Equipment/HPC LS3060 Laser Cutter: Difference between revisions

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|category=Equipment <!-- Main category. Please leave alone to keep item in this category -->
|category=Equipment <!-- Main category. Please leave alone to keep item in this category -->
|subcat=CNC <!-- Sub-category if one exists. Please check main listing to see other categories contained within the main one -->
|subcat=CNC <!-- Sub-category if one exists. Please check main listing to see other categories contained within the main one -->
|status=Out of order
|status=Good working order
|consumables=Unknown <!-- Any items used up in normal operation, such as; ink, paper, saw-blades, cutting disks, oil, etc.. -->
|consumables=Unknown <!-- Any items used up in normal operation, such as; ink, paper, saw-blades, cutting disks, oil, etc.. -->
|accessories=Coolbot <!-- Any items associated with the equipment but not consumable, such as; drill bits, safety gloves, goggles, etc.. -->
|accessories=Coolbot <!-- Any items associated with the equipment but not consumable, such as; drill bits, safety gloves, goggles, etc.. -->

Revision as of 11:02, 1 May 2014

Laser cutter
Laser-cutter-installed.jpg
Model HPC LS3060
Sub-category CNC
Status Good working order
Consumables Unknown
Accessories Coolbot
Training requirement Yes
Training link Training Roster
ACnode No
Owner LHS
Origin Pledge
Location Ground floor, main room
Maintainers Solexious, Oni
Please don't use the laser cutter unless you have been trained.

We have a HPC LS3060 laser engraver and cutter, with a cutting area of 300mm x 560mm. Trained members can use it for the very reasonable rate of £5 per hour.

Laser-cut-key-rings.jpg


Training

You must not use the laser cutter without being trained. The laser cutter is unlikely to hurt you, but you can easily hurt it without training. Training is given most Wednesdays or Thursdays at around 8pm, is free to attend and available to all but your place needs to be pre-booked. Space is strictly limited per session so you need to reserve a spot on the Training Roster when a session is available - watch the Mailing List for announcements. Reserving a spot is on a first come, first serve with priority given to members basis, so you'll need to be quick. If you can't attend your training session please remove your name from the roster and inform the Mailing List, this will save wasting people's time and can allow a last minute replacement to take your slot.

A good way to get notified of new training sessions is to go to the roster page, add it to your wiki page Watch list, and modify your wiki account preferences so that you receive emails when pages you Watch get modified.

Feel free to ask for help on the Mailing List, but please read the FAQ first

Costs

  • Training - Free
  • Usage - £5/hour
  • Consumables - Bring your own and/or use what is in the off cuts bin, but always ensure (rather than assume) it's laser safe.

Safety information

  • Don't touch the cooling system without asking first: overheating or rapid cooling can damage the laser.
  • Never leave the laser cutter unattended while cutting: your material may ignite, and an unchecked fire in the laser cutter could be both dangerous and costly. We've also seen mirrors go out of alignment and cut into the cables.
  • In case of fire: use the CO2 extinguisher by the laser cutter first. Do not use the powder extinguisher unless you feel that you can't control the fire. Put it in the logbook and tell the Mailing List: tiny flames while cutting are normal; anything more must be reported.
  • Never cut PVC or chlorinated plastic: you should always know what material you are cutting, and chlorinated plastics should be avoided because they release chlorine gas when cut. Guidelines for how to test materials.
  • You can't cut metal in the laser cutter: if you wish to mark the metal, please use Thermark / Cermark, or use anodised aluminium.

Using the laser cutter

  1. Make sure you're familiar with the operating instructions.
  2. Look up the parameters for the material you're using.
  3. Use the LHS Laser Cutter Checklist to ensure that you don't forget anything important as you cut.
  4. Log your use to help with the upkeep of the lasercutter. (Records can be viewed here.)
  5. Pay for your usage - the cost is £5 per hour, which is just enough to cover our maintenance costs.

Trainers and maintainers

If you have questions or problems with the laser cutter, please speak to one of these people:

Resources

Consumables

  • Plastic Online
  • HPC sheet products - Laser ply, perspex, engraving laminate - where we purchased the cutter.
  • The Plastics Shop - mattp purchased the plastic for the first batch of Hackspace key rings from here.
  • Hamar Acrylic Cuts to size, and is ~10mins walk from the space. Order at the desk and it should be cut to size within minutes.
    • Price guide 320x600x4mm (laser bed size) clear acrylic = £8 + VAT (=£9.60).
  • Acrylic-Online - Elliot has bought some Palglas from here. They cut to size - delivery £8.00. Price guide (incl. VAT):
    • 320x600x4mm (laser bed size) clear acrylic (Palglas) = £5.12
  • Hobart Laserables - wide range of materials: MDF, Birch, Acrylic (clear and coloured), Rubber, Laminates, Anodised metal. Prices seem competitive. Nigle has ordered from here. Shipping is £12.
  • Fred Aldous – online craft supplies, free delivery on orders > £30. Polypropylene sheets amongst other things. Alex P has ordered from here.
  • 4D ModelShop is not too far from the space, and is open Saturdays. They offer laser cutting too, and hence seem to have a lot of suitable materials.
  • Blueprint Modelshop There's a commercial laser cutter service 10 mins from the space, DIY service is £30/h (as of 2013). You can buy acrylic there, but it's coated with horrible sticky paper rather than easy-to-peal plastic. Beware.

Manuals

More information

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