Difference between revisions of "Laser Cutter"

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! Name !! Notes !! Warnings
 
! Name !! Notes !! Warnings
 
|-
 
|-
| Acrylic<br>(aka Plexiglas, Lucite, PMMA) || Cuts well, leaves a smooth polished edge. Higher powers can leave smoke/scorch marks along edges. Some people remove paper/plastic protection sheets before cutting. ||
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Acrylic</span><br>(aka Plexiglas, Lucite, PMMA) || Cuts well, leaves a smooth polished edge. Higher powers can leave smoke/scorch marks along edges. Some people remove paper/plastic protection sheets before cutting. ||
 
|-
 
|-
| Cardboard, cartons || Cuts well, can catch fire || FIRE hazard!
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Cardboard</span> || Cuts well, can catch fire || FIRE hazard!
 
|-
 
|-
| Ceramic ||  || '''Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam'''
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Ceramic</span> ||  || '''Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam'''
 
|-
 
|-
| Cloth (cotton, felt, hemp) || Cuts easily || NO plastic coated or impregnated cloth!
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Cloth</span> (cotton, felt, hemp) || Cuts easily || NO plastic coated or impregnated cloth!
 
|-
 
|-
| Corian ||  ||
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Corian</span> ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| Cork || Cuts nicely, the quality of the cut depends on the thickness and quality of the cork. Engineered cork has a lot of glue in it, may not cut nicely. ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Cork</span> || Cuts nicely, the quality of the cut depends on the thickness and quality of the cork. Engineered cork has a lot of glue in it, may not cut nicely. ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Coroplast (corrugated plastic) || Difficult to cut through cleanly, due to the ribs. Multiple passes are usually needed. ||   
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Coroplast</span> (corrugated plastic) || Difficult to cut through cleanly, due to the ribs. Multiple passes are usually needed. ||   
 
|-
 
|-
| Delrin || Comes in a number of shore strengths (hardness), the harder tends to work better. Great for gears! ||   
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Delrin</span> || Comes in a number of shore strengths (hardness), the harder tends to work better. Great for gears! ||   
 
|-
 
|-
| Glass || Has a sandblasted look, green glass works best || '''Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam'''
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Glass</span> || Has a sandblasted look, green glass works best || '''Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam'''
 
|-
 
|-
| Leather, suede || Leather is very hard to cut, can be if thinner than a belt thickness ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Leather, suede</span> || Leather is very hard to cut, can be if thinner than a belt thickness ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| MDF, engineered woods || May experience a higher amount of charring when cut ||
+
| <span style="color:#008000">MDF, engineered woods</span> || May experience a higher amount of charring when cut ||
 
|-
 
|-
| Magnetic sheet || Cuts easily ||
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Magnetic sheet</span> || Cuts easily ||
 
|-
 
|-
| Marble ||  || '''Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam'''
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Marble</span> ||  || '''Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam'''
 
|-
 
|-
| Matte Board ||  ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Matte Board</span> ||  ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Melamine ||  ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Melamine</span> ||  ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Mylar || Works well if it's thin. Thick mylar has a tendency to warp, bubble, and curl || Gold coated mylar will not work
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Mylar</span> || Works well if it's thin. Thick mylar has a tendency to warp, bubble, and curl || Gold coated mylar will not work
 
|-
 
|-
| Paper, card stock ||  ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Paper, card stock</span> ||  ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Plywood, composite woods || Contain glue, and may not cut as well as solid wood ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Plywood, composite woods</span> || Contain glue, and may not cut as well as solid wood ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Pressboard ||  ||
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Pressboard</span> ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| NON-CHLORINE Rubber || '''DO NOT CUT''' unless the rubber compound has been tested || '''Beware chlorine-containing rubber!''' If you're not sure, assume you've got chlorinated rubber, and don't cut it.
+
| <span style="color:#008000">NON-CHLORINE Rubber</span> || '''DO NOT CUT''' unless the rubber compound has been tested || '''Beware chlorine-containing rubber!''' If you're not sure, assume you've got chlorinated rubber, and don't cut it.
 
|-
 
|-
| Tile || || '''Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam'''
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Tile</span> || || '''Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam'''
 
|-
 
|-
| Wood || Avoid oily/resinous woods || FIRE - Cutting oily woods, or very resinous woods can catch fire.
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Wood</span> || Avoid oily/resinous woods || FIRE - Cutting oily woods, or very resinous woods can catch fire.
 
