Laser Your Leftovers!

Here's how to recycle your food and create edible art!
After a catered TechShop event, I was inspired by the uneaten crackers, cookies, brownies, vegetables etc. 
Here's how you can do the same!

Only use what you have!

And most importantly: Don't rule out a particular food because you think it won't work!

I used these platters of catered food:

and some inspiration from Makezine: http://blog.makezine.com/2007/08/30/how-to-laser-cut-and-cook/

The lasercutter is super simple to use. I learned by taking TechShop's Laser Cutter SBU! 
The machine I used is an Epilog Helix 45W CO2 Laser which can cut designs up to 24"x18".

Here's a link to all of TechShop's classes: http://www.techshop.ws/take_classes.html?storeId=4

Important things to consider with leftovers:

1. Place your food on a plate or piece of paper

2. Consider DPI, speed, and pressure carefully! I played around with it to get the right setting.
(for cheddar cheese I based by settings off of laser-etched chocolate: 300DPI, 30% power, 100% speed)

3. Scale of your image- make sure to adjust your print settings when you switch food!

4. Alignment so your graphic fits nicely

5. Timing and refrigeration...because nobody likes expired, inedible leftovers

...with a post-work snack!

Happy Lasercutting...



-eef