Laser Cut Magnetic Poetry

Here is a brief overview on how to use scrap magnet sheeting, a laser cutter and Corel draw to make magnetic poetry.

Magnet sheeting may be made of PVC and cutting it in this manner may produce small amounts of extremely toxic chlorine gas. I am not sure. You do this at your own risk.

Step 1 Go make your word file.

Measure your scrap magnetic sheeting.

Open Corel Draw and make a text block the size of your scrap magnetic sheeting. My scrap sheeting was 3.5" x 24" and as such I wrote enough semi-random words to fill that space.

The text should be of transparent fill with a 1 pixel black outline.

For a better example download the attached work-file below.

Comments

[stasterisk]

Man....

so this is the first thing I tried to do with a laser cutter, but instead of just doing it, I called up a bunch of companies and read a lot of MSDS-es.

Yeah, they said, the magnetic sheet is fine, but don't touch that vinyl. The PVC quickly lets out all the 'C'. Plus, it should be pretty easy to use a vinyl cutter for this? Or waterjet them instead like I did?

[randofo]

Yeah.... I figured it wasn't cutting through too much vinyl, so it wouldn't be too bad and I stuck the exhuast fan out the window. It's still probably not a good idea. Apparently magnet sheeeting breaks the blade on the vinyl cutter and that is not to be done either. Any which way, I try to avoid laser cutting these days. I'm convinced that most everything cut with it is on some level is toxic.

[cowe]

if you're ventilating well, the ONLY things that are toxic to the laser head are vinyl and pvc. i cut & etch many different kinds of wood/paper/acrylic/plastic/glass/food/etc. pretty much daily, and all's well, with a decent (well-maintained) filtration system. :)

[The_Roadie]

For those that want a slightly safer way to create something similar, try these magnetic sheets from Avery:
http://www.avery.com/avery/en_us/Products/Crafts-%26-Scrapbooking/Magnet-Sheets/Magnet-Sheets_03270.htm?N=0&Ns=&refchannel=c042fd03ab30a110VgnVCM1000002118140aRCRD
Not a cool as laser cut, but you can print in color.

[MegaMaker]

If you have a poem like this that is 5-7 lines (each line is 4 words), using 10 verbs, 8 nouns, and some other words that I can't remember, you will have a French Poem known as a Da Da poem. Although the words are usally ramdomly found in newspapets, magazines, ect. Lol.

[stasterisk]

Why didn't you use the lasercutter to cut up the words?

[randofo]

It can't cut through the magnet sheeting.

[Sabina]

Over at luminocode.com/magnets you can make and test magnet sets to see how they work out before you actually start making them.

[Weissensteinburg]

I really want a laser cutter...

[FrenchCrawler]

I'd be happy even if I could only afford this

[Weissensteinburg]

Think santa might get generous this year?

[randofo]

You should find someone who has one and become good friends with them. I wouldn't count on Santa.

[Weissensteinburg]

What about Hanukkah harry AND Santa? They could split the tab. I really have no idea where to find someone around here with one...and the age thing doesn't help either..15 in just about 2 more months

[randofo]

Maybe if they both invested their money in a high-interest savings account over the course of a number of years... that might do it.

[T3h_Muffinator]

They could also buy all the lotto tickets with their magical powers... That way they're guaranteed to win!

[joejoerowley]

Maybe a long term CD.