Cutting and Milling

Cutting and milling are both forms of subtractive manufacture. Subtractive manufacturing is the process of machining a model by removing material from a piece of material, larger than the final product you are making.

There are many different types of subtractive manufacture, that all use different methods and have different applications. We have a range of cutting and milling machines available in the SHU Digital Workshops. 

Available Technologies

Machine Locations

How to Access Equipment

Laser Cutters: In both Sheaf and HPO, the laser cutters can be booked via Connect2, after completing the Laser Cutting Induction.

Vinyl Cutters: In both Sheaf and HPO, there is an induction guide next to the machines.

CNC: The CNC machines are technician driven, please contact us to use these facilities.

How long will it take?

The amount of time your cut will take is dependant on the size of your design(s) and the machine technology you choose.

You can book the laser cutters for 1 hour periods, so please make sure to have your designs ready to make the most of this time. If you are doing a large etching job and need longer than 1 hour, please speak to a technician to make sure we can accomodate your request.

For CNC jobs, in busy periods, you will be told an approximate timeframe for your job. You will only be in the print queue once we have received your files, as we work on a first come first served basis, so send us files as soon as possible to ensure you meet your deadline. We support a range of courses and a huge amount of students so please be patient with us during busy times!

How much does it cost?

There is no cost to use any of these machines, just pay for the materials you need in stores.