Crafting miniature tabletop terrain with a laser cutter!

In this video, I'll be crafting tabletop terrain using a new machine, the Creality Falcon2 22W laser engraver. I'm excited about the possibilites that this unlocks, such as rapid prototyping and mass production. Watch me take one of my designs created in Adobe Illustrator and use the Falcon2 to create a piece of terrain out of XPS foam.
Download Terrain Templates:
okayhobbytime....
Follow me on Instagram:
/ okayhobbytime
--
Falcon2 22W Laser Engraver:
Official Store Link: store.creality...
Code: Falcon50 (Expires March 31st 2023)
Amazon Store Link: www.amazon.ca/...
Page coupon: $150 off
Code: AAKK82W5 (Expires April 15th 2023)
--
Amazon affiliate links:
The following links are amazon affiliate links. The channel earns a commission on them at no extra cost to you.
Foam Cutting / Tools:
Handheld Foam Cutter: amzn.to/3HTRqx9
Proxxon Hot Wire Table: amzn.to/3cyaB0Q
Exacto Knife: amzn.to/3CGw2rh
Olfa Utility Knife: amzn.to/3FBoAzl
Corrugation Tool: amzn.to/3zvUvQ4
Paint:
Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint: amzn.to/3DHEiZc
FolkArt Acrylic Paint: amzn.to/3DIfZdA
Glue:
Quick-Dry Wood Glue: amzn.to/3zxGO33
Paint brushes for terrain:
Makeup Brushes: amzn.to/3qXpy4Z
Paint brushes for miniatures:
Raphael Kolinsky Sable, size 0: amzn.to/3cCboOo
Raphael Kolinsky Sable, size 1: amzn.to/3cAR4Nj
Raphael Kolinsky Sable, size 2: amzn.to/3nD99Aw
Lighting:
BenQ eReading LED Desk Lamp: amzn.to/3C3ghNV
Recording Gear:
Sony ZV-1: amzn.to/3l0n95T
Sony ZV-1 Extra Batteries: amzn.to/3cCd8qU
Joby GorillaPod: amzn.to/3nDtB4o
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3oNNYv7

[@gameyybuilds]

Great video. What's impressive to me is that, having watched your previous videos, I know that you are fully capable of building this exact piece of terrain completely by hand, but adding the laser cutter to your toolbox means that you can free yourself up from the more labor-intensive aspects of a project. You're working smarter, and that can only mean bigger, better, and cooler things in the future. Keep it up!

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Thank you! And yes, I agree. The option to build much bigger is now available knowing that I can speed up some of the slower steeps. I'll think of something interesting to build...

[@CampaignTerrain]

Been cutting XPS, with my laser, as well. You ain't kidding, about "game changer". Very cool, getting to see your project

[@OkayHobbyTime]

That's awesome. I think this will be great for those certain pieces I constantly find myself making. Thanks for watching!

[@alexandermumm3922]

I haven't seen much on this, would it work for like textures and such too in the foam? Wondering if it may be worth the investment.

[@alexcobarrubio6992]

Where do you get your foam? Do you have any good Amazon or other links for the foam? Thanks!!

[@CampaignTerrain]

I get teal stuff (Kingspan) from Lowe's. I used to get pink stuff (Owens-Corning) from Home Depot, but I don't like the company, so I don't go there, anymore. Skipping all that drama, I point out, here, in the US, almost all hardware stores will carry XPS, in some form; they keep it in the insulation area, generally near lumber. I have also had some luck finding offcuts in construction site dumpsters. If you've got a friend who works in construction, who can tell you when the insulation guys are working on a project, even better

[@DagBateway]

Amazing work! May I suggest adding Mod Podge to the black base coat? It adds strength to the entire building.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Thanks Alberto! I used to add it, but found it wasn't really necessary. Depending on your playgroup, it might be a good idea though.

[@CoffeeStained]

I just bought the Falcon 2 Pro which has an enclosure and an exhaust system, it’s awesome. One thing to note that is, while these machines can do a significant amount of labour for you, you need to stay in the same room as them while they are working. Even after you have your settings dialled in, they are easily capable of creating fires. They do have fire recognition systems built in, but extinguishing a fire is up to you.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

This is great advice. I'm fine with leaving 3D printers on their own but I always keep on eye on a laser cutter.

[@JM-qz4ik]

Jealous of your setup 😁 what an amazing piece, great work flow, and creative approach. Nicely done!!

