Jacqui, Jandra, Jenny, Joanne, Sarah
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Phone: +61-1300-TROTEC
E-Mail: australia@troteclaser.com
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Digitally Printed Puzzle with Your Own Engraving
Step-By-Step Instructions
Create a personalised puzzle using our new Digital Print Series material. Follow the instructions below and download our free template.
Preparation
You Will Need:
- 1/2 sheet Digital Print Series, matte brushed Aluminium/Black 1.6mm
- 1/2 sheet TroLase ADA, Polar White 1.6mm
- Photo Frame 30 x 40mm
- Material for covering up the working table
Machine Used:
- Speedy 400, 120 Watt
- 2" lens
- vacuum table
- acrylic cutting grid
You can create this puzzle with any machine in the Speedy series.
Tips:
We used a free online software to create the puzzle pieces. You will be able to find many examples on the internet as well.
Step by Step
Step 1: Create The Print & Laser Design
Download the graphic we have provided, or try creating your own! You can find some tips & tricks on creating graphics for Digital Print Series here.
Once you have finished creating your masterpiece, send the file to the laser machine.
Print Settings
| Process mode | Resolution | Cut line |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 600 dpi | None |
| Halftone | Others |
|---|---|
| Colour | Optimised Geometries, Inner Geometries First |
Step 2: The Laser Process
We used the optimised TroLase parameters from JobControl as our engraving settings. The geometries of the puzzle pieces are somewhat complicated, so we adapted the cutting parameters to suit our design. These parameters may vary depending on what machine you are using and its available laser power.
Next, place the printed sheet of Digital Print Series on the acrylic cutting grid. Engrave and cut out the design.
Laser Parameters
| Colour | Process | Power (%) | Speed (%) | ppi/Hz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Engrave CO2 | 40 | 100 | 600 |
| Red | Cut CO2 | 32 | 0.8 | 5000 |
| Blue | Cut CO2 | 60 | 1.62 | 5000 |
| Passes | Air Assist | Z-Offset | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | on | +1.5 mm | High Quality |
| 1 | on | - | - |
| 1 | on | - | - |
Important:
Always engrave from the bottom and work your way up (Plate - Plate setup in JobControl). This will prevent dust from building up inside the engraved areas.
Place a sheet of paper underneath the cut-out puzzle so that you can remove all the elements from the laser at once when you are finished.
Step 3: Graphics Base Plate
It is necessary to have a base plate if you're going to display your puzzle in a frame. Send the graphic to your laser machine using the following settings:
Print Settings
| Process Mode | Resolution | Cut line |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1000 dpi | None |
| Halftone | Others |
|---|---|
| Colour | - |
Step 4: Laser Process (Base Plate)
Simply place the TroLase ADA on the acrylic cutting grid and cut it out.
Laser Parameters
| Colour | Process | Power (%) | Speed (%) | ppi/Hz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Cut CO2 | 65 | 2 | 1000 |
| Passes | Air Assist | Z-Offset | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | On | - | - |
Tips:
We used the optimised, standard laser parameters for TroLase ADA in JobControl®.
Step 5: Cleaning & Assembly
After you've finished the engraving, give the puzzle a good clean with a damp cloth.
Tip:
We suggest leaving the material inside the laser machine with the vacuum on once you've finished processing. This will ensure all the parts will stay together while you clean them, making your job much less confusing!
Inspiration
- Create a larger base plate and make use of the new Trotec signage mounting devices to hand your puzzle on a wall. If you decide to do this, make sure you place double-sided tape on the back of the printed plate before you begin cutting.
- You can print a few general aesthetic pictures (like sunsets, sandy beaches, flowers, mandalas) and engrave them according to your customers' requirements. This way, you'll always be prepared.