Tutorial

What Materials Can I Cut or Engrave?

The Idea Lab provides the following materials to use with the Glowforge:

The Idea Lab will provide one (1) complimentary sheet of acrylic, plywood or MDF per user per semester. The size of sheet will vary by material.

Material provided during Glowforge training and workshops does not count towards this limit. Scraps are free to use!

Note: The Idea Lab does not sell materials for use with the Glowforge.

Can I bring in my own materials?

Yes! Users can bring their own materials.

Materials must be verified as C02 laser compatible, appear on the Idea Lab’s Approved Materials list, and be approved by staff before they are cut or engraved. A list of recommended vendors where you can purchase laser-safe materials is included on the Approved Materials list.

In addition to the materials stocked by the Idea Lab listed above, some common Glowforge-safe materials include:

✅ Mylar

✅ Rubber

✅ Corian

✅ Slate

✅ Anodized aluminum

✅ Cardboard

✅ Marble

Even if your material appears on the Approved Materials list, you must provide a link to where the material was purchase, a receipt, original packaging and/or SDS (Safety Data Sheet) sheet from the manufacturer stating what the material is made of. Idea Lab staff will deny the use of any material that cannot be verified as laser safe. When in doubt, staff will error on the side of caution.

Always bring extra material! Projects may require testing and refining. You may need to experiment with the Glowforge settings to achieve your desired result.

Prohibited materials

Materials which are never safe to cut on the Glowforge include:

🚫 PVC including vinyl and pleather

🚫 ABS

🚫 Fiberglass

🚫 Polystyrene

These materials may emit dangerous gasses, melt or catch on fire.

Knowledge Check

◀ Why Use a Laser Cutter

Safety ▶