Difference between revisions of "Laser cutter"

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Revision as of 15:48, 10 December 2014

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

Engraving

Maintenance

  • Every 8 hours of run time, lenses/mirrors need to be checked/cleaned.
  • Lense/Mirror can easily be damaged and should be done by qualified personnel.

Maintenance Log

  • 11/16/2014 Laser Init.
  • 11/17/2014 Alignment and lense cleaning
  • 12/08/2014 Improved ventilation completed.

Consumables

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

Authorized Users

  • Ben
  • Brett