A3 Plywood Signage
£18 to £32
Simple cuts and engraving on stock ply, depending on artwork and cut time.
Email artworkLaser Cutting In A Workshop
Supervised cutting, self-run time and useful file advice in Plymouth.
Does01
What The Machine Will Do
The laser will cut, engrave, score, mark, batch nest and prototype. It suits signage, architectural model sheets, control panels, wedding stationery, plywood jigs, theatre props, rubber stamps, templates, small packaging trials and neat one-off parts that are too fiddly to cut by hand.
Dare To Make It is not a send-and-forget bureau. Pete checks if the sheet is flat, if the parts are too close together, if the engraved text will fill with smoke staining, and if the job wants a tiny tab so fifty pieces do not drop into the bed one after another.
Materials02
Materials Ledger
| Material | Comfortable Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Birch ply | Up to 6 mm | Clean, strong, good for jigs, signs and model parts |
| Poplar ply | Up to 6 mm | Lighter and softer, useful for models and props |
| MDF | Up to 3 mm | Good for templates, smokier edge |
| Acrylic | Up to 6 mm | Clear, opal and colours subject to stock |
| Card and paper | By test | Invitations, packaging trials, stencils |
| Leather | By test | Vegetable-tanned only, bring a sample |
| Rubber stamp sheet | By grade | Engraving and cutting by quote |
They will not laser PVC, vinyl, unknown plastics, fibreglass, carbon fibre sheet or anything that gives off unsafe fumes. If you do not know what the plastic is, it does not go in the laser.
Files03
File Preparation
- Send SVG, DXF, PDF or AI files at real size, with one drawing per sheet where possible.
- Use separate line colours for cut, score and engrave, and include a note saying what each colour means.
- Leave enough material between parts for the kerf and for the sheet to stay stable. Tiny bridges can be added if needed.
- Name files with material, thickness, quantity and version, such as ply-3mm-tags-v04.svg.
- Include one known dimension in the email so scale can be checked before money is spent.
File repair, drawing-up and nesting is £38 per hour and is normally quoted in 30 minute blocks. They can redraw sketches, but they do not promise engineering tolerance from a photograph.
Costs04
Pricing And Time Examples
Most laser cutting jobs are 2 to 4 working days once the file is approved. Same-day cutting is sometimes possible before noon with a £20 rush fee.
Supervised laser cutting is £42 per hour including operator time, with a 1 hour minimum, then 15 minute blocks at £10.50.
50 Acrylic Tokens
£38 to £55
Nested acrylic with repeated cut lines, usually best supplied as a clean vector sheet.
Ask for a batch priceArchitectural Model Sheet
£42 per supervised hour
Plus material. Good files save money, messy layers burn time before cutting starts.
Check lead timeRules05
Induction And Self-Run Rules
The laser induction is £35 per person and usually takes 75 minutes. After that, self-run laser time is £24 per hour, with a 1 hour minimum and 30 minute booking blocks. You keep an eye on the machine at all times. No unattended cuts, no mystery material, no leaving the room because the first pass looked fine.
Laser Questions
FAQ
Will there be scorch marks?
Often, yes, especially on ply and MDF. Masking, settings and material choice reduce it. Sometimes the warm edge is part of the look.
How accurate is laser cutting?
It is good for clean craft, model and panel work, but kerf, material warp and heat matter. If a part must fit a bearing, say so before cutting.
Can I bring my own material?
Usually, if it is known, flat, safe and suitable. Unknown plastic is refused.
Is there a minimum charge?
Yes. Supervised and self-run laser bookings have a 1 hour minimum.
Do you do student jobs?
Yes. Send the file early, include your deadline, and do not leave the final model until the day before review.