Okay, so far we’ve used modern 3D printing technology to create some amazing models for the best playroom we’ll ever build. Okay, that’s nothing difficult in itself, all you need is 3D printers like the Creality K1C or the Uniformation GKTwo
We made some really cool things.
Melting plastic and curing resin is cool and all, but what’s cooler? Lasers, that’s what. Laser cutters have really come down in price, and while they may never be quite as popular as 3D printers since they’re more of a niche product, it also gives us the perfect opportunity to make some things that are literally nothing offer gaming friends will ever have.
The possibility of selling these objects also opens up, but that is a story for another day.
The two trees TTS20 Pro
The Two Trees TTS-20 Pro 20W Laser Engraving Machine is our laser weapon of choice for this function because it packs a powerful punch, can cut almost any standard material you throw at it, and is super easy to set up and get started – an integral part of everything we’ve used in this series so far.
It may be a laser and a little more difficult to use, but the results you can achieve with the TTS-20 are remarkably good.
Similar to using a slicer program to prepare your 3D printed designs, laser cutters require software that can accommodate your designs and map the path of the laser as well as the power you need to either cut, engrave, or simply cut the desired material decorate, record can use.
We’re not talking Death Star laser levels here, just enough levels to cut a perfect representation into a piece of wood or acrylic. Speaking of cutting acrylic, we’ll be using this super small machine in an upcoming feature where we’ll be creating some very cool add-ons for our sim cockpit – keep an eye out for it.
Here we use a program called LightBurn. While most 3D printer slicer software packages are free, LightBurn costs £59. However, there is a 30-day free trial so you can check if it does everything you need – it will. There are free options, but none offer the ease of use or as many features as LightBurn, so we’ll stick with it – just remember to consider the potential cost if you decide to give this a try.
Setting up the TTS20 Pro
In many ways, there are many similarities between laser cutters and 3D printers. They use a similar type of code, many of the same parts like stepper motors and extrusion rails, and they have the same DIY feel that 3D printers had until recently, when Bambu Labs, QidiTech and Creality started producing more consumer products. opposing products.
Laser cutters are currently in a situation where they are great for hobbyists and designers, but if your parents bought one, you know that you would receive regular calls for help.
Fortunately, when you unpack the machine, it turns out that no major construction work is required. The frame comes fully assembled and all you have to do is assemble the control box and the laser head. After making sure your wiring is clean and tidy, you can connect the USB port to your PC and add it as a new laser in LightBurn.
One of the great things about the Pro is that it comes with both Air Assist (a small compressor that blows away laser residue) and a Honeycomb, which usually costs extra. The honeycomb is the work surface where you place your material and attach it to your table, protecting your furniture from the laser.
It’s a decent size at 419mm x 419mm (we set it a mm or two shorter in LightBurn for safety reasons) – that’s a larger working area than many 3D printers, to give you an example of the size here.
The TTS-20 Pro connects to LightBurn out of the box and after doing some strength testing on balsa wood, it felt like it was time to start cutting some of the things we wanted to do. It was clear from the start that the 20W laser provided here was both fast and powerful and would likely complete our upcoming work in no time. Let’s start.
Make playroom objects with the TTS-20 Pro
First, we wanted to put our drinks down so we didn’t have to worry about coffee spilling all over our desk pad.
We wanted to create an appropriately retro feel and found these laser cut floppy coasters on Thingiverse that look great. We imported the SVG file into LightBurn, sent the job to the TTS-20, and put it into serious use for the first time.
The result was amazing, much better than we expected, with minimal adjustments, and we soon had a set of six brand new gaming coasters that would be the envy of all our retro gaming friends.
The TTS-20 Pro effortlessly etched the design into the wood we used and cut it out perfectly. We could have used acrylic here for a more realistic look.
The other thing we tried is definitely on trend, but we wanted to see how the machine would handle acrylic and we also wanted a Fallout keychain!
We uploaded this Vaultboy design to LightBurn and a few minutes later he was in our hands.
You can of course scale this up and backlight it to make a cool LED project for your game room wall.
Laser cutting with the TTS-20 Pro
Make no mistake, this is a good machine to do what we want it to do. It’s not too big to be unwieldy and requires remarkably little setup to produce good results that simply aren’t possible with a 3D printer.
As mentioned, we will be using it again to help build a simulation cockpit and etch flight panels in the future once we get a little more used to it.
You must always be aware that lasers can be dangerous and you should never look at them while they are working. As long as there is a guard on site, just use common sense. Also, keep in mind that like any laser cutter, it produces smoke and fumes that you don’t want in your lungs. Therefore, good ventilation and a mask are required at all times.
Yes, LightBurn is another piece of software to learn, but it works hand in hand with this awesome little laser cutter and you’ll soon be making playroom items you never thought possible.
If you are interested in purchasing a TTS-20 Pro, you can visit the Two Trees website where it is currently on sale at the time of writing this article.