Laser Standard Operating Procedure

get your material ready

• We recommend acrylic or plywood
• Other materials are your responsibility to ensure that they are safe to cut on the laser see Chlorine Test
• The following materials are NOT SAFE TO CUT ON THE LASER.
  • PVC
  • Vinyl
  • Lexan/Polycarbonate
  • Foam - fire risk
  • Any other material that contains chlorine

Clear cutting bed

• open the lid and clear the contents of the bed
• be advised that the laser will automatically home, and crashing it into things is bad

Check water level in the chiller

• Water level in the chiller should be about a quarter inch below the upper return.
• Only use distilled water in the chiller loop

Turn on main power switch

• Located on the wall beside the ventilation pipe
• This will turn on the ventilation and supply power to the machine

Turn on Laser

• Twist estop, and turn key
• Laser will now automatically home

Start Software

• Lasercut – on desktop

Set up Job

• Import your files, the software supports Autocad 2000, or Illustrator 9.0 files
• It helps to have your source files set up by layer, but you can manually change the layers in Lasercut
• Set up your speed and power for each layer, cut order is top to bottom, the layers change order when you aren’t looking
• Check the immediate box to make the laser cut where the head is now, unchecked the machine will cut using the top corner of the software as the top corner of the bed

Set up Material

• Ensure your material is laser safe and contains no chlorine.
• Place your workpiece on the bed
• Press the z axis button and adjust the height of the bed CAUTION do not run the head into the table, if this happens shut the machine down and make a post on the list.
• Use the focus gauge to set the height – DO NOT LEAVE THE FOCUS GAUGE IN PLACE AND MOVE THE MACHINE INTO IT, THIS WILL WRECK THE HEAD
• Press z to exit this menu, escape doesn’t work for this

Download to Laser

• Press the download button, bottom right of screen
• Click delete all
• Click download file

Double check positioning

• Ensure bed is clear of obstructions
• Press test button, machine will trace outline of job

Run job

• Press start button
• Keep an eye on job, burning down the laser is bad.
• Do not leave the area while your job is running
• You are responsible for your job

Remove material

• Please allow a few minutes for the fumes to dissipate before opening the laser
• Remove your workpiece and ALL YOUR SCRAPS

Power down

• Hit the estop on the laser and turn the key
• Shut off the wall switch