Top 10 Creative Applications of Ortur Laser Engraving Machine
Hello everyone, I am Lin Xia, a freelance designer obsessed with handmade creations. After I accidentally came into contact with a laser engraving machine three years ago, my studio has completely turned into a "magic laboratory" - especially when I used Ortur's equipment, those wonderful ideas that could only stay on the drawings suddenly had the possibility of taking root. Today I will share with you my 10 favorite creative applications, which are all "practical tips" summed up after stepping on countless pits.
1.The beauty of nature: the artistic rebirth of leaf carving
Last fall, I picked up a complete maple leaf in the park, and suddenly I wondered if I could turn it into a work of art. Use Ortur's red light positioning function to accurately capture the direction of the leaf veins, adjust the power to 8% and the speed to 2000mm/min. The moment the laser scans, a translucent carving effect emerges on the leaf. Later, I used this technology to make a series of "leaf vein bookmarks", engraving gold-stamped poems in the gaps between the leaf veins, which became the most popular souvenirs in the studio.
Tips: Dry leaves need to be treated with a setting spray, and a layer of gauze can be used to prevent them from breaking when engraving. Metal leaves can be sprayed with matte black paint first, and then lightly brushed with a wire brush after engraving to create a retro oxidation effect.
2. Intangible Cultural Heritage Empowerment: Modern Deconstruction of Traditional Crafts
Last month, I took on a Mongolian headdress restoration project. The customer asked to reproduce a pair of silver ornaments from the Qing Dynasty. The traditional engraving process takes too long, so I used Ortur to scan the original to generate a 3D model, and reproduced the Huizi pattern and the curly grass pattern on a 0.5mm silver sheet with an accuracy of 0.01mm. When the master saw that the laser engraved parts fit perfectly with the manual parts, he said, "This machine is more stable than my apprentice's hands."
Advanced gameplay: To engrave dark patterns on the surface of rattan objects, first use sandpaper to polish the rattan to matte, with a power of 12% and a speed of 1500mm/min. The laser will leave a faint pattern in the fiber layer, showing a gradient effect under natural light.
3. Light and shadow magic: acrylic's multi-dimensional expression
Last Christmas, I used Ortur to make a "starry sky light box". The constellation map and frosted texture were engraved on the front and back of the 5mm acrylic board, and the warm light LED light strip was pasted on the back. When the light penetrated, the constellation seemed to be suspended in the nebula. Even better, by setting the "discrete effect" in the software, the laser will leave tiny pits on the surface of the board, forming a diffuse reflection halo.
Guide to avoiding pits: Transparent acrylic needs to be pasted with black masking paper first, and then torn off after engraving. The edge will naturally form a 0.2mm white edge, and the visual layering will be instantly improved.
4. Metal Fantasy: A leap from practical to art
When my friend opened a cafe, I used Ortur to engrave a cartoon pattern on a stainless steel coffee cup. First, cover the cup body with 3M masking tape, laser ablate the hollow pattern at 15% power, and then fill it with enamel glaze and fire it. The finished product retains both the metal texture and the warm luster of enamel. Later, this design was selected as one of the top ten creative ideas of the year in the "Craftsman Market".
Hidden tips: When engraving anodized aluminum, the power is controlled at 6%-8%. The laser will destroy the oxide layer to reveal the underlying metal, forming a natural two-color contrast effect.
5. Leather Whisper: Symbiosis of Texture and Function
Recently, I have been studying "smart leather goods". I embedded an NFC chip in the interlayer of a vegetable-tanned leather wallet and used Ortur to engrave an invisible sensing area at the chip position. By adjusting the laser depth, a micro-concave contact point is formed on the inner layer of the leather at 0.8mm, and the phone can read the preset information by touching it. This design won the Best Interaction Award at the "Maker Marathon".
Maintenance Tips: The engraved leather needs to be wiped repeatedly with mink oil. The fine cracks caused by the laser will absorb grease and form a unique old-fashioned effect.
6. Paper Art Revolution: Transformation from Flat to Three-Dimensional
During the epidemic, I was bored at home, so I used Ortur to make a paper sculpture lamp that "blooms". Carve a six-petal flower on 200g art paper, keep a 1mm connection point when cutting, and blow gently with a hot air blower after assembly, and the petals will curl naturally. What's more, a micro motor is embedded in the stamen position, and the petals can slowly open and close after power is turned on.
Material Easter Egg: Rice paper needs to be soaked in alum solution to enhance toughness. A 3mm cork board is used when carving. The power is 5% and the speed is 2500mm/min, which can achieve hair-level line carving.
7. Food Imprint: Edible Creative Expression
At my bestie's wedding, I used Ortur to carve the silhouette of the newlyweds on the fondant cake. A food-grade laser head was specially customized, and the power was controlled within 3%. The pattern was "drawn" on the surface of the frosting through focal plane adjustment, which not only maintained the fluffy feeling of the frosting, but also presented high-definition details. The video of this wedding cake has been played over a million times on the short video platform.
Safety tips: Before engraving food, you need to wipe the laser head with 75% alcohol. It is recommended to use a special food-grade protective lens to avoid material residue.
8. Environmental experiment: The gorgeous transformation of waste
Last year, I participated in the "Zero Waste Design Exhibition". I used Ortur to transform discarded CDs into "wave mirrors". Carving radial grooves on the back of the CD, with a laser power of 10% and a speed of 1800mm/min, will refract rainbow spots when exposed to sunlight. Even better, filling the grooves with recycled glass debris will show a fluorescent effect when exposed to ultraviolet light at night.
Extended application: Express cartons are cut into geometric modules, and the carved mortise and tenon structure is spliced into a bookshelf, which can bear up to 20kg. The surface is waterproof and moisture-proof after being brushed with transparent wood wax oil.
9. Educational inspiration: Creative classroom for parent-child interaction
In the science class at my daughter's school, I took Ortur to demonstrate "refraction of light". Using a laser to engrave a prism model on an acrylic board, the children observed how the light was decomposed into a colorful spectrum by rotating the engraving pieces at different angles. Later, this teaching aid was purchased by the school and became a fixed item in the STEM course.
Teaching skills: When carving animal skeleton models, it is recommended to use 0.5mm basswood boards, and carve different bone structures in layers. After assembly, they can be disassembled for learning.
10. Business code: the leap from handmade to brand
Last year, I opened a "laser customization" store on Taobao. The most popular is the "time capsule" series. Customers provide old photos, and I use Ortur to engrave grayscale images on 0.3mm stainless steel sheets and encapsulate them in crystal glue. A customer customized a portrait of a deceased pet and said after receiving the goods that "it seems to touch its hair again."
Operation experience: For corporate customers, "blind box engraving" can be provided-engrave a hidden QR code inside the packaging box, and scan the code to watch the product story video. This design has increased the repurchase rate by 40%.
Written in the end: The temperature of the tool lies in the creativity of people
Someone asked me if using machines to do handwork will lose the "soul of handwork." I pointed to the scarred Ortur in the studio and smiled: Look, there are scorch marks on its shell from my first engraving, stickers drawn by my daughter are on the operating screen, and even the power cord is rewoven with leather cord. For me, the real soul is not the tool itself, but how we use it to convey emotions and create value.
