Bureaucrats, checkuser, Administrators
1,264
edits
Laser Cutter/Instructions: Difference between revisions
From London Hackspace Wiki
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
These instructions are intended as a companion to [[Workshops#Regular_Hackspace_workshops|laser cutter safety training]] - not a replacement. | These instructions are intended as a companion to [[Workshops#Regular_Hackspace_workshops|laser cutter safety training]] - not a replacement. | ||
Refresher instructions found at [[Equipment/LaserCutter/Refresher]] | Refresher instructions found at [[Equipment/LaserCutter/Refresher]] | ||
==Powering on== | |||
# Insert key and turn - the PC is turned on using the 'sleep' button on the keyboard. | # Insert key and turn - the PC is turned on using the 'sleep' button on the keyboard. | ||
# '''Always''' perform the following pre-checks: | # '''Always''' perform the following pre-checks: | ||
| Line 13: | Line 12: | ||
#* If the water temperature is outside the acceptable operating range (22 ± 3 °C) then wait for the water to cool before using the cutter. | #* If the water temperature is outside the acceptable operating range (22 ± 3 °C) then wait for the water to cool before using the cutter. | ||
==Preparing your design== | |||
* Produce your design. There are various options for doing this | * Produce your design. There are various options for doing this | ||
** [[Equipment/LaserCutter/QCad|QCad]] - a good low cost choice | ** [[Equipment/LaserCutter/QCad|QCad]] - a good low cost choice | ||
| Line 47: | Line 46: | ||
[[File:Laser-Cutter-Screen-Cut-options.png|center|clicking on the layer]] | [[File:Laser-Cutter-Screen-Cut-options.png|center|clicking on the layer]] | ||
==Engraving== | |||
** Try to align the bulk of the engraving with the short axis (y), the laser cutter seems to do passes in this direction only so if you have it aligned to the long (x) axis it will do many short passes rather than fewer longer ones, this can '''massively''' increase engraving time (minutes -> hours) | ** Try to align the bulk of the engraving with the short axis (y), the laser cutter seems to do passes in this direction only so if you have it aligned to the long (x) axis it will do many short passes rather than fewer longer ones, this can '''massively''' increase engraving time (minutes -> hours) | ||
** Rather than slow down/increase power there is a setting to repeat a layer multiple times, this is very useful if using the engrave option to reach a certain depth. | ** Rather than slow down/increase power there is a setting to repeat a layer multiple times, this is very useful if using the engrave option to reach a certain depth. | ||
| Line 53: | Line 52: | ||
* '''Note''' if something hasn't cut/engraved to the complete depth (or you just want to run it again) it is possible to select which layers are 'output' by scrolling to the right in the layers box, this is very useful for an extra layer of engraving or to confirm a full cut. DON'T move the sheet before doing this. | * '''Note''' if something hasn't cut/engraved to the complete depth (or you just want to run it again) it is possible to select which layers are 'output' by scrolling to the right in the layers box, this is very useful for an extra layer of engraving or to confirm a full cut. DON'T move the sheet before doing this. | ||
==Uploading your data file== | |||
* Upload the file to the design and settings to the laser cutter hardware as follows: | * Upload the file to the design and settings to the laser cutter hardware as follows: | ||
** Select the 'Download' button | ** Select the 'Download' button | ||
| Line 61: | Line 60: | ||
** You should hear the laser cutter machine beep. | ** You should hear the laser cutter machine beep. | ||
==Positioning your material== | |||
* '''Caution:''' Know your material - be absolutely certain that your material is safe to use in the laser cutter. If in doubt - ask. For unidentified plastics try [http://www.nycresistor.com/2008/08/28/how-to-identify-polymers-with-burnination/ this test method]. | * '''Caution:''' Know your material - be absolutely certain that your material is safe to use in the laser cutter. If in doubt - ask. For unidentified plastics try [http://www.nycresistor.com/2008/08/28/how-to-identify-polymers-with-burnination/ this test method]. | ||
* '''Caution:''' There are a number of electrically live areas inside the cabinet towards the back. Be very careful when reaching around at the back as you may get a shock. | * '''Caution:''' There are a number of electrically live areas inside the cabinet towards the back. Be very careful when reaching around at the back as you may get a shock. | ||
===Knowing the correct Z-Axis position=== | |||
