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.

Remove these ads by Signing Up

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.

magneticpoetry.cdr12 KB

stasterisk says: Feb 25, 2008. 5:11 AM

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?

229

randofo (author) in reply to stasteriskFeb 25, 2008. 9:04 AM

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 in reply to randofoAug 14, 2009. 8:41 PM

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 says: Mar 24, 2009. 6:46 AM

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 says: Mar 17, 2009. 3:39 PM

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 says: Feb 25, 2008. 5:13 AM

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

229

randofo (author) in reply to stasteriskFeb 25, 2008. 8:58 AM

It can't cut through the magnet sheeting.

Sabina says: Aug 13, 2007. 2:24 AM

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 says: Apr 10, 2007. 8:53 PM

I really want a laser cutter...

FrenchCrawler in reply to WeissensteinburgApr 10, 2007. 11:02 PM

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

Weissensteinburg in reply to WeissensteinburgApr 10, 2007. 9:04 PM

Think santa might get generous this year?

229

randofo (author) in reply to WeissensteinburgApr 10, 2007. 9:21 PM

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

Weissensteinburg in reply to randofoApr 10, 2007. 9:36 PM

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

229

randofo (author) in reply to WeissensteinburgApr 10, 2007. 10:17 PM

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.