Stencil Making

Designing for laser cutters with web-based software

In this tutorial we will be creating a Stencil using web-based vector software that will run on Chromebooks. Through this process you will learn:

How to setup a work space in “vectr“
To create a stencil by arranging basics shapes and text in vectr
Export designs compatible with Epilog Zing laser cutters

VECTR

Step 1: On your computer go to https://vectr.com and create an account if you do not already have one. I suggest signing up with your google account. Having a user account will allow you to save your design as you go.

Step 2: Click on “File Settings” in the top right and choose a file name, save it, and change your units to “Inches (in)”.

Step 3: Click the “Pages” Tab on the top left and go to the bottom where it says “Page Settings”. Change the width to “24in”; uncheck the box in the middle, and change the height to “12in”.

Congratulations! You now have setup you VECTR work space.

Stencil Design

Step 1: Create a rectangle the size of the stencil you want to make. *Note: Any larger than 24in by 12in won’t fit on the laser cutter.

Step 2: Make a design to be cutout by the laser cutter. For this I imported and arranged a few Text boxes on to the rectangle previously made.

Step 3: Move your stencil to the top left of your work space making it simper to align to your material.

Export 4 Laser

Step 1: Select your entire design and group it together. (ctrl+G)

Step 2: With your design selected go to the right side of the screen check the box under and to the right of the “Border” tab.

Step 3: Uncheck the box under and to the right of the “Background” tab.

Step 4: Click the text box under the Border tab and type “0.001” in to the box.

Step 5: Click the color box under the Border Tab and type into the text box “#ff0000”

Your design in now ready to be exported for a laser cutter.

Step 6: Click the “Export” tab in the top right and choose “page”, “svg”, “24in”, “12in”, and click “DOWNLOAD”. This will download your design as a .svg file that can be sent to your lab technician to print on the laser cutter.