Creative laser cutting

creative laser cutting is the process of using a laser cutter to build provocative and innovative pieces, ranging from sculptures to professional work material. The difference between creative and industrial manufacture laser cutting techniques resides in aesthetics, purpose and emotion. In other words, creative laser cutting is meant to stir the senses and invite to look at typical objects under a new light. This is not to say that industrial pieces can't be aesthetically pleasing, but if they were, they would fall under a different category altogether.
One characteristic that industrial and artistic laser cutting do share, aside from the machines themselves, is their material palette. Most laser cutters rely on heat to burn, melt or vaporize the material away. Low wattage machines will usually not be able to handle cutting metals or stone. For such a purpose, higher output machines are needed.
Laser cutting must not be confused with laser engraving, for they are essentially two different machines. An engraver can simply score the material, but cannot cut through it. A laser cutter can cut and also engrave, as long as the settings are input correctly.
History
Creative laser cutting was born mainly in the architecture realm. Important architecture firms like Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and Office for Metropolitan Architecture have been known to use laser cutting techniques since the mid 1980's, mostly for model making. Afterwards, with computer design and digital architecture spilling over from the animation and special effects world, designs started moving in a new direction. Laser cutters are being used to bring these complex and streamlined computer models to life.
Using programs such as Rhinoceros 3D, Autodesk Maya and AutoCAD, the flood gates have opened up to new and exciting possibilities. The laser cutter no longer has to be a constrained to buildings and industrial manufacture, it can grow in new directions such as art, lighting design, interior design, just to name a few.

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