Project description and overview:

Traditionally, laser cutting equipment used in schools is large, expensive, and requires operation by trained personnel. Hazards, including ocular injury, toxic particles and fire, all add complexity to the use of laser cutting equipment in a classroom environment. Maintenance costs combined with these hazards have resulted in the under-use of laser cutting equipment in primary and secondary education. 

The demand for laser cutting machines is growing in tandem with the increased use of automation and digitalisation in manufacturing facilities around the world. The computer-driven laser machines cut parts and patterns with superior speed, precision, consistency, and reliability.

This project will develop the world’s first classroom-ready, student-friendly, affordable ($3,500) desktop laser cutting device, complete with STEM education materials for easy integration into primary and secondary curricula. The Emblaser3 will be a safe, affordable, low-maintenance, easy-to-use laser cutter, manufactured in Australia for a global market and is expected to significantly displace imported alternatives in the Australian education and small office/home office (SOHO) market sectors. 

The Emblaser3 will be designed for portability and hands-on use in the classroom by students and teachers alike. The solution will include a number of unique features relating to safety, maintenance and ease of use that will make it a leader amongst devices competing in the target market segments. 

The solution will consolidate five years of research and development, lessons learned from two prior product releases (including the successful Emblaser 2 desktop laser), and collaboration with the education sector to manufacture a globally competitive product.

The solution will also expand the use of solid-state laser technology, which Darkly Labs has pioneered, and which forms the backbone of their technologies and IP. This technology provides superior reliability, efficiency and safety over traditional and inefficient systems that use CO2 technology for laser cutting and engraving.