A laser cutter was bought by TCS in July and is located in the Fab Lab in the elementary school where students and teachers are learning how to use it.

The cutter uses a high powered laser to cut multiple shapes from materials like cardboard, plastic or metals. The technology is very simple to use and teachers want to teach the 4th grade students how to manipulate it.

“The robotics team is the one that uses it the most. I am planning some projects with the 4th grade students, art teachers and with other technology teachers,” Hector Londoño, Technology Coach, said.

The machine is generally used by the robotics team to create pieces that need specific measurements. It has also been used to manufacture the cardboard visual displays for TOM currently on display in the High School coliseum.  

“When we put an image in the program the laser cutter will cut multiple times the same piece of any material you like,”Pedro Hurtado, 11 grade student, said.

The laser cutter was purchased to facilitate student creativity and to encourage involvement in the schools robotics team and TOM. Using the cutter is not very hard and  students have already made multiple things.

“The very first thing the robotics team made was to carve on a piece of cardboard FRC that is the robotics competition initial and the number of our team 7403.” Hurtado, said.

The teachers and students have created stuff but mostly they have experimented with the cutter. They have used the designs that the printer prints just to watch it functioning.

“I have not created a lot of things we have just cut things, engraved somethings, and have used design that are already there or used some things created by the students.” Londoño, said.

Students are making designs in technology classes to insert in the laser cutter and see their design come true. The students plug a usb and select the file, after that they watch their design be created.

“Just pass a usb with anything from photoshop, illustrator and those things and connect the usb and select the file, it is really easy and fun.” Hurtado, said.

The robotics team is excited about the cutter because they can cut out pieces they need in less time and have precise measurements because the machine is faster and more accurate.  

“I will print things that are useful to the school and also things that I like.” Gabriel Bernard, 8th Grader, said.