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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.
