Understand the assignment requirements:

• Your box must have a way of closing and opening. This could be a lid or a sliding door.


• You must add your initials to a part of the box.


• Your box must include parametric kerfing.

Time to design your box.

1. Head to this generator to create your box. It's important to note that a few key constraints when designing your box. You will be allowed to use one sheet of birch plywood that is 19 inches wide and 12 inches tall. This plywood is aproximately 3.12mm to 3.50mm in thickness. For my own box, I used 3.12 and had a very tricky time when it came to fitting the slots together. I chose to cut it close because I didn't want to use glue to hold it together. This is up to you and I generally recommend coming in, using digital calibers and measuring your sheet thickness on your own. Wood is natural and certainly varies in thickness from sheet to sheet.


2. Once you feel good about the design you have generated save it as an svg. and open it in Illustrator as an svg.


3. In Illustrator, add your initials and make sure to convert these to outlines (right click on the text and click Create Oultine).

If you're curious about how parametric kerfing was created check out Aaron Porterfield's site. There are also lots of other generators designed for laser cutting. Check out Maker Design Lab and Template Maker for more.

Once you are ready to cut, reserve your time and head to the lab!

1. On the desktop Mac to the left of the laser cutter, make sure you are on Person One. Once on that profile, go to app.glowforge.com


2. Import your svg.


3. Find your wood. It should be in the bottom right drawer of the white Husky cabinet the laser cutter is sitting on.


4. Make sure the QR code is reading and that the material registers as Maple Plywood.


5. Make sure the air filter is on. If it is not you will likely start a fire.


6. Stay on the white platform the entire time and watch your cut carefully.