Cardboard gift box

Step by step instructions

By the end of this DIY you will be able to make a classy and individual gift box out of a simple sheet of corrugated board.

Preparation

Required material:

cardboard, min. 18 x 24'', 1/8" thick
double-sided adhesive tape, extra strong
covering material

Machine used:

Speedy 500, 200 watt
2.5" lens
small cone or cone with special cap (depending on availability)
aluminum cutting grid table

For this sample you can use any of the machines from the SP laser cutter Series, or you may use either the Speedy 360 or Speedy 400 laser engraving machines.

Tip:

Use the smallest possible cone. This prevents the material from being dirtied by burn marks.

Step by Step

Step 1: Import print and laser template

Download our graphic and adapt it according to your requirements. Send the graphic to the laser using the settings below.

Print settings:

Process mode	Resolution	Cut line
Cut job	1000 dpi	none

Halftone	Others
Color	Optimized geometries, inner geometries first

Step 2: Laser process cardboard

Place the cardboard inside your laser with the right side facing down. Cover the rest of the working area so that you get a sufficient down draft that holds the material in place. Then enter your material settings. Our recommended parameters can vary depending on laser type and power.

Laser Parameters

Color	Process	Power (%)	Speed (%)	ppi/Hz
cutting slowly: red	Cut CO₂	30	1.5	5000
scratching: blue	Cut CO₂	10	3	5000
cutting fast: green	Cut CO₂	50	3	5000

Passes	Air Assist	Z-Offset	Advanced
1	Gas 1	-	-
1	Gas 1	-	-
1	Gas 1	-	-

Info:

If you are using the 500, use the external compressed air (= Gas 1) with 4 bar pressure which blows the smoke through the cutting slots. This ensures clean cut edges.

Step 3: Cleaning and assembly

Gutter the scratched cutting lines to achieve a nice fold. You can either use a ballpoint-pen or a folding stick. Apply double-sided adhesive tape on the six flaps. Crease all folding lines to remove the tension from the cardboard. Glue the box together to complete your gift box.

Inspiration

For an orginal look, you can paint the box after cutting.
Put a piece of acrylic or wood underneath the cut-out design. That way an original engraving becomes visible when you open the box.
Replace the words "Happy Birthday" with other messages or dates, such as Merry Christmas, so you can quickly and easily offer your customers the option to personalize the box.