Mentoring Workshop: Laser Engraving & Cutting

Hands-on laser projects for gifts, signs, and entrepreneurial ideas

Host: Community Mentor, Mike Hinkle

Overview

Curious what our laser can really do? This mentoring workshop offers a guided, hands-on introduction to laser engraving and cutting through real project work that’s approachable for beginners and still interesting for seasoned tinkerers.

Mike will walk the group through engraving a starter item and then designing and cutting a simple project. If you’re thinking about custom gifts, ornaments, signs, or labels for the holidays, this is a great chance to test your ideas with support and encouragement.

These workshops are open to Monumental Impact members and to Tri-Lakes community members who want to explore what our makerspace offers. If you simply want to observe and learn, the session is free. If you’d like to make a project you can take home, bring your material and make a minimum $20 contribution to help maintain our equipment and space.

What We’ll Do

• Cover the basics of using the laser engraver safely and effectively

• Engrave a starter item together as a group

• Design and cut a simple laser project

• Explore ideas for personal or gift projects you’d like to try

• Discuss file types, materials, and settings for successful laser work

As a group, we’ll complete one or two simple laser projects during the workshop. These finished pieces may be used by our Entrepreneurship Program members to support their product offerings, or they can be a personal take-home project for the participant who contributed—depending on the nature of the item and the group’s goals that session.

Who Should Attend

• Current Monumental Impact members looking to build laser skills

• Tri-Lakes community members curious about our makerspace

• Makers, small business owners, parents, students, and retirees

• No prior experience needed

What to Bring

• Any gift or project ideas you want to explore

• A notebook or laptop for notes and design tweaks

• Optional: a small item you’re curious about engraving (we’ll confirm if it’s laser-safe)

Workshop Series

This session is the first of four weekly workshops leading up to winter break. Each week builds on hands-on practice, but you’re welcome to attend even if you can’t make every session.

About the Mentor – Mike Hinkle

Mike is one of Monumental Impact’s most active community makers and mentors, with deep experience in robotics, fabrication, and practical problem solving. He’s known for helping people turn “I’ve never tried this before…” into “Look what I made!”

Space is limited to keep the mentoring hands-on and personal.