With the approach of Halloween, people often create pumpkin lamps or skull lanterns for this special festival. Thanks to the development of modern laser engraving, we now have a much more capable tool for lamp making—perfect for any laser cut lamp or innovative laser engraving lamp designs.
In this blog, we will show you how to make a wooden pumpkin laser cut lamp via the EM-Smart desktop laser engraver, one of the best wood laser cutting machines for DIY enthusiasts.
Applications of Laser Cut Lamps
You may have seen laser cut lamps in your daily life. In other words, laser-engraved items and laser engraving lamp designs are much more popular than you might imagine. These DIY wood crafts combine art and technology, suitable for wood laser cutting projects or advanced lampworking creations.
1. Home Accents
This application is one of the most common uses for wood laser cutting or thin metal engraving. Laser users may create laser cut lamps as little night lights or cute home decorations. Many DIY projects for beginners start with wood laser cutting because it’s simple, fun, and rewarding.
(Image Credit: Pinterest)
2. Festive Ambiance
Some popular festivals like Christmas and Halloween inspire people to decorate their homes with lights, trees, and ornaments to create a festive atmosphere. With Halloween approaching, laser cut lamps shaped like pumpkins or skulls have become a trending topic. You can find plenty of laser engraving lamp designs for free download online, making DIY Halloween-themed projects both easy and creative.
3. Garden or Patio Lighting
Laser cut lamps are often made from wood, which is eco-friendly for the natural environment. Placing several of these DIY laser projects in your garden or yard can add warmth and charm to your outdoor space. This type of wood laser cutting project is perfect for autumn DIY projects or relaxing weekend DIY projects woodworking.
How to Make a Laser Cut Lamp
As long as you have a diode or CO₂ laser cutting machine, you can make such wooden laser lanterns with ease. Below are the detailed steps for this DIY laser cutting machine project.
1. Material Preparation
A capable tool is the best way to start any project. Here we use the EM-Smart Dual to make a laser cut lamp. With 20W fiber + diode dual laser sources, you can even cut thin metals as décor for your lamp if desired.
EM-Smart Dual -- 20W Fiber&Diode Dual Laser Engraver
EM-Smart Dual handles with 300+ materials with dual laser sources, achieves laser engraving, etching and cutting with ease.
Learn More >Materials: 10×10 cm wood board, color print, mini candle.
This laser DIY project can be done by beginners or professionals alike.
2. File Download
If you prefer to make laser cut lamp files on your own, LightBurn allows users to design patterns or import images for lampworking. You can also find many laser engraving lamp designs free download websites. When downloading, note that:
- The files include user licenses.
- Check if the design can be used commercially if you plan to sell.
- Do not resell the files for profit; respect the creator’s rights.
3. Parameter Settings
Laser cutting is not as hard as you might think. Slower speed and higher power often deliver better results. In this guide, we use a 20W laser engraver, so the parameters below are based on 20W laser output. Adjust settings according to your wood laser cutting machine specifications.
4. Making Laser Cut Lamp
The size of your lamp depends on your needs. You don’t have to engrave all the components at once. If your work area is around 150×150 mm, cut them one by one—just drag the pattern outside the work area.
Click for the light frame to ensure the cutting area, then start your laser cutting work.
Laser Cutting Tips:
- When using your laser engraver machine, always wear laser safety goggles and close the laser safety enclosure. Laser beams, especially diode lasers, are harmful to your eyes.
- A small flame during wood laser cutting is common—no need to stop your machine.
- There might be burn marks on the edges or surface; use alcohol or sandpaper to remove them.
5. After Laser Cutting
Ensure your machine stops working before opening the enclosure to view your final work. You can use colored prints to make your wooden lamps look more “pumpkin-like,” or try laser engraving pumpkin next time. Laser marks are permanent, but wooden materials may fade over time, so apply a protective solution for long-term preservation. These DIY projects for Halloween can also be adapted into DIY projects woodworking for any season.
6. Final Work
After all the laser cutting work, assemble your components. For a stronger build, use glue.
Or you can see our users make their laser cut lamps by their own in Instagram @peppers_shed.
Conclusion
Six steps to make an easy laser cut lamp—you can explore many other shapes of laser cut lamps based on this guide. Every craftsman has their own “secret weapon.” With the popularity of desktop laser engraver machines like EM-Smart, technology helps people work faster and better.
Whether it’s autumn DIY projects, DIY projects for beginners, or lampworking art, hope you’ll create more with EM-Smart desktop laser engraving machines.
