the middle window of the Notre Dame into jewelery- because I'd never done anything like this before so went down to the Metal workshop to see what Malcolm (the jewelery dude) said about it all. He gave me a few ideas on what I could do with the design- one being to pierce each individual hole and then saw the pieces out...and the other to go to the laser cutter and make a mould. I went for the laser cutter option.
Turns out, you need to have an illustrator file in order to print so used my new knowledge of Illustrator to really showcase my talents.
Only awkward moment was when Matt looked at my finished file and said 'I really hate live trace- just look what it's done to your work.'

I had not used live trace.

Awkward. Very awkward.

Anyway, tidied it up a little and then it was all a go on the cutting.
 These are the stages Matt went through to cut my pattern on the machine:

• Import Illustrator file (saved as a CS3 type) onto the device software. 
• When the file has loaded the programme automatically converts your drawing into vectored lines.
• You then select the correct material in 'Material Manager’ from a list of presets. This will determine the strength of the laser and make sure it cuts at its best given the material.
• Then stick the paper, acrylic etc in the machine and adjust the laser optic leaving a 3mm gap between the lens and the material being used.
• Once your material is in place, close the lid, press 'Online' then 'Media' and then select the area where the machine will cut. You select the bottom left corner and then the top right of the material and the cutter will know to cut within this area. You have to remember to leave a small margin though. Lastly press the 'Enter' key and its ready to cut.
• With everything  in order and selected correctly you 'Send the Job' from the software to the laser cutter.

Did a paper trial first, and then I did two acrylic pieces which turned out marvellous.