Laser Cutter: Difference between revisions

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== Safety ==
== Safety ==
== Good things to know ==
* [https://www.xometry.com/resources/sheet/types-of-laser-cutters/|Types of Lasers]
** CO2 Laser
** Fiber Laser
** Direct Diode Laser
* [https://www.xtool.com/blogs/xtool-academy/raster-vs-vector-engraving|Vector vs Raster] - [https://www.xtool.com/blogs/xtool-academy/raster-vs-vector-engraving|Movement examples]
** Vector is primarily used for cutting a material but can be used for engraving outlines
*** SVG
*** Some PDFs
** Raster is used for engraving
*** jpg/jpeg
*** Some PDFs


== Starting the Laser ==
== Starting the Laser ==

Revision as of 16:49, 5 April 2024

Welcome To Unallocated Space's Laser Cutter Wiki Page!

Laser Information

Model: Full Spectrum Laser Muse Laser Tube Power: 45 Watt CO2 Laser Tube Working Area: 20" x 12"

Web Interface: https://laser.uas.run

Getting Started

DOs and DO NOTs

  • DO - Check That The Mens Bathroom Fan Is ON
  • DO NOT - Attempt To Lift The Lid While The Laser Is Cutting
  • DO - Focus The Laser With The Puck To The Material You're Cutting/Engraving
  • DO NOT - Cut/Engrave Materials Listed Under The "Prohibited Materials" List

Safety

Good things to know

  • of Lasers
    • CO2 Laser
    • Fiber Laser
    • Direct Diode Laser
  • vs Raster - examples
    • Vector is primarily used for cutting a material but can be used for engraving outlines
      • SVG
      • Some PDFs
    • Raster is used for engraving
      • jpg/jpeg
      • Some PDFs

Starting the Laser

Materials

For detailed material cautions and settings, please check HERE

Good Materials to Use

  • Wood (up to 1/4")
    • Basswood
    • Balsa
    • Birch
  • Acrylic
 * Make sure it is not polycarbonate/Lexan
  • Paper
  • Cork
  • Glass (for etching)
  • Leather (Authentic only)

Prohibited Materials

  • PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride)/vinyl/pleather/artificial leather
  • Thick ( >1mm ) Polycarbonate/Lexan
  • ABS
  • HDPE/milk bottle plastic
  • PolyStyrene Foam
  • PolyPropylene Foam
  • Epoxy
  • Fiberglass
  • Coated Carbon Fiber
  • Any foodstuff

Rotary

= Jellys Lessons learned

  • Always run a perimeter before cutting
  • Do move the laser "up and down" before every print to verify that the laser is aligned to the center of your material.
  • Enable rotary in web UI by going to Settings and something in the second tab. The UI on the engraver doesn't alwatys work.
  • Do always align your material with the buck. Also check the level of your item. You always want to cut at a consistent level. ESPECIALLY important when working on glasses that are inherently uneven.
  • It doesn't matter where you place your stencil/image/shapes in the laser engraver software. The SIZE is what matters.

= How to use?

1) Remove existing bed. Insert some wood about 4 inches thick

2) Insert rotary and connect 4 pin molex like connector

3) Switch Muse to rotary mode in web ui

4) Place material to cut on rotary. Modify the 12 knobs such that your material is consistently level.

5) Cry on the inside and outside because it's really hard to do all of this manually.

6) Use the left <-> right move buttons we typically use to move the laser, to now rotate your material.

  • Watch the back of your material to make sure it doesn't "lift up" (super important with lighter materials).

7) Place laser over center of material, or wherever you intent to center your cut.

8) Calibrate laser height with puck.

9) Place images/shapes in the UI. 10) VERIFY that the orientation of the material is consistent with the orientation of the rotary.

Coming Soon

  • Vector Engraving/Etching vs Raster Engraving
  • File types and when to use them
  • Using the laser cutters web interface
  • Maintenance?
  • Using the rotary attachment?
  • Formal Training?