LASER CUTTER HowTo
We have a Epilog Helix computer-controlled 45-watt or 60-watt CO2 laser.
The laser cutter is a powerful, but very dangerous tool. If you use it incorrectly you can poison yourself (and others) and burn down the building. Use it carefully and thoughtfully. In particular:
DO NOT CUT DANGEROUS OR UNKNOWN MATERIALS.NEVER LEAVE THE MACHINE UNATTENDED WHILE IT IS CUTTING.
1. Create the pattern you are going to cut using a drawing program like Adobe Illustrator
DO NOT CUT DANGEROUS OR UNKNOWN MATERIALS.NEVER LEAVE THE MACHINE UNATTENDED WHILE IT IS CUTTING.
1. Create the pattern you are going to cut using a drawing program like Adobe Illustrator
Note: the laser cutter software only recognizes vector lines (the paths of lines). It does not recognize filled shapes or line widths. Here's a sample file: fabricPCB.zip. This is for a fabric PCB for the ATtiny85 microcontroller. The drawing includes components for the circuitry and the backing fabric. The zip file includes a .ai file with the design and a .ecp file with the cut settings for the different materials.
2. Export your drawing
The laser cutter software can import Illustrator files (version 7.0 only, .ai), HPGL files (.plt), and Drawing Exchange Format files (.dxf). To create a readable file, export your drawing in one of these formats. Save all text as curves.
If you have trouble importing your file directly into the laser cutter software, try converting it with Corel Draw on the laser cutter computer. Import a PDF (.pdf) or other format into Corel Draw, and then save as an Adobe Illustrator file (.ai), version 7.0.
3. Open the LaserCut 5.1 software
4. Import your drawing
Go to File->Import and select your drawing file.
Alternately, you can open an existing laser cutter file (.ecp). (My fabric PCB file in .ecp format is in the .zip file linked to above.)
Alternately, you can open an existing laser cutter file (.ecp). (My fabric PCB file in .ecp format is in the .zip file linked to above.)
5. Get your material ready
Make sure your material is safe to cut.
DO NOT CUT ANYTHING UNLESS YOU ARE POSITIVE IT IS SAFE!!!!
THERE IS NO CHEMICAL VENTILATION/FILTERING IN THE HIGH-LOW TECH LAB.
CUTTING UNSAFE MATERIALS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO YOUR HEALTH AND THAT OF THOSE AROUND YOU. CUTTING PVC, VINYL, OR THAT MYSTERIOUS PLASTIC YOU PICKED UP IN CHINATOWN CAN POISON ALL OF THE 5TH FLOOR! DON'T DO IT!!
Safe materials include: wood, paper, acrylic, cotton, wool, silicone, nylon, polyester.
Unsafe materials include: vinyl, PVC, circuit board plastic, and any highly reflective material.
Pololu's list of materials that are safe to laser cut
Make sure your material fits into the laser cutter. The high-low tech laser bed is 30cm x 50 cm, approximately 12 x 20 inches.
DO NOT CUT ANYTHING UNLESS YOU ARE POSITIVE IT IS SAFE!!!!
THERE IS NO CHEMICAL VENTILATION/FILTERING IN THE HIGH-LOW TECH LAB.
CUTTING UNSAFE MATERIALS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO YOUR HEALTH AND THAT OF THOSE AROUND YOU. CUTTING PVC, VINYL, OR THAT MYSTERIOUS PLASTIC YOU PICKED UP IN CHINATOWN CAN POISON ALL OF THE 5TH FLOOR! DON'T DO IT!!
Safe materials include: wood, paper, acrylic, cotton, wool, silicone, nylon, polyester.
Unsafe materials include: vinyl, PVC, circuit board plastic, and any highly reflective material.
Pololu's list of materials that are safe to laser cut
Make sure your material fits into the laser cutter. The high-low tech laser bed is 30cm x 50 cm, approximately 12 x 20 inches.
6. Find the proper settings for your material and position your drawing in the software
There is a spreadsheet with the appropriate settings for different materials here.
Note, you can match different colors to different cut/engrave settings within one drawing.
The order the colors are listed in in the software is the order in which they will be cut.
Note, you can match different colors to different cut/engrave settings within one drawing.
The order the colors are listed in in the software is the order in which they will be cut.
7. Save your .ecp file if you want the layout & cut settings for your drawing saved
8. Turn everything on and home the machine.
Turn on the power strip that's to the right of the machine. This turns on the laser cutter, air filter, and cooling system. When everything is on it's loud! The power strip:
Press the reset button on the machine controls or in the software to home the machine. Note: not homing the machine will result in the machine attempting to cut beyond its boundaries. It's an important step! The laser cutter control panel:
Press the reset button on the machine controls or in the software to home the machine. Note: not homing the machine will result in the machine attempting to cut beyond its boundaries. It's an important step! The laser cutter control panel:
9. Focus the laser cutter
THE RISK OF FIRE DRASTICALLY INCREASES WHEN THE LASER CUTTER IS NOT FOCUSED PROPERLY.
Place your material into the machine
Use the arrow keys on the machine controls or in the software to move the laser head over your material.
Get the focusing tool, which is magnetically attached to the front of the machine.
Use the focusing tool and the socket wrench to adjust the height of the bed so that the notch on the focusing tool rests on the plate that is holding the lens. This will focus the laser at the surface of your material.
Adjusting the height of the table:
When you're done focusing, return the focusing tool to the front of the machine and the socket wrench to the platform inside the machine.
Place your material into the machine
Use the arrow keys on the machine controls or in the software to move the laser head over your material.
Get the focusing tool, which is magnetically attached to the front of the machine.
Use the focusing tool and the socket wrench to adjust the height of the bed so that the notch on the focusing tool rests on the plate that is holding the lens. This will focus the laser at the surface of your material.
Adjusting the height of the table:
When you're done focusing, return the focusing tool to the front of the machine and the socket wrench to the platform inside the machine.
10. Cut your part
NEVER LEAVE A RUNNING JOB UNATTENDED. YOU CAN VERY EASILY BURN DOWN THE BUILDING.
To test the boundaries of your cut job, hit the edge button on the machine controls or in the software. This will move the laser cutter head in a square around the perimeter of your job. This is a good way to determine if your drawing and material are properly aligned.
Hit start to begin the job.
Hit pause to pause the job. Hitting start again will resume the job.
Hit stop to stop the job. Hitting start again after you've pressed stop will start the job from the beginning.
You can also open the lid of the laser cutter to immediately stop cutting.
Hitting the big red STOP safety button will immediately turn off the machine.
To test the boundaries of your cut job, hit the edge button on the machine controls or in the software. This will move the laser cutter head in a square around the perimeter of your job. This is a good way to determine if your drawing and material are properly aligned.
Hit start to begin the job.
Hit pause to pause the job. Hitting start again will resume the job.
Hit stop to stop the job. Hitting start again after you've pressed stop will start the job from the beginning.
You can also open the lid of the laser cutter to immediately stop cutting.
Hitting the big red STOP safety button will immediately turn off the machine.
