The Eyeglasses Stand
Learn about a laser cut eyeglasses stand made by Nova at Maker Works, from start to finish
Getting Started: What to Make?
The full model!
For Nova, making has always been a creative outlet. When she was tasked with creating an instructional video for her videography class, she saw it as an opportunity to highlight a process she was already familiar with—laser cutting! That’s when she turned to Maker Works. She had taken the Inkscape and laser cutter classes months before, and she was ready to teach her college classmates the ways of the laser (through a short & simplified 3-minute video).
She decided to go with something requiring minimal assembly and possessing lots of customization potential. How about… an eyeglasses stand that would serve both as a functional item and home décor.
Her first steps involved using Inkscape, a vector graphics software, to create the digital design. She gathered inspiration from online cat silhouettes and used a photo of her cat as the main reference.
The Project: Challenges, Solutions, and Success
Almost first try…
Did her file succeed first try? No, definitely not. It took sending 8 different attempts to the laser before everything worked as it should.
The last file finally worked: the right lines cut, the right lines engraved, and the kerf (for pieces to slot together) fit perfectly.
How did she make it happen? Well, the settings were simple, since she was using 1/8” baltic birch (a very popular material at the shop). Many before her had used it, which meant she could trust their preset settings.
Putting in settings for baltic birch plywood
Watching the laser cut all the pieces
Fresh off the laser! But no colors…
Though it looked great coming off of the laser, Nova knew that nobody would be able to recognize it as her cat without colors. She chose a brand of paint pens called Posca markers, which are known for their rich pigmentation on all sorts of materials.
Momo making sure Nova gets his features right. No freckles forgotten!
The final stand!
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
Nova was a newer staff member at Maker Works when she made this project! Don’t hesitate to ask her questions about the laser cutters, the ShopBot CNC router, and any 2D illustration software. She’s working on improving her CAD skills so that the next project won’t have to be 2D. What might it be…?
Ingredients
1/8” baltic birch, purchased from Maker Works
Posca markers
Super glue
