Difference between revisions of "Laser Cutter"

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We are going to be getting a laser cutter!
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#REDIRECT [[Epilog_Laser_Cutter]]
  
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[[User:Tetsu|Tetsu]] worked hard and started a [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/211646812/laser-cutter-for-familab-fl-hackerspace?pos=1&ref=search Kickstarter project] to get us a laser cutter for about $2000. We successfully pimped it out enough to get people to generously donate to our cause, and now we have one!
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Content is commented out. Use Edit to view.
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<!--
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{| class="wikitable" style="background: yellow"
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|'''Please also see our UPDATED laser cutter page: [[Epilog_Laser_Cutter|Epilog Laser Cutter]] '''
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|}
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We have a Epilog [https://www.epiloglaser.com/products/fusion-laser-series.htm Fusion 32 60 watt]
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Lots of people worked on this (sorry this was before I was here so I don't know all the details).
  
 
==Our Model==
 
==Our Model==
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* Full Spectrum Engineering [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/co2laserv2-40w.html 40W Co2 Laser Cutter]
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** 32" x 20" cutting table
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** 13" x 13" cutting table
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** 60w Co2 Laser
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** 40w Co2 Laser
 
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** Water cooled
 
 
** Safety Interlocks
 
** Safety Interlocks
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** 2.75" vertical stroke
 
 
** Air assist
 
** Air assist
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** Cutting software (printer driver, uses vector software like CorelDraw/Illustrator/Inkscape)
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** and Awesome
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** Mach3 Control
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==Things we can and cannot cut using the laser (NEEDS UPDATE)==
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Things we '''can''' cut: [https://www.epiloglaser.com/how-it-works/laser-material-compatibility.htm]
  
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==Modification Suggestions==
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* Plastics:
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Our FullSpectrum 40W is far from perfect. Add your suggested improvements to the laser cutter on this list.
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** ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
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* Mount the parallel port driver board further back within the case
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** Acrylic (also known as Plexiglas, Lucite, PMMA)
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* Mount the Mach3 card inside the case, make cover for it to screw in the outside (with the laser cutter!?)
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** Polycarbonate (PC, Lexan) — Beware the fumes on this one, they can get pretty bad.
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* Strain relief and longer USB cable (Chris has a 10 or 15 ft he will donate. Ferrite beads and gold plated.)  
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** Delrin (POM, acetal) — for a supplier, try www.mcmaster.com.
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* Air pump (Mack getting this for us so ghetto-rig ShopVac can go away)
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** Kapton tape (Polyimide)
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* Digital readout for power knob (Looking into digital potentiometer with readout!)
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** Mylar (polyester)
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* Lid-switch should trip the system-wide cutoff, not just a computer control cutoff
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** PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol)
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* IR-sensitive webcam in the box
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** Polyethylene (PE) — melts badly
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* Beam-split red laser upgrade to point where the laser will point (Chris will work on this as well as a laser to show where the corner of the piece will start.)
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** Polypropylene (PP) — melts somewhat
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* More stable/level platform
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** Styrene
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* Locate more metal honeycomb without frame
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** Two-tone acrylic — top color different than core material, usually for custom instrumentation panels, signs, and plaques.
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* Millimeter (digital?) measurement tool on the side of the platform to automatically measure height of platform
 
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* Laser-cut (58mm?) focus measurement stick
 
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* Back-lit switches for the "Laser Power", "Laser Test", "Air Power", and "Light", so we know when it's actually on
 
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* Shiny aircraft switches (Safety to keep from bumping), with led notifiers above
 
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* Water pump flow sensor and light, integrate with Laser On switch to prevent operation if a problem is present.
 
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* Knight rider LED chaser for when laser is active and lasing and dangerous
 
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* Better interior lighting (possibly fluorescent bars and/or LEDs) to better light the work surface
 
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* Possibly redo entire control panel with digital readouts and better (read: safer) switches.
 
  
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* Foam:
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** Depron foam — often used for RC planes.
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** EPM
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** Gator foam — foam core gets burned and eaten away compared to the top and bottom hard shell.
  
