80 watt laser engraver: Difference between revisions

*engraving and cutting can be put in same file, when you get them into lasercut select cuts and push them to a later layer (select line, select layer colour)

*think about cut order, if it matters push cuts to different layers, e.g. shark with eye cut out, cut out eye first then shark, otherwise shark could fall away or move before the eye has been cut

*laser does not cut at lower power levels (TBD) ~ 25 - 30%. Head moves properly but no cutting (although it still may be firing)

*after long cuts LaserCut5.1 often looses contact with the laser, file->reconnect will often restore connectivity, if not: save your project, close LaserCut5.1 unplug the usb connector to the laser, reconnect it, restart LaserCut5.1, open your saved project.  

== Using the machine ==

With very few exceptions, the same order of operations should always be maintained for safe proper operation.  Failing to enable a portion of the cooling system will damage the laser.

# Power on 120-240 voltage converter (box on trolley with green light-up switch).

# Activate power to laser cutter from switch on back of unit.

# Deactivate E-stop with a twisting motion, and power on laser with key switch on front panel. The key had 3 positions, rotating clockwise the positions are off, off, on.  

'''Warning!'''  The laser is a stand-alone unit and ''can move/execute programs/fire the laser with the laptop disconnected.''

=== Focusing the Laser ===

Depending on the thickness of the material and whether you are cutting or engraving you will need to set an appropriate focal distance.  The beam does not come out of the lens parallel, but in fact is conically shaped. See: Figure 1.

[[File:LaserFocus.png|300px|thumb|right|Figure 2. Focal Depth: Bottom shows resultant cut shape.]]

For engraving, you want the focal point right on the surface for the fastest/most efficient results.

For cutting, you want the focal point to be near the midpoint of the thickness of the material so that it makes the straightest edges on the cuts.  See Figure 2.<br>

Once a cut program has been loaded to the laser from the LaserCut5.1 software, the laser head should be aligned with the workpiece.

# Select the project loaded to the laser on the LCD menu, It is the text on the top right of the main menu.   

#* To abort the current program (something is horribly wrong), press the stop key.  This will abort the program and it will have to be restarted from the start.  The head should home back to the origin from before the program was started.

== Cut Guidelines ==  

These charts are intended to give you a starting range, from which you must dial in with testing, use scrap that is the same material and thickness as your intended work piece and use a small test pattern( e.g Laser Coin) to fine tune your desired results

charts of material x thickness

{| border="1"

|-

|rowspan="2"|Thickness

|?

|}

== Sample Workflow ==

# Select the part of your model to be exported to DXF (can select all)  

# Use the plugin to create the DXF file, select mm as the export unit and export as lines

# Open dxf in autocad save as 2004 dxf

# Follow the startup procedures as above

# Test cut/engrave settings on a sample of the target work material (e.g. do Laser Coin Test)

# Import in lasercut5.1

# Hit delete all

# Hit download current, this can take some time if the project is complex, if it takes too long you may want to break the cut up into smaller chunks.  

# Hit start