The bed height must be adjusted to the thickness of your material so as to ensure the focus point of the beam is in the optimal position for your task. The focus point of the beam corresponds with the bottom edge of the ruler that is attached to the back of the cutting area. So: | The bed height must be adjusted to the thickness of your material so as to ensure the focus point of the beam is in the optimal position for your task. The focus point of the beam corresponds with the bottom edge of the ruler that is attached to the back of the cutting area. So: | ||
* For cutting materials <=8mm, the bed height should be aligned to the focus point, making the bottom of your material the focus point of the laser (i.e. the top of the cutting bed should line up with the bottom of the ruler). | * For cutting materials <=8mm, the bed height should be aligned to the focus point, making the bottom of your material the focus point of the laser (i.e. the top of the cutting bed should line up with the bottom of the ruler). | ||
| Line 72: | Line 71: | ||
* There is no instance in which the bed height should ever be set to be higher than the bottom edge of the ruler / focus point. | * There is no instance in which the bed height should ever be set to be higher than the bottom edge of the ruler / focus point. | ||
===Setting the Z-Axis=== | |||
There are two methods for setting the Z-Axis: | There are two methods for setting the Z-Axis: | ||
| Line 85: | Line 84: | ||
#* The display should now show 'Z-Axis datum' and the bed will move to the 0 point. Now you use the up and down buttons to move the bed. | #* The display should now show 'Z-Axis datum' and the bed will move to the 0 point. Now you use the up and down buttons to move the bed. | ||
===Checking cutting boundaries=== | |||
To make sure that your design will be cut within the boundary of your material you can have the cutter mark out the bounding box with the red-dot pointer. Note that you must upload your design to the cutter before doing this. | To make sure that your design will be cut within the boundary of your material you can have the cutter mark out the bounding box with the red-dot pointer. Note that you must upload your design to the cutter before doing this. | ||
* Click the 'Run box' button in the laser cutter application | * Click the 'Run box' button in the laser cutter application | ||
| Line 91: | Line 90: | ||
* Observe the path of the red-dot pointer | * Observe the path of the red-dot pointer | ||
==Cutting== | |||
* '''Caution:''' Never leave the machine unattended. The laser cuts and engraves by burning the material so '''you must be present''' to deal with any fires should this process undesirably escalate. | * '''Caution:''' Never leave the machine unattended. The laser cuts and engraves by burning the material so '''you must be present''' to deal with any fires should this process undesirably escalate. | ||
* '''Caution:''' Know your material - be absolutely certain that your material is safe to use in the laser cutter. If in doubt - ask. For unidentified plastics try [http://www.nycresistor.com/2008/08/28/how-to-identify-polymers-with-burnination/ this test method]. | * '''Caution:''' Know your material - be absolutely certain that your material is safe to use in the laser cutter. If in doubt - ask. For unidentified plastics try [http://www.nycresistor.com/2008/08/28/how-to-identify-polymers-with-burnination/ this test method]. | ||
| Line 114: | Line 113: | ||
If you are unfamiliar with fire extinguishers - and why there are many type - then read the instructions on both the CO2 and the ABC extinguisher (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_extinguisher) as to understand the difference. | If you are unfamiliar with fire extinguishers - and why there are many type - then read the instructions on both the CO2 and the ABC extinguisher (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_extinguisher) as to understand the difference. | ||
==What to do with Scraps== | |||
You can either make some LaserCut Mechano with the scrap (files here: C:\Documents and Settings\Hackspace\My Documents\LaserCutMechano), put the scrap into the container on the right hand side of the lasercutter or, if the piece is too small to be useful, the 'landfill' bin in the workshop. | You can either make some LaserCut Mechano with the scrap (files here: C:\Documents and Settings\Hackspace\My Documents\LaserCutMechano), put the scrap into the container on the right hand side of the lasercutter or, if the piece is too small to be useful, the 'landfill' bin in the workshop. | ||
| Line 131: | Line 130: | ||
==Changing machine options== | ==Changing machine options== | ||
'''This is now passworded due to abuse, trustees and maintenance users know the code''' | |||
advanced use only! Please make sure current settings are backed up first. | |||
advanced use only! Please make sure current settings are backed up first | |||
Click File->Machine Options. This will show you a dialog like this: | Click File->Machine Options. This will show you a dialog like this: | ||
