by admin

Laser Cutter Guidelines

Quick check list

    • Never leave the laser cutter running without constant supervision.
    • Turn on the air compressor and the two switches on the vacuum system.
    • If the vacuum pressure is over 2MPA, roll the paper out.
    • Clean the lens before you cut, and clean it up if it gets dirty. Clean it up after use. If the lens is damaged, the user is responsible for purchasing a new one.
    • Do not cut materials over 10mm thick.
    • Make sure to overkill doubled lines.
    • Clean the bed when you are done. Clip the board and throw it away. Recycle it if it is large enough.

Introduction

    • The laser cutter is available for students in Obuchi, Kuma, and Chiba labs to use. Students from outside Obuchi lab need to sign up on the laser cutter reservation system. The link is below, the password is “g30” (click the flag in the top right corner to change the language). The room is open 10:00-18:30 on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and students may sign up for only two hours a day. Please be sure to plan ahead.
      http://www.supersaas.jp/schedule/hironoriyh/Laser_cutter
    • All users need to attend a tutorial provided by course assistants. Please organize the date and time with your group and make an inquiry with one of the course assistants.

Safety rules

    • Never leave the laser cutter running without constant supervision; it is a potentially dangerous machine, and materials can catch fire easily and quickly. This has happened to students recently, so be vigilant.
    • Some materials produce toxic fumes when under the laser. Immediately stop cutting or engraving any material that begins to deteriorate by melting, catching fire, or producing unusual smoke (the tutorial will demonstrate what is normal in terms of smoke).
    • If something catches fire, use the CO2 fire extinguisher to the left of the laser cutter.
    • You may often find yourself in need of this type of protection in and out of the cadcam suite. It may be worth your while to purchase a mask. Some mask recommendations on the right:
    • This website will lead you to many mask purchasing and product options:
      LEMON GASUI: http://www.lemon.co.jp/

Room rules

    • The room is for laser cutting or engraving only. Do not assemble models. Do not glue materials, spray materials, or use any toxic chemicals.
    • When you’re done with the machines, clean the laser beds with the water or alcohol provided in the room.
    • If you bring food or drink into the room, clean up after yourself. Throw away your trash and wipe up spills. Do not leave trash for others to clean up.
    • Be conscientious—recycle leftover paper materials in the large blue recycle bin in the room. If you are cutting plastic please discard waste in the marked container.

Materials

    • Chipboard up to 5mm thick
    • Corrugated cardboard up to 5mm thick
    • Museum board
    • Basswood up to 10mm thick
    • Plexiglass, Lucite, and/or acrylic up to 10mm thick

DO NOT cut Lexan, foamcore, PVC, glass, or metal.

Machine preparation before cutting

    • Turn on the machine, air compressor, and the two switches on the vacuum system
    • Roll out the paper filter if the pressure is below 2MPa.
    • Check the Z height as on the right image.
    • Check the lens condition, clean it up if it is dirty or becomes dirty.
    • Clean up the XY axis.
    • Make sure the cover is correctly closed. If it is not, the red light will blink.

Data preparation (Illustrator) before cutting

    • Lines are 0.01pt thick
    • Check duplicated lines
    • Check if drawn with continuous lines
    • Change to RGB mode (File -> Color mode setting -> RGB instead of CMYK)
    • The plot area is 600 x 450 mm
    • Use red (255,0,0) for cutting and blue (0,0,255) for engraving

While/After cutting

    • Press PAUSE to stop. The laser will finish the vector it is cutting then head back to its origin. Press RESUME to continue cutting where the laser left off.
    • Open the lid to stop. The laser will continue moving without emitting a beam for a short while, then will head back to its origin. Press RESUME to continue cutting where the laser left off.
    • CLEAN THE BED WHEN YOU ARE DONE!

 

Maintenance

Maintenance before turning on the laser

      • Check the Y rail alignment
      • Clean the XY rails (section 7-2)
      • Check mirrors, lens (section 7-3)
      • Clean and adjust cone (section 8-5)
      • Clean and adjust the honeycomb cutting table (section 8-12)

Maintenance every 2 months

      • Clean air filters (every 2 weeks) (section 7-4)
      • Check the vacuum cleaner filter (every 2 months)

After turning on the laser but before cutting:

      • Open UCP
      • Z calibration (section 8-14)
      • Turn on the laser, air feeder, and vacuum
      • Check beam alignment (section 4-10)