Miguel Jacinto
Customer support
Phone: (866) 507 8133
E-Mail: canada@troteclaser.com
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Retro Diner Menu Cover
Request a demoUse your Trotec Speedy laser system to make a retro diner menu cover! Milkshakes and burgers, anyone?
Equipment and Materials
Materials
• 1/4 sheet of Pink/White TroLase (1/16")
• 1/4 sheet of Black/White TroLase Thins (1/32") with adhesive backing
• A plastic binding ring or screw post
To create a complete menu, we recommend adding laminated menu pages, and purchasing an additional 1/4 sheet of Pink/White TroLase (1/16") to create the back cover.
Trotec Laser and Accessories
You can use any laser system from the Speedy series for this application.
Step by Step
Step 1: Prepare Your Menu Cover Design
Create your own design, or import our template (below) and edit the file as you see fit. By using the Photo optimized Process Mode on JobControl®, you can achieve highly detailed photo engraving results.
More Photo Engraving Tips & Tricks
Send your design to your Speedy system by using the following settings:
| Process | Resolution | Cut line |
|---|---|---|
| Photo optimized | 600 dpi | none |
| Halftone | Others |
|---|---|
| Ordered dithering | - |
Step 2: Adjust the Laser Processing Settings
Send the job to your laser by using the processing parameters described below.
NOTE: The optimal cutting and engraving parameters may vary depending on your Specific Speedy system and its available wattage.
Processing Parameters
| Color | Process | Power (%) | Speed (%) | ppi/Hz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| black | engraving CO2 | 50 | 80 | 600 |
| red | cutting CO2 | 6 | 5 | 1000 |
| blue | cutting CO2 | 60 | 1.2 | 1000 |
| Passes | Air Assist | Z-Offset | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | on | 1 mm | - |
| 1 | on | - | - |
| 1 | on | - | - |
Tip
Engrave your image from bottom to top. As residue falls below the engraving area, this technique allows the exhaust system to absorb the debris as it is created. In addition, the residue does not fall in the laser's engraving path, it does not get burned into the material.
Step 3: Cut and Engrave the Pink/White TroLase Sheet
Remove the protective foil from the Pink/White TroLase sheet, and place it on your laser's work area. Cover the remaining space (e.g., with standard printing paper) to maximize the vacuum's suction force on the TroLase sheet. Then proceed to cut and engrave the material.
When the job is complete, wipe away any remaining residue with a slightly damp cloth.
Step 4: Prepare the Checkered Strip Design
To add a little extra pizzazz to our menu cover, we added a checkered strip made from TroLase Thine Black/White. To achieve the same look, you may also use our template (below).
Send the checkered strip file to your laser using the print settings below.
Print settings
| Process mode | Resolution | Cut line |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 600 dpi | none |
| Halftone | Others |
|---|---|
| color | - |
Step 5: Cut and Engrave the Checkered Strip
Put the Black/White TroLase Thins sheet on your laser's work area, and remove the protective foil.
To achieve the best results, be sure to run the engraving job (from bottom to top) before cutting.
Laser Parameters
| Color | Process | Power (%) | Speed (%) | ppi/Hz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| black | engraving CO2 | 60 | 80 | 600 |
| red | cutting CO2 | 30 | 1.5 | 1000 |
| Passes | Air Assist | Z-Offset | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | on | 1 mm | High Quality |
| 1 | on | - | - |
Step 6: Assemble the Menu
Once the checkered strip is processed, clean it with a slightly damp cloth. Once both the menu card and the checkered strip are dry, remove the sticker from the strip to expose its adhesive backing. Carefully position the strip on the photo-engraved menu cover. Finally, combine the front cover, menu pages and back cover, and secure them with a binding ring or screw post.
Voilà! You are now ready to present your menu.
Tip
You can print the content sheets of your menu, and cut them afterwards with your Speedy laser. The JobControl® Vision system will allow you to achieve precise cuts.
More Ideas
- We recommend Trotec's LaserPaper Wood for a rustic or natural look
- To achieve a modern and eclectic menu, we suggest using TroGlass Color Gloss sheets
- Trotec's Cork sheets are ideal for creating wine lists