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙌

[@ducomaritiem7160]

What about the fumes, finedust, laser reflection to your eyes...?

[@OkayHobbyTime]

I didn't find any issues with those, at least with my usage. The types of cuts I did only lasted a few seconds each. That being said, I still set up the engraver by my balcony and had my door wide open for ventilation.

[@_caith]

Oh no T.T just bought the template for my lasercutter... didnt see that the improvements made in this video arent included. rip.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Hey! Shoot me a message to the email under the about section. I'll see what I can do to help.

[@dawnlowry3279]

do you templates for sale on your site include the flow and wall files and roof etc? which one should i buy to mimic this? Thank you

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Hi there, this particular build isn't available as a template. The closest thing I have would be the small medieval house.

[@Dsisiv]

Have you had a chance to cut thicker pieces? Say 1”?

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Not yet. But I've seen videos of the machine cutting 0.6" wood. So 1" foam shouldn't be an issue. I'd like to try it, though.

[@Dsisiv]

@@OkayHobbyTime You're the best! I was seriously thinking of getting one and you may have pushed me over the edge.

[@DarrenMalin]

I have a old Chinese K40 las cutter , great tool

[@OkayHobbyTime]

I was researching K40's before getting this one. The seem to be quite popular! Although a little bit more DIY than these newer types of laser cutters.

[@OldManRogers]

I've got one in the post and I was wondering how it would work on XPS foam.... *excellent*

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Works great with xps foam! The energy needed is significantly less compared to other denser materials.

[@OldManRogers]

@@OkayHobbyTime I have a proxxon but fine details are difficult to make look professional/repeatable. I have a tonne of XPS I managed to source for terrain building as I love making scenery so having another tool to cut foam would be great :D

[@forouza1]

Please come back. Love your videos. Your explanations are fantastic. One of the best crafting channels in my subs.

[@luigiguardascione8730]

how much tolerance you have with depth? Given the heigth map, can it carve more intricare textures?

[@OkayHobbyTime]

I haven’t played with too many different depths yet. But I do know it can get quite detailed. I printed a really intricate gothic window and it came out no problem.

[@CoffeeStained]

@@luigiguardascione8730 The Falcon is not really built for cutting to depth, but does have the ability to modulate laser power with a gray-scale image with Lightburn settings. However, the effect with a material as reactive as foam would not likely be easy to achieve with an acceptable end product. As well, to create an textural effect with a 22W laser would probably take much longer than with a CNC router or traditional tools.

[@boritroll6423]

Where are you? D:

[@OkayHobbyTime]

I'm back 😀

[@makeCNCWorkshops]

is it safe to cut XPS like this on a laser with no ventilation as in your video?

[@OkayHobbyTime]

I felt comfortable with the setup. I had my nearby balcony door open while operating, but even without that it still would have been fine with the type of cutting I was doing. There was much less, if at all, smoke and odour compared to a hot wire table that is regularly used with XPS. For thicker material and/or slower cutting I would consider an enclosure or relocating.

[@makeCNCWorkshops]

that's great news ! i can't wait to try it out with my Xtool D1@@OkayHobbyTime

[@whjvandijk]

Great content! Where did you find those awesome looking cabines / paint storage. It exactly what im looking for!

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Thank you! And storage is from a company called hobbyzone.pl

[@thewatchers1909]

Hey man! Your work is fantastic! I got myself the falcon 22 as well and was wondering,what settings do you recommend for xps foam? Planning to use the laser as a quicker way to make brick walls and cobblestone. Any tips are greatly appreciated 😅

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Nice! It's a great machine. The cuts in the video were done on 3mm foam. I found with the laser at full strength, setting the speed to 10,000mm/m gave me a good result. This would need to be adjusted if cutting out something thicker. There's a bit of trial and error, but once you find a good setting make sure to record the info for next time. Good luck!

[@matteocopelli7017]

I just got a laser cutter as a gift and I’m eager to give it a try engraving xps too! Curious to know what kind of ventilation/air circulation you’re using with your setup and if you’re aware of any health tips you can share.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Nice! They're a bunch of fun. My engraver is currently positioned by a window that I'll open when the machine's in operation. If I was to start cutting for longer durations (thicker material, etc) then I'd look into getting an enclosure. But right now it's all been really quick jobs on thinner material. Diode lasers are generally cleaner than their C02 counterpart.

[@zachchenoweth6622]

Okay... you've sold me. I didn't think we could use foam with these lasers.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

It was a fun realization for me as well! It's great being able to integrate this into an existing crafting process rather than using all new materials.

