How to Laser Cut a Wooden Pine Tree

Materials Adobe Illustrator Laser cutter ⅛ Wood 18”x24” 400 Grit Sandpaper Stain or paint (whatever your desired finish is) Brush for stain Adobe Illustrator Laser Cutter ⅛ Inch Wood 400 Grit Sandpaper Wood Stain Brush Step 1: Create Drawings Design or obtain drawings for a tree from the internet, drawn by yourself or from other resources These designs need to have the final assemblage needed to create a full 3D tree. This tree design includes one cut out tree with a joint at the bottom. The joint is added to make the tree stand freely. Create or transfer these drawings in Adobe Illustrator Scale drawing of design to appropriate size that you desire. This scale is 1” = 1’-0”

Step 2 : Convert to lasercut colors In Adobe Illustrator you need to change the colors of the cut line to the desired color. In this instance we are cutting out this object, so it must be turned to red.

Tree design drawn in red in order to be cut by the laser cutter.

Step 3: Gather Materials Gather your sandpaper, stain and ⅛ wood. Place the ⅛ wood in the machine, and set sandpaper and stain to the side.

Step 4: Cut it Now the drawing from step 1 and 2 will be transferred to the laser cutter from the computer with the Adobe Illustrator file. Close lid and press start Watch carefully so it does not create a flame to large File ready to be sent to the laser cutter.

Laser cutter cutting ⅛ inch wood.

Step 5: Finishing Touches Take wood out of the machine ‘Pop’ out tree cut outs from the wood Take sandpaper and clean up the burned edges so that they have a smooth finish Take stain, stir it to get top film off, then take your brush and apply evenly and generously to wood Sand the wood. Choose desired stain. Apply stain to wood.

Step 6: Assemble The easiest step of them all! Line up the cut of the wooden tree and the joint. Then interlock them together so that the wooden tree stands freely Place where desired in your home or office Connect tree and joint. Final product.

Step 1: Create Drawings

Design or obtain drawings for a tree from the internet, drawn by yourself or from other resources These designs need to have the final assemblage needed to create a full 3D tree. This tree design includes one cut out tree with a joint at the bottom. The joint is added to make the tree stand freely. Create or transfer these drawings in Adobe Illustrator Scale drawing of design to appropriate size that you desire. This scale is 1” = 1’-0”

Step 2: Convert to Lasercut Colors

Step 2 : Convert to lasercut colors

In Adobe Illustrator you need to change the colors of the cut line to the desired color. In this instance we are cutting out this object, so it must be turned to red.

Tree design drawn in red in order to be cut by the laser cutter.

Step 3: Gather Materials

Gather your sandpaper, stain and ⅛ wood. Place the ⅛ wood in the machine, and set sandpaper and stain to the side.

Step 4: Cutting

Step 4: Cut it

Now the drawing from step 1 and 2 will be transferred to the laser cutter from the computer with the Adobe Illustrator file. Close lid and press start Watch carefully so it does not create a flame to large File ready to be sent to the laser cutter.

Laser cutter cutting ⅛ inch wood.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

Take wood out of the machine ‘Pop’ out tree cut outs from the wood Take sandpaper and clean up the burned edges so that they have a smooth finish Take stain, stir it to get top film off, then take your brush and apply evenly and generously to wood Sand the wood. Choose desired stain. Apply stain to wood.

Step 6: Assemble

The easiest step of them all! Line up the cut of the wooden tree and the joint. Then interlock them together so that the wooden tree stands freely Place where desired in your home or office Connect tree and joint. Final product.