Laser cutter (Trotec Speedy 300) ID:107

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Type	Trotec
Make/Model	Speedy 300
Serial number	S3-4699
Original owner	Protospace
Loan status	Owned by Protospace
Arrival date	December 2016
Location	Bay 108, near the door to the front rooms
Functional status	Working
Usage permissions	Members & Friends Only
Certification	Must complete Laser Certification and Trotec Certification
Wiki-ID	107
Label	1.0" 1.5" 2.0"

Quick Specs

• Working bed size: 730mm x 430mm (28 3/4" x 17" ish)
• Engraving resolution: 1000DPI
• Kerf: 0.1mm
• Supported file formats: Anything that can be "printed" to JobControl with the appropriate vectors, fills and line formatting. Trotec's excellent tutorials and our training courses are done in CorelDRAW, so the computer attached to our laser provides a licensed copy. Other popular software includes Inkscape, Autodesk AutoCAD and Adobe Illustrator, generating files such as DXF, CDR, SVG, AI, PDF, etc.
• Maximum material thickness: generally 1/2", with thicker materials possible using multiple passes, resulting in poor edge finish due to kerf.

Usage and Billing Policies

This tool is not free.

All members certified on the Trotec receive six hours per month of free laser use. Additional time is billed at $0.50 per minute. This is "laser on" or tube time, as tracked by the tablet mounted on the wall above the Trotec. Users are responsible for monitoring their own usage and making payment accordingly.

This section is under development. If you have concerns regarding commercial or "excessive" use, reach out to laser trainers, forums, directors, etc.

Agreement is under review but included for reference.

• Trotec Laser Account Agreement

Documentation

It is imperative to complete a chlorine test on materials before working with them in any laser cutter.

Per training and usage agreement, the lens and mirror must be checked and cleaned: before use hourly during continuous use when used with unfamiliar material after use.

Power Control through Color Selection Table from the JobControl 11.2 Manual

References

Trotec Training

Google Drive: Trotec documentation resources

YouTube: Trotec Laser Canada

Speedy 300 Product Manual

JobControl 11.2 Operation Manual

Tips and tricks

Engraving can be done with image files (PNG et al) including photo engraves, or with vector fills, including masking with white.

Please try any new, strange, or unknown materials in the Rabbit first, and closely watch them for flame or dense black smoke. The lens is very exposed on the Trotec and thick smokey materials, like woods full of resin or glue, rubber, or some plastics, can very quickly damage the machine and potentially the lungs of everyone in the space. Start with low power tests and work your way up.

Power and speed settings

This section to be filled, or removed. Refer to materials database.

Troubleshooting

CorelDRAW won't launch (shows logo and immediately quits, doesn't get to login screen)

In Windows, navigate to C:\Users\Your.Username\AppData\Roaming\ (replace "Your.Username" with the name used to logon to the machine; note that the "AppData" folder is hidden, and will need to be manually typed into the address bar). Rename the "Corel" folder to "Corel.bak" and attempt to launch CorelDRAW. This process will displace your tool presets, window positions, recent files list, palettes, etc.

Lines are not picked up by JobControl

See color chart on this page, verify your palette. Check line thickness, it should be "hairline" or very small, 0.2px seemed to work in Inkscape.

JobControl shows a 0:00 estimate, even with valid lines/colors

With short cuts (<15sec?), sometimes the estimated time shown will be 0:00 after updating job time. If the color is being picked up by JobControl and the lines appear correct in preview, just try it - scrap material is helpful here.

Printing to JobControl shows a blank job

Fix page size in editor's Page Setup and/or Trotec Engraver printer preferences Job Size. Try moving work to another part of the page; check Print Preview and CorelDRAW's Preflight tab.

JobControl says that "job will not fit on plate"

When printing, venture into the Trotec Engraver printer settings and ensure that both "Take from application" and "Minimize to jobsize" are enabled. Then, ensure that your job actually fits onto a page that'll fit on the Trotec bed. Watch for stragglers, points of vectors, errant pastes or lines. Check the Print Preview and CorelDRAW's Preflight tab. Move your work to another part of the page. If all else fails, return to the Trotec Engraver printer settings and manually set the jobsize to equal the Trotec bed size.

Job appears to print successfully, but doesn't show in JobControl's queue

• Disable DPI filter below list
• Open the Windows printer queue, right click on each job and Cancel - note that this only works for the user that owns/sent the job, or an Administrator. More elegant fix may be in the works...

Trotec complains of a port error, or in use

Someone may have left themselves logged in, try restarting the machine to release the port.

Anything else

History

Aug/Sept 2020 - replacement and repair of Y motor

June 30th 2019 - first aftermarket replacement lens installed

June 12th 2019 - eggcrate DIY worktable installed

December 2016 - purchased, new