[Laser Engraving Application] How to Use Snapmaker 3-in-1 Printer for Laser Engraving in Education?
There will be a trilogy of articles on the application of Snapmaker in education, introducing how the three functions of the 3-in-1 printer can be used for teaching purposes. We will now present the second part: Laser Engraving!
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With interchangeable modules, Snapmaker allows you to quickly switch between different functions. Now, let's proceed with laser engraving. Today's task is to create wooden guitar decorations. Before diving into the actual production process, let's first understand the structure of a guitar. The image below shows a wooden guitar placed vertically, which can be broadly divided into three parts: the headstock, the neck, and the body. The headstock is fitted with tuning pegs for adjusting string tension; the body includes a soundhole to amplify the sound of plucked or strummed strings, and a bridge to anchor the strings. Between the headstock and the soundboard is a slender neck.
To better help students create guitars, it's recommended to ask guiding questions before designing.
Q: What are the main characteristics of a guitar's overall shape?
A: The outline of the guitar body is streamlined and irregular, wide at both ends and narrow in the middle, exhibiting axial symmetry. The shapes of the head and neck can also be roughly seen as quadrilaterals. Since the guitar has a clear axially symmetrical shape, we can first draw half of the outline for each part and then flip it to get the other half. This way, we can save time in the drawing process and ensure the regularity of the work's structure.
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For this project, Snapmaker will use Inkscape as the design tool. If needed, you can also use more professional software.
If you are new to laser engraving and plan to try STEAM education in class or at home, we highly recommend checking out this tutorial!!
First, open Inkscape and create a new file. Then, use basic graphic tools to draw the body of the guitar, creating an elliptical object and converting it to a path. Divide the ellipse into two parts along its central axis with a straight line, and use the "cut path" tool to obtain the "half outline" mentioned earlier. Refine this path through node editing, then duplicate it and flip it horizontally to get the "other half of the outline." Combine the two paths to get the complete guitar body path. Similar to the process of drawing the guitar body outline, Snapmaker uses path cutting and path combining methods to draw the shield-shaped head. The neck outline is a long, slender trapezoidal shape created by using the rectangle tool and node editing. Finally, merge the outlines of the head, neck, and body to obtain the complete guitar outline.
How about drawing some patterns on the guitar surface to make it more attractive and personalized? Using Inkscape's spray copy feature, we randomly scattered stars on the soundboard. Once all graphics are ready, Snapmaker exports the image as a PNG file for subsequent laser cutting and engraving in Luban.
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Here are some important tips in Luban that can help you achieve a successful project:
Since a clear outline needs to be cut, "Vector" should be selected in the "Processing Mode," and the threshold should be appropriately increased so that the previewed outline is more distinct.
When you import a pattern into Luban, it is recommended to select "Grayscale" in "Processing Mode" for laser engraving.
Speed and power parameters can be set according to your chosen material.
Step 1 Step 2
Step 3 Step 4
If you follow the guide above, all that's left is to wait for your exquisite little guitar!
In the next article, we will share instructions on how to use CNC carving and cutting. We hope you enjoyed this tutorial and are inspired to laser engrave your first creation!
The Snapmaker 3-in-1 3D printer is essential for bringing projects to life!!
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