This project is fairly simple, consisting of only three steps.
The first is to engrave the inlay area in the frame. Secondly, cut the acrylic inlay. And the final step is putting the two together. The result is a very contemporary and sophisticated-looking photo frame containing bright mirrored acrylics that pair nicely with the more traditional wood material.
Let's start with the frame first. Open the file that matches the size of your photo (3" x 5" or 4" x 6") and send it to the laser. Put the frame face up in the engraver and manually focus it.
Once you've focused the machine, you're ready for the first part of the project. Determine the speed and power settings for the job. We engraved the inlay portion using 20 percent speed and 100 percent power.
We'll be doing a relatively deep engraving to ensure the acrylic will fit, so make sure to select "Bottom-Up" engraving to reduce wood residue. Use rubbing alcohol to wipe away any remaining residue from the frame after it is done being cut and engraved.
You'll see the engraved area comes out relatively dark because we're running at a low speed and high power. This won't be a problem because the acrylic inlay will be applied and will cover the dark wood.
Photo frame after inlay area has been engraved
Now it's time to cut the acrylic. We want a smooth finished edge on our cuts, so we'll utilize the Vector Pin Table. Insert the table in the upper right corner of the machine and then place the acrylic mirror-side-down on top of the pins. Select your frame size and send the job to the laser. We used the following settings to cut our acrylic: 15/100/5000.
Pin Table placed inside machine
Acrylic sheet on top of Vector Pin Table
When you're done cutting the acrylic inlay, simply insert it in the engraved area of the frame. Use Gorilla Glue to adhere the acrylic to the frame if necessary. Wipe down the frame to removed any residue or finger prints and you're done. Insert your favorite picture and enjoy this colorful project!
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