Difference between revisions of "Laser cutter"
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Revision as of 02:32, 13 December 2014
| Laser cutter | |
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| Information | |
| Owner | Midsouth Makers |
| Tool Category | Tool |
| Model | Redsail X700 |
| Purchased On | 10/2014 |
| Cost | 5000 |
| Status | Available |
| Availability | Training required to use |
| Labels | |
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| QRCode | |
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This tool is to be only used by authorized users. If you wish to learn how to use this tool please contact one of the authorized individuals. |
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Questions? Talk to Ben or Brett for help or more information. |
Location
The big red thing in the common area.
Features
- Red Sail X700
- 60 watt
- Water cooled
- 700mm x 500mm cut area
Safety
- Never let the machine run unattended especially when its cutting!
- Always use approved materials. Some materials can release chlorine gas or catch fire.
- Remember to pull bed leveling knob before running a job.
- Run the machine with the interlock on. The interlock is a key switch that will override the option to turn the laser off when the door is opened.
If a fire Occurs
- Immediately stop the laser, this will more than likely extinguish the fire.
- If fire still exist, try to blow it out.
- If fire still exist, spritz it with the water bottle. Notify the board.
- All else fails, use the fire extinguisher. Notify board.
Testing Plastics for Chlorine
A blow torch and copper wire will be needed for the test.
- With a pair of pliers heat up the end of the copper wire and burn off any residue.
- While still hot, touch a sample piece of the plastic you would like to cut with the hot end of the copper wire.
- Place the wire back into the flame and burn the plastic. If the flame is blue/green the material is not safe and will emit chlorine gas when cut.
Materials
Note: If the material you want to cut isn't listed on this page, email the mailing list.
| Material | Safe to use with a laser cutter? | Can you cut it? | Can you engrave it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | Safe! | Yes | Yes |
| Wood | Safe! | Yes | Yes |
| Paper/Cardboard | Safe! | Yes | Difficult |
| Steel | Safe! | No | Yes (oxidize) |
| Titanium | Safe! | No | Yields a rainbow of colors depending on power. |
| All other metals | Safe! | No | Yes, if you use Cermark or other marking chemical. |
| Glass | Mostly safe, don't breathe the glass dust. | No | Yes |
| Nylon | Not recommended. | Discoloration, low cut quality. | Melts, doesn't engrave well. |
| ABS | Not recommended. | Discoloration, low cut quality. | Slight engraving marks. |
| Polyethylene | Not recommended. | No. Lots of melting. | Slight marks with melting. |
| Lexan/polycarbonate | Black smoke and awful smell. DO NOT CUT. | No | No |
| PVC | Creates Chlorine Gas. DO NOT CUT. | No | No |
| Vinyl | Toxic fumes. DO NOT CUT. | No | No |
| Teflon/PTFE | Toxic fumes. DO NOT CUT. | No | No |
| CF/Carbon Fiber | DO NOT CUT. | No | No |
Feeds and Speeds
Different materials and thicknesses will require different cut speed and power. Table below is a good starting point for some common materials.
Cutting
| Material | Power (%) | Speed (mm/s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5mm Wood | |||
| 1/2in Wood | |||
| 3/4in Wood | |||
| 1/8in Acrylic | |||
| 1/4in Acrylic | |||
| 1/2in Acrylic | |||
| EVA Foam (~1/8in) | 40% | 75mm/s |
Engraving
Maintenance
- Every 8 hours of run time, lenses/mirrors need to be checked/cleaned.
- Lense/Mirror can easily be scratched and/or damaged. Cleaning should be done by qualified personnel.
- http://www.ophiropt.com/user_files/co2/co2_optics_cleaning_data_sheet.pdf
Maintenance Log
- 11/16/2014 Laser Init.
- 11/17/2014 Alignment and lense cleaning
- 12/08/2014 Booster and external ventilation completed.
Consumables
- Mirrors/Lenses. They are replaced when worn/scratched/damaged $160
- Laser Tube. 3,000 HR runtime. $410
Authorized Users
- Ben
- Brett