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* Other:
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** Cloths (leather, suede, felt, hemp, cotton)
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** Magnetic sheets
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** Papers
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** Rubbers (neoprene) — for a supplier, try www.mcmaster.com.
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** Teflon (PTFE, Polytetrafluoroethylene) — for a supplier, try www.mcmaster.com.
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** Woods (MDF, balsa, birch, poplar, red oak, cherry, holly, etc.) — for a supplier, try www.midwestproducts.com.
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Things we '''''CANNOT/DO NOT''''' cut:
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* Metals
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* Any material containing chlorine
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* PVC (Cintra) — contains chlorine
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* Vinyl — contains chlorine
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* Fiberglass
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* Printed circuit board (FR4 and other material types)
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* Carbon fiber
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* Nylon — melts badly
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==Learning (NEEDS REWORK)==
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* [[Laser for Newbies]]
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* [http://familab.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/FSL_40w_Hobby_Laser_Manual.pdf FamiLAB Laser Manual PDF]
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* [http://dallasmakerspace.org/w/images/3/39/Laser_Presentation.pdf Dallas Makerspace FSE Laser Training]
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==Laser Cutter Settings==
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The laser cutter has two settings that are mainly used: Power and Speed. These are determined by the type and thickness of material and the type and thickness of the desired cut. This is a table of suggestions based on what lab members have found by trial and error; so they may or may not work for you. If you have something new, go with what's most like what you're trying to cut and experiment from there.
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There are a few things to remember when using the laser cutter:
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* Never cut PVC. If you don't know what it is, do your best to research it or ask someone. Using PVC **WILL** Damage the laser cutter.
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* The "Laser Test" button is '''ALWAYS''' live. Do not press it with the lid open.
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* '''DO NOT''' go over '''15mA''' on the current adjustment knob. This will kill the laser tube quickly.
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* If anything seems out of place (strange noises, burn marks, laser is not cutting and power meter is moving, water or air is not running properly) '''STOP'''. Ask someone what to do.
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==Laser Settings Chart (NEEDS REWORK)==
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/!-- TABLE INFORMATION ***PLEASE READ BEFORE EDITING***
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To add a material, make sure you follow the convention of the current materials. Each row should begin with the |- character on a line by itself, then followed by a pipe ( | ) character at the beginning of each column. Make sure you have a pipe character for each column even if you don't put data in there (the notes column for example)
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--/
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{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
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|-
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!Material
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!Thickness
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!Power
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!Speed
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!Note
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|-
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|Extruded Acrylic
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|3mm
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|10mA
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|30%
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|This is a test, change this to actual settings.
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|}
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==Handy Links==
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* [https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Lasercutter NoiseBridge Laser Info (Same FSE laser)]
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* [http://wiki.nycresistor.com/wiki/Laser_Power NYC Resistor Laser Power Info (Different laser)]
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* [http://www.redtorope.com/2011/07/laser-cutter-kerf-measurement/ Laser Cutter Kerf Measurement]
  
 
==Uses==
 
==Uses==
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==Handy Links==
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==Links to items cut on the FamiLAB Laser (post your stuff here!)==
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* FamiLAB Laser Manual PDF -  [http://familab.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/FSL_40w_Hobby_Laser_Manual.pdf]
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[http://sensingplatform.org/plugnlearn-sensor-hub/how-to-build-a-plugnlearn-hub/ Acrylic Sensing Platform Hub Case]
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* NoiseBridge Laser Info (Same FSE laser) - [https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Lasercutter]
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* NYC Resistor Laser Power Info (Different laser) - [http://wiki.nycresistor.com/wiki/Laser_Power]
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[http://www.raisinggeeks.com/blog/2011/09/audio-reactive-stage-lighting-rgb-led-satellite-brackets/ Acrylic MaceTech RGB LED Satellite brackets]
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==Lens Source==
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Per psytek of alphaonelabs:
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Suzhou Xuhong Optics Technology Co., Ltd vivien@sz-xuhong.com
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they are about $30 a lens
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== Maintenance ==
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/!-- TABLE INFORMATION ***PLEASE READ BEFORE EDITING***
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To add a date, make sure you follow the convention of the current dates. Each row should begin with the |- character on a line by itself, then followed by a pipe ( | ) character at the beginning of each column. Make sure you have a pipe character for each column even if you don't put data in there (the notes column for example)
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--/
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{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
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|-
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!Date
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!Person
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!Notes
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|-
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|9/8/2015
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|[[user:Xomen | Xomen]]
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|Full cleaning, alignment and setup after moving to new lab
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|-
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|10/17/2015
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|[[user:Xomen | Xomen]]
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|Cleaned and put graphite powder on the drive shaft
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|-
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|5/10/2016
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|[[user:Xomen | Xomen]]
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|Full cleaning (filter, lens, exhaust box, everything...), alignment, silicon lube on the drive shaft and bushings, blow out the filter
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|-
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|6/14/2016
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|[[user:Xomen | Xomen]]
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|Minor Cleaning, alignment was pretty bad, realigned
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|-
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|11/09/2016
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|[[user:Xomen | Xomen]]
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|Replaced Laser Tube, realigned
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|}
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Please continue the maintenance list on [[Epilog_Laser_Cutter#Maintenance|Epilog Laser Cutter - Maintenance]]
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-->

Latest revision as of 17:57, 27 May 2018

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