Introduction: Laser Cut Acrylic Rose With Etched Base
Hello everyone, I made an acrylic rose display piece for a loved one. I was lucky enough to have access to an Epilog laser cutter at the time. If I were to win an Epilog Zing 16 Laser, I would start a small business making sculptures, jewelery, and other cool and unique things.
When I made the rose I didn't have any plans drawn up. I went more by how a rose looked and what felt right. Feel free to use rose reference photos if necessary. My list of materials are as follows:
1 sheet of 1/16" clear acrylic ( size of sheet depends on what fits in the laser)
1 acrylic rod 1/4" cut to the length you want
Heat gun
Heat gloves
Safety glasses
Needle nose pliers ( to hold the petals while you shape them)
1 sheet of 1/8" mirrored acrylic
1 sheet of 1/8" black acrylic
Black spray paint
Weld on acrylic glue
Glue applicator syringe
Laser cutter/ engraver
Computer with CorelDraw program
With any project, please be safe and use appropriate safety equipment when needed.
Step 1:
I first started by creating some petal shapes that varied slightly, in CorelDraw. I then sent the file to the laser cutter and cut them out.
Step 2:
I then shaped each petal individually, using a heat gun (set on low) and needle nose pliers ( to hold the petal). Make sure you are wearing a heat glove when shaping it gets pretty hot. Repeat this for all the petals. You won't use them all, but if you make a lot you can then choose the pieces that fit together best.
Step 3:
Using Weld On and a syringe, I glued the petals together to form the rose.
Step 4:
This is what it looks like when it is done.
Step 5:
Using the heat gun shape the stem using the 1/4" acrylic rod. I sanded the bottom of the stem at an angle to make it look like it was a freshly cut stem.
Step 6:
I then cut two small holders out using the laser cutter to hold the rose in place while in its display box.
Step 7:
In CorelDraw, I set up a file for the base piece. I typed a favorite passage from a movie on the outer edge of the base.
In order for the words to etched correctly, they had to be reversed because I was doing a reverse etch on the back of the mirrored acrylic. After it was cut out, I spray painted the back of the acrylic black so the text would show through it. Then using a piece of black acrylic, I cut a smaller base piece that was glued to the top of the mirrored piece of acrylic. I then glued the two stem holders onto it to hold the rose in place.
Step 8:
This is what it looks like on the base.
Step 9:
I then cut out pieces of 1/8" acrylic on the laser cutter, to make a box that fits over the rose. I used the Weld On glue to put it together. It fits on the outside edge of the black acrylic on the base. This box protects the rose from damage, and allows it to be displayed.
Step 10:
Here is the finished rose complete with display box.( It's not very easy to take pictures of clear and mirrored acrylic)
Step 11:
Final acrylic rose shown with base only.
Photo by: Andrew Koerber

Participated in the
Epilog Challenge V
36 Comments
6 years ago
Awesome. Beautiful piece of art...
6 years ago
Beautiful! could you publish the Corel files you used to cut the pedals etc with? Or please send to puddleglumdad@gmail.com
6 years ago
Wow, a really nicely planned out and made piece. My son blows glass and can make glass roses, but this one is really well done. Bravo! Very well-written 'ible too. Thanks for sharing
7 years ago
woww, good job
plz send me file for cut,
tanx :)
ashkanamirkhani@gmail.com
7 years ago
Awesome work. I just wanted to let you know, when taking pics of glass or acrylic using a black and white setting for the camera usually works best.
7 years ago on Introduction
cant you design a rounded triangle. He took the time. Where we admire his/ her genius. Great stuff
8 years ago on Introduction
Beautiful !!!
Can you please send me the CorelDRAW files to
morsyco@gmail.com
8 years ago on Introduction
Beautiful !!!
Can you please send me the CorelDRAW files to Morsyco@gmail.com
8 years ago
this is amazing!!!! greatest idea EVER!!! im going to try and make it. can you please send the file if you wouldnt mind to michael.filardi@gmail.com
thank you and great job..
8 years ago on Introduction
Verry nice! If is possible, can you please send me the Corel Draw files to
laser@artemineira.com. Aprecciate!
8 years ago on Introduction
Beautiful !!!
Can you please send me the CorelDRAW files to
profi5000@gmail.com
9 years ago on Introduction
Nice work!
Can you please send me the CorelDRAW files to
horvath.bence.96@hotmail.com
Thanks in advance!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Can you also email it to yami@eliyam.com
8 years ago on Introduction
How big, on average were the petals?
9 years ago on Introduction
Hello, thanks for the great instructable, i think i'm going to attempt this for my wife for valentines day this year, one question, how big did you make your rose petals? did you vary their size much?
Regards,
Jordan
9 years ago on Introduction
Wow this is really amazing! I'd love to attempt to do something like this. (though it definitely wont look as good) Could you send me the corel files?? ngarthright@hotmail.com
Tank You!
9 years ago on Introduction
I absolutely commend you for this Instructable and the beauty of the piece. Gorgeous.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Thank you very much.
9 years ago on Step 11
Nice work!
Thanks for taking the time to post it.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Thank you.