[@stonelion99]

Why do you not use mod podge mixed with black paint on your foam builds? Not hating, just curious. For me, this step feels necessary if it's going to be used on the table.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

I used to. But then I realized it wasn't necessary for my terrain. These pieces don't get handled roughly. I agree that it'd be helpful if you're unsure of the playgroup.

[@dungeonlair]

Wow, that's impressive what that laser can do. I'm surprised it just doesn't melt the foam.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

It was a bunch of fun using this machine. And as long as the laser power is tuned correctly, it cut perfectly.

[@Randavian]

Great video and Great Idea. Does your template have the files to use on our laser cutter? (the wood grain lines and window lines).

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Thank you! I haven't made this template available yet. It might be something I decide to upload in the future, though. It'd have to be a working Illustrator file rather than my usual PDFs.

[@xx_VP_xx]

I have a quick question if you see this. Where did you get the hot wire table sled? Looks laser cut is it DIY?

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Hey there! It's from a company called Shifting Lands

[@SchmuckMartin]

I was so excited that this was going to be your continuation of your last video. I want to see you finish your mordheim set. Oh well. Good video but I doubt I'll ever get a laser cutter. Thanks again for sharing.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

It's in the works! That one is going to be a lot of work so it'll take a bit longer. Stay tuned.

[@DrewByDesign]

Holy S#!t! I also use Illustrator on the daily and am looking to do stuff like this. Incredible!

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Thanks! And yeah, knowing Illustrator is probably the biggest learning curve when designing stuff to be laser cut. Super helpful if you already know it.

[@pagagaming8656]

Awesome vid, I’ve been thinking of investing in a laser cutter next year. Building looks great

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Thank you! And it's definitely a fun tool to have if the budget allows for it.

[@bradcraig6676]

I did not realize you could work XPS with a laser cutter, a game changed indeed.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

I didn't think so either. I'm so used to seeing other materials used with laser cutters. Really glad to find out it works perfectly with XPS.

[@chasonlapointe]

Great build, I've been wanting to get a laser for a while but market is so congested that I get overwhelmed in the research stage.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

I don't have much experience with other models, but this one seems really good. If I had to think of one thing that could be improved, it'd be including a little touchscreen for file selection.

[@williamgreen8095]

Do you plan to sell these or other laser files? Would love to buy some templates!

[@OkayHobbyTime]

I've had thoughts of doing so. Most likely using MDF rather than foam for added durability. I'll make sure to put out an announcement if this ends up happening!

[@christophercassidy-schroed9169]

I just bought a laser cutter myself. Didn't know it could cut XPS. Seems legit.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Nice! I was happy to find out it does XPS no problem.

[@christophercassidy-schroed9169]

@Okay Hobby Time sweet, I'll have to try it. Any tips on speed and power? Obviously I'll have to run tests however a starting point would be great

[@MurderHoboRPG]

it cuts foam? Is it safe to shoot lasers at foam? fume wise?

[@OkayHobbyTime]

It cuts foam surprisingly well as long as it's dialed to the right settings. I also noticed way less fumes compared to my hot wire table. Not that this is replacing that, they're 2 completely different tools.

[@bolicob]

Neat

[@summonlessermaker]

Dang this is a cool cheat code.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Haha yes, it's a bunch of fun.

[@stevensherrell637]

Hey can I ask what miniature is used at the end please ?

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Sure, it's a 3D print by Titanforge Miniatures. From their Titans of Adventure line.

[@stevensherrell637]

@@OkayHobbyTime thank you sir 👍

[@jordand1554]

I’ve been cutting exclusively with lasers for years. It’s the only way to go. Cool video!

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Haha. Glad to hear that, Jordan!

[@craven99]

Great to see this type of technology add to your build process. Love your style

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@MVeminor7]

I like your informative content. Between resin printers and laser cutting I'm getting mildly discouraged by the 'new' wave of modeling. I'm old school, hands on and scratch builds are my bread and butter. Again Thank you for sharing your interests and products for hobbying. Very informative content. See you again friend.

[@OkayHobbyTime]

Thanks Michael! And I wouldn't get discouraged-it's nice to have these tools and they're a bunch of fun, but they're not necessary to enjoy the hobby. I'm going to release a series of videos that leave out all the bigger tools. A bit more relatable for those interested in following along.

[@MVeminor7]

@@OkayHobbyTime Thanks