Modern education systems are becoming more hands-on and interactive with the addition of technology like laser cutters. Such technology helps students understand the production systems for custom projects and invigorates their creative minds. However, since it is still a relatively new technology, many schools aren’t sure how to justify buying such an expensive machine.

There are plenty of things laser cutters can help students learn, from essential computer skills and vector art designing to more hands-on skills in material inspection. Such activity can develop their creativity and make learning a more engaging task.

Laser cutters are incredibly adaptive, too, and it’s easy to use and maintain. This article will give you a brief overview of how laser cutting is revolutionizing education. We will also answer some fundamental questions about laser cutters and clarify common misconceptions people have about the technology. You can then decide if it’s worth it for your school.

A Brief Look Into Modern Laser Cutters

Laser cutters work by shining a laser through a very narrow loop. That concentrates the beam into a fine point. The narrow beam of highly focused laser then burns through the material it comes into contact with and separates it from the adjacent material. That’s basically the fundamental operating structure of laser cutters.

You’ll mostly come across diode and CO2 lasers in the consumer market. The CO2 laser uses a Glass tube to energize CO2 particles to create the laser, while the Diode laser comes straight from the Photon emission inside the Diodes.

Operating the CO2 laser is more expensive because it uses much more electricity than the Diode laser. But it is also more powerful. But in most cases, a Diode laser is more than enough for educational purposes.

That is unless you’re using the laser for a more demanding class like woodworking or metalworking. In such cases, cheap diode lasers might not cut it, and you’ll need to get a fiber diode laser or a CO2 laser instead.

How Laser Cutters Fit Into The Modern Education Structure

Laser cutters can be a great help in the STEM courses. Specific marketing and custom crafts classes can also use the technology with excellent efficiency. Art classes can benefit, too, due to laser engraving. But the most impactful effect will appear in the architectural design classes, as you can see in this video.

In fact, a decade or so ago, laser cutters were already used in high-end universities like MIT. Computer science and engineering students could use the facility to make necessary project parts. Back then, laser-cutting technology was not as readily available. And they had to hire a full-time technician to maintain and operate the machine.

These days, laser cutters are cheaper and far easier to operate. With proper instructions, even a middle schooler can handle it with complete safety. As such, it’s entirely practical to include these in schools as teaching tools. 

Laser cutters are highly versatile. As such, you can use them in a variety of courses. Woodworking, arts, and fashion courses are just some popular examples. You can also use these to craft custom awards for school events, which would be hard to source otherwise.

What Are the Applications of Laser Cutter in an Education Setting

Now that you understand the general idea of laser cutters, let’s talk about some specific examples of things you can do with the technology:

1. Scaled-Down Architectural Models

STEM-focused classes often involve creating scaled-down versions of design models. It can be for architectural designs or artistic designs. You can create custom parts for virtually any building material and have a simple way of assembling them.

Working with such high-end technology will also increase the accuracy of the miniature model, allowing the students to understand the project much better.

2. Robotics

Robotics is one of the most comprehensive courses in STEM-focused education. One of the most significant issues in the robotics courses is the supply limitation for custom parts. Such issues hinder the development of many young minds. You can easily make custom parts for robotics projects and remedy that problem with laser cutting.

Laser cutters are essentially stationary robots in a sense. You’ll likely see robotic arms on the laser cutters for finer accuracy. For the students to acquaint themselves with such technology in the education sector will naturally help develop their creative mindset.

3. Woodworking

Woodworking classes can easily incorporate the help of laser cutters because of the engraving features. Learning to engrave with laser cutters is such a lifesaver that most professional woodworking shops use them. It only makes sense to introduce the technology to the students.

That said, cheaper laser cutters probably won’t be enough to cut through thick woods. At most, you’ll be able to cut through thin wood sheets. However, the engraving feature alone is enough to add a lot of utility to a woodworking workshop.

How Does it Compare to Other Creative Avenues?

The laser cutter isn’t the only new tool looking prospective for the education industry. Things like 3D printers are also potential contestants. Unlike laser cutters, 3D printers can create many intricate 3D objects.

However, laser cutters are much faster than 3D printers and can finish engraving designs on things in a matter of seconds. In contrast, a 3D printer can take hours to cough out a finished product. In the education sector, time constrictions are always present. So, using a laser printer is much better in most cases.

Laser cutters are also objectively better at working with flat objects like wood and acrylic sheets. They also use only a fraction of the energy of a standard 3D printer. 3D printers also have a much higher operational cost due to the filament you’ll need to buy for every project. Laser cutters can work with existing materials.

Conclusion

The applications of laser cutting technology are endless. And it keeps evolving with each passing day. The cheap entry and operational costs of commercial laser cutters make it a highly lucrative option for educational institutions.

With its prominent impact in STEM and creative courses, it’s easy to see how laser cutting is revolutionizing education. As always, if you need more assistance related to laser cutters, feel free to contact us.