|-
 
|-
| Wood Veneer || Contain glue, and may not cut as well as solid wood ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Wood Veneer</span> || Contain glue, and may not cut as well as solid wood ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Anodized Aluminum || Vaporizes the anodized layer away ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Anodized Aluminum</span> || Vaporizes the anodized layer away ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Bare Metals || ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Bare Metals</span> || ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Brass || ||
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Brass</span> || ||
 
|-
 
|-
| Coated Metals || || ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Coated Metals</span> || || ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Painted Metals || Vaporizes the paint away ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Painted Metals</span> || Vaporizes the paint away ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Stainless Steel ||  ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Stainless Steel</span> ||  ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Titanium ||  ||  
+
| <span style="color:#008000">Titanium</span> ||  ||  
 
|}
 
|}
  
Line 121: Line 121:
 
! Name !! DANGER !! WARNING  
 
! Name !! DANGER !! WARNING  
 
|-
 
|-
| ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) || Emits cyanide gas and tends to melt || ABS does not cut well in a laser cutter. It tends to melt rather than vaporize, and has a higher chance of catching on fire and leaving behind melted gooey deposits on the vector cutting grid. It also does not engrave well (again, tends to melt).
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)</span> || Emits cyanide gas and tends to melt || ABS does not cut well in a laser cutter. It tends to melt rather than vaporize, and has a higher chance of catching on fire and leaving behind melted gooey deposits on the vector cutting grid. It also does not engrave well (again, tends to melt).
 
|-
 
|-
| Chlorinated plastics (PVC/Poly Vinyl Chloride, vinyl/pleather/artificial leather) || Emits pure chlorine gas when cut! || '''Don't ever cut this material''' as it will ruin the optics, cause the metal of the machine to corrode, and ruin the motion control system. Bubbles yellow, smokes alot, STINKS!!!!!
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">Chlorinated plastics (PVC/Poly Vinyl Chloride, vinyl/pleather/artificial leather)</span> || Emits pure chlorine gas when cut! || '''Don't ever cut this material''' as it will ruin the optics, cause the metal of the machine to corrode, and ruin the motion control system. Bubbles yellow, smokes alot, STINKS!!!!!
 
|-
 
|-
| Coated Carbon Fiber || Emits noxious fumes || A mix of two materials. Thin carbon fiber mat can be cut, with some fraying - but not when coated  
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">Coated Carbon Fiber</span> || Emits noxious fumes || A mix of two materials. Thin carbon fiber mat can be cut, with some fraying - but not when coated  
 
|-
 
|-
| Fiberglass || Emits fumes || It's a mix of two materials that cant' be cut. Glass (etch, no cut) and epoxy resin (fumes)   
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">Fiberglass</span> || Emits fumes || It's a mix of two materials that cant' be cut. Glass (etch, no cut) and epoxy resin (fumes)   
 
|-
 
|-
| Galvanized metal || Emits dangerous fumes || Zinc fumes are poisonous. Galvanized metal should never be super heated (so don't weld on it either).  
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">Galvanized metal</span> || Emits dangerous fumes || Zinc fumes are poisonous. Galvanized metal should never be super heated (so don't weld on it either).  
 
|-
 
|-
| Metal ||  || [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_cutting#Power_consumption Power needed for LASER to cut metal]
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">Metal</span> ||  || [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_cutting#Power_consumption Power needed for LASER to cut metal]
 
|-
 
|-
| Milk bottles/HDPE || Catches fire and melts || It melts, gets gooey. DON'T. Someone has to clean the hex worktable.
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">Milk bottles/HDPE</span> || Catches fire and melts || It melts, gets gooey. DON'T. Someone has to clean the hex worktable.
 
|-
 
|-
| Mirrored surfaces || Will not cut, reflects laser beam || Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam, damaging the cutter's interior components. Some mirrored materials can be placed reflective-side down and cut.
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">Mirrored surfaces</span> || Will not cut, reflects laser beam || Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam, damaging the cutter's interior components. Some mirrored materials can be placed reflective-side down and cut.
 
|-
 
|-
| Polycarbonate/Lexan || Cut very poorly, discolor, catch fire || Polycarbonate is often found as flat, sheet material. The window of the laser cutter is made of Polycarbonate because polycarbonate strongly absorbs infrared radiation! This is the frequency of light the laser cutter uses to cut materials, so it is very ineffective at cutting polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a poor choice for laser cutting.   
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">Polycarbonate/Lexan</span> || Cut very poorly, discolor, catch fire || Polycarbonate is often found as flat, sheet material. The window of the laser cutter is made of Polycarbonate because polycarbonate strongly absorbs infrared radiation! This is the frequency of light the laser cutter uses to cut materials, so it is very ineffective at cutting polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a poor choice for laser cutting.   
 
