Multi-layered sign
Create your own unique multi-layered sign using TroGlass material using this "how to" guide.
Multi-layered sign
Create your own unique multi-layered sign using TroGlass material using this "how to" guide.
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
- Double sided adhesive tape
Laser machine used
- Speedy 360, 80 watts
- 2" lens
- Nozzle with big diameter
- Vacuum table with white cutting grid
All speedy laser machines can be used to create this sample.
Tip
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
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 |
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 | - | - | - |
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 |
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 | - | - | - |
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 |
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 | - | - | - | - | - |
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.