How to Make a Laser Cut Night Light – DIY Guide

Image banner

If you’ve ever admired those glowing acrylic signs or custom night lamps, here’s some good news—you can make one yourself! Creating a laser cut night light is a simple, fun project that combines creativity, design, and technology.

Using a CO₂ laser engraver like the OneLaser XRF, you can transform a plain acrylic sheet into a stunning personalized night light. Whether you want to make one as a thoughtful gift, a home décor piece, or a product to sell, this guide walks you through every step—from preparing materials to engraving, cutting, and final assembly.

1. What You’ll Need

Before getting started, gather the materials and tools below. Each plays a crucial role in ensuring your laser cut acrylic night light turns out clear, precise, and beautiful.

2. Step-by-Step: How to Make a Laser Cut Night Light

Let’s go through the process step-by-step so you can achieve professional-quality results.

Step 1: Prepare and Place the Acrylic Sheet

Start by placing your 3mm acrylic sheet onto the work area of your OneLaser XRF.
Ensure the protective film (if any) is still on one side to prevent scratches during setup.

Use small magnets or bed clamps to secure the acrylic in place. Proper positioning is key for straight, clean cuts and consistent engraving depth.

Step 2: Add the Design File to LightBurn

Next, open LightBurn software on your computer and import your laser cut night light file (DXF or SVG).

You can use a pre-made design or create your own from scratch—such as:

• Your favorite quote
• Cartoon character
• Pet silhouette
• Personalized name or couple design

Once the design is imported:

• Adjust its dimensions to fit your LED wood base slot (usually 4–6mm wide).
• Make sure all engraving areas are filled (for text or logos) and that the cut outline is properly closed.
• Assign separate layers in LightBurn for engraving and cutting to manage settings easily.

You’re now ready to set up the engraving and cutting parameters.

Step 3: Engraving and Cutting Setup

Now comes the fun part—engraving your design into the acrylic.

Before running the job, enable the OneLaser XRF’s auto-focus function. This ensures the laser beam is perfectly focused for both engraving clarity and cutting precision.

Engraving Settings

For text, patterns, or graphics:

• Speed: 200
• Max Power: 20%
• Min Power: 10%

This setting gently removes the acrylic surface, creating a frosted, detailed effect without melting the material.

Cutting Settings

For the outer shape and base slot:

• Speed: 5
• Max Power: 99%
• Min Power: 99%

This slow, high-power pass ensures clean cuts all the way through 3mm acrylic.

Enable air assist to minimize flame marks and keep the edges clear and polished.

Step 4: Cleaning and Assembly

Once the engraving and cutting are done, it’s time to assemble your laser cut night light.

1. Clean the Acrylic

Carefully remove the acrylic piece from the machine and peel off any protective film.
Use a microfiber cloth or lens wipe to clean off any dust, soot, or residue. Avoid using harsh chemicals like alcohol or acetone—they can fog or crack acrylic.

2. Assemble the Night Light

Insert the bottom edge of the acrylic into the USB wood lampholder with LED base.

Make sure it fits snugly—most bases have a small slot that perfectly aligns with a 3mm sheet.

Plug in the USB cable and turn on the light.

You’ll see your engraved design glow beautifully, especially in darker rooms!

3. Why Use the OneLaser XRF for Acrylic Projects?

The OneLaser XRF isn’t just another CO₂ laser machine—it’s built for precision, clarity, and ease of use. For acrylic engraving and cutting, it delivers consistent, professional results every time.

For anyone making laser cut night lights, the OneLaser XRF’s fine beam control and consistent performance are game changers—especially when engraving intricate details like text or logos.

Discover the OneLaser XRF!

4. Creative Design Ideas for Laser Cut Night Lights

Once you master the basics, the design possibilities are endless. Here are some popular ideas to spark your creativity:

1. Name Lights: Create custom name night lights for kids’ bedrooms. Add stars, moons, or cartoon characters around the name.
2. Couple or Wedding Designs: Engrave couple names with heart motifs or dates—perfect for anniversary gifts.
3. Pet Portrait Lights: Convert a photo of your pet into a line drawing and engrave it on acrylic.
4. Inspirational Quotes: Short phrases like “Dream Big” or “Good Night” look amazing in frosted acrylic.
5. 3D Layered Lights: Stack two or more acrylic layers at different engraving depths for a dimensional effect.
6. Seasonal or Holiday Themes: Create Christmas, Halloween, or Valentine’s Day lights to sell seasonally.
7. Business Logos: Make glowing signage for small shops, coffee bars, or reception desks.

Each design type can be personalized and saved as a laser cut night light file, ready to engrave anytime.

Discover Our Pinterest Ideas

5. Tips for Best Results

To achieve clean, professional-looking results, keep these tips in mind:

1. Keep the acrylic surface clean before engraving—dust can scatter the laser beam.
2. Engrave on the back side of the acrylic for a smoother front finish (mirror your design first).
3. Avoid overlapping vector lines in your design file to prevent overburning.
4. Use masking tape on the acrylic surface if you want to minimize smoke marks.
5. Store acrylic in a dry, cool place to prevent warping before use.
6. Test your settings on scrap material before doing the final piece.
7. Use the right color LED base—white or warm light enhances engraving contrast best.

6. Understanding Laser Engraving on Acrylic

When engraving acrylic, the laser doesn’t just “burn” the material—it vaporizes a fine layer, leaving a frosted mark that diffuses light beautifully.

That’s why clear cast acrylic is preferred—it produces sharp, bright lines that glow evenly when lit. The OneLaser XRF’s RF tube excels here, offering pinpoint control for crisp edges without melting or blurring.

By adjusting speed and power settings, you can control engraving depth:

• High speed, low power: Light, frosty surface effect
• Low speed, medium power: Deeper engraving for more pronounced glow

Experimenting with these settings helps you customize brightness and visual depth for your projects.

7. Choosing the Right LED Base

Your USB wood lampholder is just as important as the design itself.

Here’s what to look for when choosing one:

If you plan to sell your lights, wooden LED bases add a handmade, rustic appeal—perfect for Etsy or gift shops.

8. FAQs

a. What type of acrylic works best for laser cut night lights?

Use cast acrylic (not extruded). It engraves cleanly with a frosty white effect that glows beautifully under LED light.

b. Can I use colored acrylic instead of clear?

Yes, but the light diffusion will differ. Clear acrylic glows the brightest, while tinted ones create colored lighting effects.

c. Where can I find laser cut night light files?

You can download free or paid DXF/SVG files from design marketplaces or create your own using LightBurn or Illustrator.

d. How do I prevent burn marks on acrylic?

Enable air assist, keep the lens clean, and use masking tape on the surface to reduce smoke stains.

e. Can I engrave photos on acrylic night lights?

Absolutely! With the OneLaser XRF’s 2000 DPI resolution, you can engrave photo-realistic images directly onto acrylic.

Have Questions? Join Our Forum!

Final Thoughts

Making a laser cut night light is one of the most rewarding beginner-friendly laser projects. It’s quick, affordable, and allows for limitless creativity—from family gifts to custom business signage.

With the OneLaser XRF, you get:

• Accurate auto-focus for crisp engraving,
• Smooth edge cutting even on intricate shapes, and
• Long-lasting quality supported by U.S. R&D and a 3-year warranty.

Whether you’re exploring how to make laser cut night lights for fun or profit, this project proves that with the right tools and ideas, anyone can create professional results from home.