|-
 
|-
| PolyPropylene Foam || Catches fire || Like PolyStyrene, it melts, catches fire, and the melted drops continue to burn and turn into rock-hard drips and pebbles.  
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">PolyPropylene Foam</span> || Catches fire || Like PolyStyrene, it melts, catches fire, and the melted drops continue to burn and turn into rock-hard drips and pebbles.  
 
|-
 
|-
| PolyStyrene Foam || Catches fire || Like PolyPropylene. It catches fire, it melts, and only thin pieces cut. '''This is the #1 material that causes laser fires!!!'''
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">PolyStyrene Foam</span> || Catches fire || Like PolyPropylene. It catches fire, it melts, and only thin pieces cut. '''This is the #1 material that causes laser fires!!!'''
 
|-
 
|-
| Pressure treated wood || Emits dangerous fumes || Should never be burned -- not in your fireplace, and definitely not in our LASER
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">Pressure treated wood</span> || Emits dangerous fumes || Should never be burned -- not in your fireplace, and definitely not in our LASER
 
|-
 
|-
| Printed circuit board (FR4 and other material types) ||  ||  
+
| <span style="color:#D03333">Printed circuit board (FR4 and other material types)</span> ||  ||  
 
|}
 
|}
  
Line 154: Line 154:
 
* [http://www.chymist.com/Polymer%20Identification.pdf Polymer Identification (PDF) by David A. Katz]
 
* [http://www.chymist.com/Polymer%20Identification.pdf Polymer Identification (PDF) by David A. Katz]
 
* [http://www.nclark.net/Density_Column.pdf Density Column Using Recyclable Plastics]
 
* [http://www.nclark.net/Density_Column.pdf Density Column Using Recyclable Plastics]
 
  
 
== Laser Cutter Certified Users ==
 
== Laser Cutter Certified Users ==

Revision as of 23:34, 21 December 2015

About

Laser cutter.jpg

The Laser cutter allows users to take designs created on a computer and cut and/or engrave using many diferent materials. Laser cutting is a great way to rapidly prototype projects. Interfacing with the laser cutter is performed with LaserCut v5.3.

The laser cutter does require regular cleaning and alignment. This is to be performed by trained volunteers only.


Machine access policy

Use of the Laser Cutter requires attendance in a certification workshop hosted by one of the approved instructors. Workshops are posted on the calendar.


Usage

Safety

Laser cutters pose a fire hazard. A high intensity beam of laser light can produce extremely high temperatures as it comes into contact with the materials it is engraving, marking, or cutting. When using the laser cutter, remember:

  1. You may only use the laser cutter if you have been officially certified according to the machine access policy
  2. Never leave the laser cutter unattended while it was powered on (even if it is not firing)
  3. Never cut materials that you don't know are safe
  4. Never override laser cutter safeties and switches
  5. Know what to do if a fire happens
    1. Hint: Hit the big, red, emergency stop button. This will shutdown the laser and the air supply.
    2. A Carbon Dioxide (CO2) fire extinguisher is located next to the laser cutter

Before starting the laser cutter:

  1. Check the coolant window in the back of the chiller before starting any project.

After starting the laser cutter:

  1. Before cutting make sure the air compressor and the fan motor are on
  2. Refer to the cutting manual for appropriate engraving and speed and power settings for varied materials
  3. Beware of flammable materials while using the machines.

Workflow

  1. Create design or import
    If importing, unite lines (under Tools menu)
  2. Separate layers if necessary (by changing their colors)
  3. Set layer modes
  4. Set layer powers/speeds
  5. Set origin (under Laser menu)
  6. Download
    1. Delete all
    2. Download current
  7. Load media into cutter
  8. Focus laser (in center of media)
  9. Move laser to origin
  10. Run box / test
  11. Close lid and start

Materials

Cutting a bad material in the laser cutter can be dangerous. Only approved materials should be cut, and banned materials should never be placed in or even around the laser cutter. Cutting an unknown material risks bodily harm and damage to equipment/facilities.

