A laser cutter can cut many different materials, including wood, plastic, paper, and metal.

The primary benefit of using a laser cutter over other cutting tools is that it creates clean, precise cuts with minimal effort. This can be particularly helpful when cutting intricate shapes.

Laser cutters usually have a bed with a size and shape optimized for cutting. The bed is typically made of acrylic or Plexiglas. It has a platform on which the material to be cut rests.

A laser beam projects from underneath the platform, cutting through the material as it moves across it. The distance across the platform is larger than the beam, and therefore the cutting process can be repeated in a loop. If a cut is desired, it is made on the opposite side of the platform from where the laser beam is passing. The laser cutter then moves perpendicularly to start another cut on that side. This provides a way for complex shapes with many cuts to be made without the need for multiple passes with a saw.