Latest revision as of 13:58, 4 August 2022

Location

The two big red things in the Nerdery.

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.

Approved 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?	Notes
Acrylic	Safe!	Yes	Yes
Wood	Safe!	Yes	Yes
Paper/Cardboard	Safe!	Yes	Difficult
Foamcore Board	Safe!	Yes	Difficult	1/4" maximum thickness!
Craft Foam/Foamies	Safe!	Yes	Difficult	use quick speeds, low power
Vegetable Tanned leather	Safe!	Yes	Yes
Steel	Safe!	No	Yes (oxidize)
Titanium	Safe!	No	Yields a rainbow of colors depending on power.
Anodized aluminum	Safe!	No	Yes (removes anodization)
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

Disallowed Materials

Under NO circumstances should the following materials be cut on the laser cutter:

Nylon
ABS
Polyethylene
Lexan/Polycarbonate
PVC
Vinyl
Teflon/PTFE
CF/Carbon Fiber
Foamcore Board >1/4" thick

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)
Acrylic (1/8in)
Acrylic (1/4in)	100%	10 mm/s
Acrylic (1/2in)
EVA Foam (~1/8in)	40%	75mm/s
Foam Poster Board (3/16in)	25%	100mm/s
MDF (1/4in)	100%	6 mm/s
Poster Board	45%	150mm/s
Vegetable-Tanned Leather (~1.5mm)	40%	50mm/s
Wood (5mm)	55%	10mm/s
Wood (1/4in)	95%	15mm/s
Wood (1/2in)	75%	3mm/s

Engraving

Material	Power (%)	Speed (mm/s)	Notes
Wood	23%	300mm/s	0.2mm Depth
Acrylic	30%	20mm/s	3.5mm Depth
Acrylic	30%	50mm/s	1.3mm Depth
Acrylic	30%	100mm/s	0.5mm Depth
Acrylic	30%	150mm/s	0.3mm Depth
Foam Poster Board	15%	250mm/s	Surface drawing
Foam Poster Board	27%	160mm/s	3/32in Depth (half way on 3/16 foam board)
Glass	20%	20%	cut lines
Glass	20%	40%	cut lines
Vegetable-tanned Leather	30%	300mm/s

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 lens cleaning
12/08/2014 Booster and external ventilation completed.
05/01/2016 Cleaned Mirrors/lens
05/02/2016 Laser realigned

Consumables

Mirrors/Lenses. They are replaced when worn/scratched/damaged $160
Laser Tube. 3,000 HR runtime. $410

Authorized Users

Laser cutter
Laser cutter
Information
Owner	Midsouth Makers
Tool Category	Tool
Model	Redsail X700
Purchased On	10/2014
Cost	5000
Status	Available
Availability	Training required to use
Labels
Media
QRCode

See list located in space

Authorization Course

We provide laser cutter usage lessons a couple of times a year.
Those who take this class and successfully complete it become authorized users of the cutter
Upcoming courses will be announced via our Meetup page
Slide Deck for Authorization Course can be found here

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 }}
 == Location ==
-The big red thing in the common area.
+The two big red things in the Nerdery.
 == Features ==
@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 |-
 | Foamcore Board || <span style="color:#009900">Safe!</span> || <span style="color:#009900">Yes</span> || Difficult || <span style="color:red">1/4" maximum thickness!</span>
+|-
+| Craft Foam/Foamies || <span style="color:#009900">Safe!</span> || <span style="color:#009900">Yes</span> || Difficult || <span style="color:red">use quick speeds, low power</span>
 |-
 | Vegetable Tanned leather || <span style="color:#009900">Safe!</span> || <span style="color:#009900">Yes</span> || <span style="color:#009900">Yes</span>
@@ Line 73: / Line 75: @@
 | Glass || <span style="color:#AAAA00">Mostly safe, don't breathe the glass dust.</span> || No || <span style="color:#009900">Yes</span>
 |}
+==Disallowed Materials==
+'''Under NO circumstances should the following materials be cut on the laser cutter:'''
+*Nylon
+*ABS
+*Polyethylene
+*Lexan/Polycarbonate
+*PVC
+*Vinyl
+*Teflon/PTFE
+*CF/Carbon Fiber
+*Foamcore Board >1/4" thick
 == Feeds and Speeds ==

Difference between revisions of "Laser cutter"