About the Laser Shop :

Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to cut materials, and is typically used for industrial manufacturing applications. Laser cutting works by directing the output of a high-power laser most commonly through optics. The laser optics and CNC (computer numerical control) are used to direct the material or the laser beam generated. The focused laser beam is directed at the material, which then either melts, burns, vaporizes away, or is blown away by a jet of gas, leaving an edge with a high-quality surface finish.

The Laser Shop is available all students and faculty in the Architecture program. Please use the Laser Shop monitors as a resource for shop use.

Laser Lab Hours:

  • Sunday - Thursday: 9am - 10pm

  • Friday - Saturday: 9am - 8pm

The Laser Lab is by appointment only - Please sign up using the “Submit to the Laser!” button below.

LASER LAB PROTOCOLS FOR USE

GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

  • It is not a valid use of the laser cutter to make squares

  • Be sure to bring your files plot ready: flatten, purge, and overkill all beforehand

  • Priority Schedule is in place to allow everyone to cut during studio-specific time slots

  • Time slots cannot run over into the next groups time slot.

  • Cuts resulting in flare up will result in the student being ejected from the Laser Shop for the day

  • To expedite cutting download the driver for the plotter HERE.

  1. NEVER leave the room while you are cutting

  2. Students must sign up using the Digital Submission system in the Laser Shop.

  3. Have a valid Pratt ID and be currently enrolled in an approved Pratt Architecture course

  4. Use of laser cutters are limited to academic work only, commercial work is prohibited

  5. Cutting time is limited to 60 minutes

  6. Appointments are non-transferable. Each student must submit and arrive for their own timeslot.

SUBMISSIONS + QUEUE

You must submit to the Laser Lab before arriving to the shop! You will be prompted when it is your time for the Laser.

You will have 10 minutes to arrive to the Laser Lab after receiving the "Up-Next" email. After 10 minutes your appointment will be cancelled and you will need to complete this form again.

Laser Shop access is extended to students and faculty of the School of Architecture.  Please be aware of high capacity during midterms and finals. Please arrive prepared and be respectful of the time limit of 60 minutes.

LASER PRIORITY SCHEDULE

The Laser Lab this semester will begin to re-utilize the Priority Schedule. The Laser Priority is a coordinated schedule for giving equal opportunity for time on machine.  Each level has designated time slots where the submissions are reorganized to give preference to that year. Use the Filter View icon tool in Google Sheets to cycle the Laser Queue to the current Priority View. For now, the Filter View must be refreshed with each new submission. Download the Laser Priority Schedule below.

Laser lab Tutorials + Resource Files

Click the button above to download the file.

The Laser Lab has put together a variety of documents to aid you in preparing your files for Laser Cutting. Please be sure to follow the Laser Lab Guidelines listed above. Above are Cutting Guides for each of 3 laser cutter models available in the Laser Lab. Please review these before visiting the shop. We have also provided the .las files for each of the laser cutter models for your use. Lastly, we have put together a “plug and play” Grasshopper Nesting script that will automatically nest, overlap geometries were possible and reduce to a single line. We hope this will aid in increasing your efficiency in the Laser Lab! There is also a tutorial for the script, as well as the download for the Grasshopper plugin needed.

Machine Information

Universal VLS - 660

pls-6150-laser-engraving-system.jpg

Machine Description Here:

The Universal VLS-660 is one of the standard models of laser cutter in the Pratt Architecture Production Facilities Laser Shop. The VLS-660 has a cutting bed size of 18”x32” (stated again below)

Print Bed Size:

18” (y) x 32” (x)

Please be sure to properly set the Z Height to your material.

Universal ILS - 12.15OD

universal-ils.jpg

Machine Description Here:

The Universal ILS-12.15OD is the newest model of laser cutter in the Pratt Architecture Production Facilities Laser Shop. The ILS-12.15OD has a cutting bed size of 24”x 48” (stated again below). This laser cutter is perfect for large format model making, allowing for seamless cutting of larger materials.

Print Bed Size:

24” (y) x 48” (x)

Please be sure to properly set the Z Height to your material