Follow our tutorial to create your own unique multi-layered sign using our TroGlass acrylic. TroGlass acrylics and other engraving supplies are available from our engraving supplies webshop.
Preparation
Materials used in the tutorial:
1/4 TroLase ADA bright white 1mm
1/4 TroLase ADA black 1.6mm with adhesive
1/4 TroGlass Frosted Ice Blue
1/4 TroGlass Colour Gloss Ice Blue
1/4 TroGlass Satins Lime Green translucent with adhesive
1/4 TroGlass Satins bright Orange translucent with adhesive
The TroGlass range includes a variety of colours and finishes including metallic and translucent. Experiment with the range and create unique signage.
Step by Step
Laser cutting TroLase engraving laminates
Step 1: Base plate
As always the first step is to import the design template into your graphics program, adapting it to your requirements. Send the base plate (bright white TroGlass) to the laser using the driver settings below:
Process mode
Resolution
Cut line
Standard
500dpi
None
Halftone
Colour
Others
Optimised Geometries, inner geometries first
Laser cutting white TroLase ADA acrylic
Step 2: Laser cutting the base plate
The following laser parameters will vary depending on your laser machine and its available laser power.
Colour
Process
Power (%)
Speed (%)
ppi/Hz
Red
Cut CO2
24
0.8
1,000
Passes
Air Assist
Z-Offset
Direction
Advanced
1
On
-
-
-
Laser cutting TroLase black engraving laminate
Step 3: Stripe pattern
Send stripe pattern job and the letters to your laser machine, using the driver settings below:
Process mode
Resolution
Cut line
Standard
500dpi
None
Halftone
Others
Colour
Optimised Geometries, inner geometries first
Laser cutting black TroLase ADA
Step 4: Laser cutting the stripe pattern
As before, these laser parameters will vary depending on the type of laser machine and available laser power.
Colour
Process
Power (%)
Speed (%)
ppi/Hz
Red
Cut CO2
38
0.8
1,000
Passes
Air Assist
Z-Offset
Direction
Advanced
1
On
-
-
-
Using adhesive tape for laser cutting
Step 5: Coloured layers
The coloured layers are created from TroGlass Frosted and Colour Gloss. Send the coloured layers of the job to your laser using the driver settings below.
Before laser cutting the TroGlass Colour Gloss and TroGlass Frosted sheets we recommend applying adhesive to the back, keeping a minimum of 4cm clear to the top of the sheet. This space is needed for the levitating part and the triangles.
Process mode
Resolution
Cut line
Standard
500dpi
none
Halftone
Others
Colour
Optimised Geometries, inner geometries first
Laser cutting acrylic with adhesive tape
Step 6: Laser processing the coloured layers
Tip: Prior to laser cutting, remove the protective foil for TroGlass Frosted and TroGlass Satins.
Again the following laser parameters may vary depending on the type of laser machine and available laser power.
To exactly position the graphic use the green positioning line.
Laser Parameters
Colour
Process
Power (%)
Speed (%)
ppi/Hz
Laser engraving
Black
Engraving CO2
16
20
500
Laser cutting
Red
Cut CO2
50
0.2
5,000
Creasing
Blue
Cut CO2
5
1
1,000
Positioning
Green
Positioning
-
-
-
Laser Parameters
Passes
Air Assist
Z-Offset
Direction
Advanced
Laser engraving
1
ON
-
Bottom Up
High Quality
Laser Cutting
1
ON
-
-
-
Creasing
1
ON
-
-
-
Positioning
-
-
-
-
-
Assembling the multi-layered sign
Step 7: Assembly
Start by sticking the stripe pattern on the white base plate. For manual placing, look for the hole to align it.
Next, make sure the TroGlass Frosted plate is glued in the correct position on the black ADA.
Now take the TroGlass Colour Gloss plate and position it with the letters at the bottom. Once positioned the coloured letters are pasted on.
Repeat these steps for the back of the sign. Then, the triangles are inserted into the holes provided.
Finally, a string is feathered through the holes and the multi-layer sign is finished.
Advantages of Trotec materials
Whatever you are creating, from standard products to one off designs, Trotec's laser acrylic sheets offer the best solution due to the variety of the range and the high-quality finish. The TroGlass series is characterised by its extremely tough and scratch-resistant surface. Discover our numerous colours with different surfaces and degrees of transparency.
