Creating templates
Engrave multiple parts in just one work process
What are the advantages of using templates for laser engraving?
Which material is suitable for creating templates?
In general, you can use all the materials you can cut with the laser when creating your templates. Laminate e.g. TroLase is a particularly cost-effective option. It is dimensionally stable, easy to process and available in many designs.
Also pay attention to the thickness of the parts to be engraved when creating templates. For thin objects such as aluminum tags, use flat material as a material for the template so that you can quickly and easily remove the parts later. For thicker workpieces such as pens, the material for the template also needs to be thicker so that the workpieces don't slip in the template.
How do I create the layout for my template?
Thanks to the base, loaded templates can be easily moved from the work table into your Trotec laser. The base should therefore be made of solid material. When gluing the base and template, ensure that they are glued properly one above the other.
How do I find the right contour for my workpiece?
Variant 1: Measure
If the outline of your workpiece is a simple, geometric shape, it is a good idea to measure the shape and trace it in your graphics program.Variant 2: Scan workpiece
If your workpiece consists of complex angles and radii, we recommend scanning the workpiece. Then import the scanned file into your graphics program and simply trace the contours.Variant 3: Trace and scan
If your workpiece is too bulky for your scanner, you can transfer the contours with a pen on a piece of paper and then scan it. When you import the scanned image into your graphics program, you can try to automatically convert the image using flash-vectorization. However, we recommend that you trace the contours yourself as a large number of unnecessary nodes are embedded in the contour during the automatic conversion.What do I need to pay attention to when determining the contours?
Tip:
It is very helpful to add an additional cut-out in the shape of a semicircle. This makes it easier to remove the finished engraved parts.
Which lens do I use for creating templates?
In general, we recommend using the smallest possible lens (1.5" or 2") in order to keep the cutting gap as small as possible.
More tips for creating templates:
- If you use lots of different templates, simply engrave the name of the corresponding graphics file on them. This makes it quick and easy to find the right work file.
- Mark the corner of the unit in the zero point on the template so that you can quickly and easily insert it.
- If your template is rather small and handy, it is useful to file it in a folder. To do this, simply laser holes in your template. Thus, your templates are kept safe and are quickly at hand.
- When you send your future engraving jobs to the laser, always send the entire graphic including the outer contour of the template. Before engraving your workpieces, set the color "red" to "positioning" in the parameters in the material database. This makes it easy for you to check whether the template is properly positioned in the machine.
- In order to quickly and reliably determine the desired position for laser processing read our tips and tricks for positioning aids.
Do you need something else?
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