Approved materials

Name Notes Warnings
Acrylic
(aka Plexiglas, Lucite, PMMA)
Cuts well, leaves a smooth polished edge. Higher powers can leave smoke/scorch marks along edges. Some people remove paper/plastic protection sheets before cutting.
Cardboard Cuts well, can catch fire FIRE hazard!
Ceramic Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam
Cloth (cotton, felt, hemp) Cuts easily NO plastic coated or impregnated cloth!
Corian
Cork Cuts nicely, the quality of the cut depends on the thickness and quality of the cork. Engineered cork has a lot of glue in it, may not cut nicely.
Coroplast (corrugated plastic) Difficult to cut through cleanly, due to the ribs. Multiple passes are usually needed.
Delrin Comes in a number of shore strengths (hardness), the harder tends to work better. Great for gears!
Glass Has a sandblasted look, green glass works best Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam
Leather, suede Leather is very hard to cut, can be if thinner than a belt thickness
MDF, engineered woods May experience a higher amount of charring when cut
Magnetic sheet Cuts easily
Marble Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam
Matte Board
Melamine
Mylar Works well if it's thin. Thick mylar has a tendency to warp, bubble, and curl Gold coated mylar will not work
Paper, card stock
Plywood, composite woods Contain glue, and may not cut as well as solid wood
Pressboard
NON-CHLORINE Rubber DO NOT CUT unless the rubber compound has been tested Beware chlorine-containing rubber! If you're not sure, assume you've got chlorinated rubber, and don't cut it.
Tile Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam
Wood Avoid oily/resinous woods FIRE - Cutting oily woods, or very resinous woods can catch fire.
Wood Veneer Contain glue, and may not cut as well as solid wood
Anodized Aluminum Vaporizes the anodized layer away
Bare Metals
Brass
Coated Metals
Painted Metals Vaporizes the paint away
Stainless Steel
Titanium

Banned materials

These materials should never be processed in the laser cutter.

Name DANGER WARNING
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) Emits cyanide gas and tends to melt ABS does not cut well in a laser cutter. It tends to melt rather than vaporize, and has a higher chance of catching on fire and leaving behind melted gooey deposits on the vector cutting grid. It also does not engrave well (again, tends to melt).
Chlorinated plastics (PVC/Poly Vinyl Chloride, vinyl/pleather/artificial leather) Emits pure chlorine gas when cut! Don't ever cut this material as it will ruin the optics, cause the metal of the machine to corrode, and ruin the motion control system. Bubbles yellow, smokes alot, STINKS!!!!!
Coated Carbon Fiber Emits noxious fumes A mix of two materials. Thin carbon fiber mat can be cut, with some fraying - but not when coated
Fiberglass Emits fumes It's a mix of two materials that cant' be cut. Glass (etch, no cut) and epoxy resin (fumes)
Galvanized metal Emits dangerous fumes Zinc fumes are poisonous. Galvanized metal should never be super heated (so don't weld on it either).
Metal Power needed for LASER to cut metal
Milk bottles/HDPE Catches fire and melts It melts, gets gooey. DON'T. Someone has to clean the hex worktable.
Mirrored surfaces Will not cut, reflects laser beam Mirror surfaces can reflect the laser beam, damaging the cutter's interior components. Some mirrored materials can be placed reflective-side down and cut.
Polycarbonate/Lexan Cut very poorly, discolor, catch fire Polycarbonate is often found as flat, sheet material. The window of the laser cutter is made of Polycarbonate because polycarbonate strongly absorbs infrared radiation! This is the frequency of light the laser cutter uses to cut materials, so it is very ineffective at cutting polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a poor choice for laser cutting.
PolyPropylene Foam Catches fire Like PolyStyrene, it melts, catches fire, and the melted drops continue to burn and turn into rock-hard drips and pebbles.
PolyStyrene Foam Catches fire Like PolyPropylene. It catches fire, it melts, and only thin pieces cut. This is the #1 material that causes laser fires!!!
Pressure treated wood Emits dangerous fumes Should never be burned -- not in your fireplace, and definitely not in our LASER
Printed circuit board (FR4 and other material types)

Other resources

Laser Cutter Certified Users

Name Certification Date
Brad Cooley 2015-November-16
Bryan Barr (FabLab BD) 2015-August-07
Charlie Fair 2015-November-11
Cory Kertz 2015-November-11
David Springs
Ivan Quiroz 2015-November-16
James Classen 2015-November-11
Jerry Carpenter 2015-August-07
Jerry Shubert 2015-November-11
John Alexander (instructor) 2015-December-02
John Harrison 2015-October-30
Jonny Fosnight 2015-November-16
Logan Pajunen 2015-November-11
Mike Doolittle (instructor) 2015-August-07
Mike Hutton 2015-November-11
Stephen Reckers 2015-November-16
Tom McGuire 2015-August-07
William Davisson
Charles Griesel 2015-December-02
Samuel McConnell 2015-December-02
Dominic Canare (instructor) 2015-December-02
Skyler Lovelace 2015-December-02
Weston Vice 2015-December-5
James Lancaster 2015-December-5
Dana Danaver 2015-December-5
Geoffrey Kisch 2015-December-5
Joel Ewy 2015-December-5
Samuel Schurter 2015-December-5
Dean Day 2015-December-12
Christian Kindel 2015-December-12
Curt Gridley 2015-December-12
James Seymour 2015-December-12
James Hammer 2015-December-12
Thomas Bloom 2015-December-12