About

The Laser Cutters in the Technology Lab are only available to current students, faculty, and staff in the School of Architecture community. Use of the laser cutters requires certification and a current Digital Fabrication Subscription. The Technology Lab has five Epilog Fusion Pro Laser Cutters with a cutting bed size of 48" x 36". Details about the material types, along with directions on how to become certified and subscribed, and reserving time are listed below.

Material Vendors

• Please keep in mind with the vendors listed below that the individual items you purchase must still be on the Approved Materials List and labeled as such along with MSDS
• Something on the Prohibited Materials List purchased from one of these vendors is still prohibited
• Unverifiable items from the Material Exchange won't be approved to laser cut, even if it appears that the material was previously laser cut

*Student discount available.

**MUST have no added formaldehyde (NAUF) (look for soy-based glue)

FAQ

• Can I cut without making a reservation?

  • No, you can make a reservation at the Tech Desk if you didn't create one ahead of time

  • Walk-ins must create a reservation on the WebCheckOut portal first

  • You must finish cutting before the next reservation begins

• Can I sign up for back-to-back timeslots?

  • We only allow 90 minutes of reserved laser cutter time per day

  • If you need longer, schedule your cuts over multiple days

  • Signing up for more than 90 minutes per day counts as a policy offense

• Can I pick which laser cutter I want to reserve?

  • No – the system does not allow you to request a particular machine

  • The reservation types match you to the correct laser cutter ventilation system for your materials

• But Laser Cutter #X doesn’t work well!

  • If you are having problems with the performance of one of the laser cutters, please let the Tech Desk Staff know immediately so that we can address the problem

  • You must perform a materials test each time you cut
• Why can't I reserve a Laser Cutter from 11 AM to 12 PM on Tuesdays or Thursdays?
  • Our team meets from 11 AM to 12 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays
  • In the interest of safety, we lock the laser cutter rooms and don't schedule reservations during that time
• *What is the Greylist?
  • Being placed on the Greylist is a consequence of breaking Tech Lab rules as a first warning
  • Placement on the Greylist lasts indefinitely
• **What is the Blacklist?
  • Students on the Blacklist lose all privileges to the Tech Lab equipment
  • Being placed on the Blacklist is a consequence of either breaking Tech Lab rules while already on the Greylist or breaking a major rule
  • Students are either on the Blacklist for a two-week period or an entire semester
    • Following the suspension, students are placed back on the Greylist

Support

• Front-line support for Laser Cutting is currently provided by the Technology Desk
  • SUT 1.100
  • soatechdesk@utexas.edu
  • 512-471-1189
• Tier 2 support for Laser Cutting is currently provided by TRIG (Technology Resources and Innovation Group) 
  • trig@utexas.edu
  • SUT 1.120

Documentation