Summary
In this technology lesson, students will learn about the technical details behind laser cutters like Glowforge, xTool, or the Beamo. Students will develop safety rules, examine the inner workings of the machines, review the science of lasers, and make a tangram puzzle using a laser cutter. The lesson will end with students critiquing their classmates’ puzzles and reflecting on the creation process.
Essential Question(s)
How do laser cutters use light and technology to precisely cut and engrave materials? What factors influence their effectiveness and accuracy?
Snapshot
Engage
Students review prior knowledge and develop safety rules using the Partner Speaks strategy.
Explore
Students complete a Card Sort activity on the inner workings of a laser cutter at two different levels of complexity.
Explain
Students learn about the laser parameters and how that impacts the different cutting techniques and materials, then watch video examples of laser cutting.
Extend
Students draw tangram puzzles and scan them so teachers can create them using a laser cutter.
Evaluate
Students critique each others’ puzzles and reflect on the real-world applications of the process.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
Laser Cutter Diagram handout (attached; one per group)
Card Sort cards (attached; one set per group)
Tangram Frame handout (attached; one per group)
Safety Practices Teacher Guide (attached; one per teacher)
Electronic devices
Access to a laser cutter engraver
Laser cutter and materials
Pens/Pencils
Engage
25 Minute(s)
Use the attached Lesson Slides to facilitate the lesson. Have students get into partners, display slide 3, and introduce the Partner Speaks strategy. Explain that students will talk with their partner about what they know already about lasers. They should use their conversations to develop safety rules. Remind students that they need to listen closely as after the timer goes off they will summarize what answers their partner gave. Start the four minute timer and have students start their conversations. After two minutes announce that if students haven’t switched yet they should have the next person talk.
After the timer goes off, ask for at least three volunteers to share what they talked about. On your whiteboard or on a new Word Doc, write some of the rules students share. After you have all the rules written, as a class finalize which rules should be followed. Use the Safety Practices Teacher Guide as a supplemental resource to either check the rules created or to add more.
Transition through slides 4-5 and discuss the Lesson Objectives and Essential Questions in as much detail as you feel necessary.
Explore
25 Minute(s)
Transition to slide 6. Students will now complete a Card Sort involving the components of a laser cutter. First, pass out a set of the “Label Cards” and Laser Cutter Diagram handout one per group. Have them use these cards to label the components of a laser cutter on the diagram. Once students have completed labeling the diagram, check their work before moving on.
Next, transition to slide 7 and pass out the “Function Cards.” These cards describe what each component does in the laser cutter. Students should now match their label cards to the function cards for each component of the laser cutter.
Explain
20 Minute(s)
Navigate to slide 8. Go over the correct answers to the card sort as a class and ensure the students are on the same page about a laser cutter’s design and the major components.
Display slide 9. Discuss with students the acronym for laser. Light is a type of radiation and lasers amplify the light to produce high energy beams. Lasers have mirrors to amplify the light and lens to focus the beam.
Move to slide 10. Explain to students that different lasers are used for different things. The lasers are determined by different parameters. These parameters are power, wavelength, cutting speed, and pulse frequency. Discuss how the parameters impact the materials used and cuts that are made.
Display slide 11. Show students the time lapse video laser engraving and laser cutting.
Use slide 12 to explain the types of cutting that the lasers do. Each type is used for different types of materials and smoothness of the cuts. Define any unfamiliar terms such as sublimation: transition from solid to vapor and vapor: gas.
Navigate to slide 13 and tell students about the Law of Conservation of Matter and the Law of Conservation of Energy. Discuss with students how laser cutters might follow the laws.
Extend
40 Minute(s)
Move to slide 14 and tell students they will now design a tangram puzzle that will be printed with a laser printer. Explain that the puzzle will be contained within a 6x10 frame, use 5-7 shapes with at least three different ones, and that all spaces need to be filled. Pass out one copy per group of the Tangram Frame handout. Explain that they will work with a group drawing the puzzle first using the handout, then either submit their drawing to be scanned into the printer or transcribe it to a different program first (see TN: Alternative to Uploading Drawing).
Evaluate
15 Minute(s)
Ask students to set aside their materials and get out a sheet of notebook paper and a writing utensil. Display slide 16 and instruct them to place all of the group members’ names at the top of the paper. Using the Triangle-Square-Circle instructional strategy, ask students to answer the following questions:
For the triangle, think of three points (ideas, topics, etc.) that came up during this lesson that have direct real-world applications. How does one’s knowledge of laser cutters address these problems?
List four things that squared with your thinking, meaning you found them to be interesting or relatable.
Are there any questions about laser cutters still circling your mind? Record at least one here.
When the students have completed their answers, if time allows, have a few students share out. Afterward, have each group turn in their papers.
Resources
Complement woodworking with laser. (2021). Xtool.com. https://www.xtool.com/pages/woodworking
Glowforge. (n.d.). Bring your ideas to life. Glowforge. https://glowforge.com/discover/
Johnston, R. (n.d.). Laser Cutting Video [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFoRgz9tVsM
K20 Center. (n.d.). Card sort. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/147
K20 Center. (n.d.). Laser cutter engraver. Tech Tools. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/tech-tool/4451
K20 Center. (n.d.). Partner speaks. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/62
K20 Center. (n.d.). Triangle-square-circle. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/65
Laser cutting projects. (2017). Instructables. https://www.instructables.com/workshop/laser-cutting/projects/
Lee, C. (2024, October 10). What is laser cutting technology: Definition, process and how does a laser cutting machine work. ACCURL. https://www.accurl.com/blog/laser-cutting/
