How to Make a Floral Clock With Laser Cutter

Acrylic can do more than you think—today, it will bloom into a flower-shaped clock. With each petal precisely cut and polished by the Thunder Bolt laser, the pieces come together to frame a quiet, steady heartbeat of time. This tutorial takes you through the making process step by step, so you can create a bright, cheerful clock that brings a little bloom to your wall, desk, or any corner that needs it.

Machine Used

Thunder Bolt 30W

Material Needed

3mm Acrylic

Settings

1. Laser Cutting
2. Air Aissist:High
3. Speed:15mm/s
4. Max Power:45%
5. Min Power:45%
6. Passes:1

Peel off the protective film from the acrylic sheet first to prevent burn marks during cutting. Then place the sheet flat on the work bed and secure it with pins or magnets to keep it steady.

Tips:

1. There are three common types of pins: T-shaped, L-shaped, and F-shaped. A special use for F-shaped pins is clamping up the plywood to prevent burn marks. When using pins or magnets, pay attention to their height. If they’re too tall, the machine’s sensor or laser head could collide with them and cause damage.

Import your file into the laser software (e.g., LaserMaker) and adjust the size and position to match your acrylic sheet. Double-check everything, and decide if you want to add or subtract elements according to your preferences. Ensure that the parameters are set correctly to achieve the ideal laser cutting results.

For the laser cutting layers, pay extra attention to the minimum power setting. If the min power is too low, it will cause the cutting corners will not cut through; if the min power is too high, the laser cutting will be bad at the corners.

Accurate focusing is essential for smooth, clean cuts on acrylic. In my workshop, I use the Thunder Bolt laser, which provides two ways to focus the beam. For flat acrylic sheets, I usually rely on auto focus—a simple click adjusts the laser head to the optimal distance. When I work with slightly warped or uneven materials, I switch to manual focus. Using a focus stick, I lower or raise the laser head until the stick stands perfectly vertical against the acrylic surface, which indicates the correct focal distance.

Tip: Even a slight warp in your acrylic is best handled with manual focus to ensure precise, polished edges.

When we click the “Frame” , we can see red light show the outline of cutting area. It’s safe, and the frame will be on the surface of the acrylic. Once it isn’t, move your acrylic or design until they are at a proper position.

Once everything is adjusted, simply hit ‘Start’ to begin laser cutting the acrylic with the Thunder Bolt.

Keeping an eye on the machine allows you to spot unusual conditions—such as error alarms, smoke build-up, or unexpected pauses—before they become problems.

While observing, remember that the laser beam is extremely powerful. Even with the protective lid closed, avoid staring directly at the marking spot for too long. A quick glance to check progress is fine, but prolonged gazing should be avoided for safety reasons.

Carefully align all the laser-cut acrylic pieces according to the design, ensuring each part fits snugly into place. Apply acrylic glue or use connectors if needed, and hold the pieces firmly until they are secured. Take your time with this step—proper alignment is key to achieving a clean and professional-looking structure.

Attach the clock movement to the center, insert the hands, and set the time. Give the surface a gentle wipe to remove any fingerprints or dust. Now your floral acrylic clock is ready to brighten up your space.

Take a step back and admire your work. Your acrylic floral clock is complete. Hang it on the wall or place it where it can catch the light, and enjoy the moment your idea became something real.