LaserCutter/UsingLaserCutter

pattern these pages after this

12 minute video of FSL 5th gen 20X12 model from manufacturer

Safety

The laser cutter is a potentially dangerous machine. It is very easy to start fires with the laser cutter. The laser cutter can also produce dangerous fumes (e.g., chlorine) if used with improper materials. An employee of the school must be within 10 feet of the laser while it is in operation. Do not attempt to use it unattended.

Material

Never cut PVC, or other chlorinated plastics (Lexan and PC board are also strongly discouraged). PVC in particular will give off chlorine gas, which is not only highly corrosive to the machine, but also dangerous for any nearby people.

Never cut any material without having an MSD for it displayed. If the material does not have an MSD for it, or the material is unknown, then talk to an instructor or lab manager. Do not attempt to cut it.

Scoring-Breaking PlexiGlas

clamp the plexiglas to bench with piece of metal ... use furniture clamps .. then using X-acto knife, make 4 passes, then 4 passes on each edge, then turn the X-acto knife around so dragging blunt side rather than sharp side .. pushing down hard to widen and pre-stress the plexiglass before breaking
after breaking plexiglas, one corner did not break properly ... did not scour deeply enough on the edges
trying to break with needle noise created shards with same needle/cutting problems of glass .. don't do this .. over score the first time
Example of what the laser cutter can do

In the event of Fire

Press the START/CANCEL button and then HOME to stop the laser and send the head to the home position.
Lift the lid and throw a fire blanket on the fire.
Use tongs to position the fire blanket.
Remove the material, put in the sink and soak in water.

In case these steps don't work, you must know how to use a fire extinguisher.

Only use the fire extinguisher when the fire is spreading. The fire extinguisher can blast the material on fire into little pieces and spread them all over the room ... making the fire worse.
Pick up the fire extinguisher. Aim the black nozzle at the first. The nozzle will get extremely cold and will cause frost byte and perhaps damage your fingers if you try to aim it once turned on.
Pull the firing pin and then pull the trigger.

Save file to be cut

Any software package will do.
Save in the generic, google drive laser cutter folder from any computer.

Find the following

Instructor or lab aid
compressed air can
micro fiber cleaning towel
fire extinguisher
tongs
fire blanket
2 inch focus block

flashlight
material to be cut
MSD for the material to be cut
Display MSD on the second monitor

Turning on the Laser Cutter

Find lab instructor that will stay with you for the duration of the print
Open lid, make sure inside is clean. Wipe down with a rag.
Blow compressed air on all lenses and mirrors (don't touch them).
Check that the pump out tube from water pump in the bucket full of distilled water is hooked up to water in nozzle on laser cutter and that the return tube from the distilled water bucket is hooked up to the water out nozzle on the laser printer.

pumpout and return tubes
should have distilled water in it and a water pump hooked up to the pumpout/return tubes
Water In and Water out nozzles on laser cutter

Check that zero surge(surge protector) is plugged in
Check that scrubber is plugged in and hooked up to laser printer (make sure the big black tube is connected)
Turn on the zero surge (surge protector)
Check that water is circulating
Check that air condenser is NOT plugged in and NOT hooked up to air inlet on laser cutter
Check for bubbles in the laser tube using flashlight and another person
if there is a bubble in the the right side of the tube:

-make sure to unplug power plug and USB and any other connections from the right side of the laser printer

-remove honeycomb and board and wood

-place laser printer on it's right side

-drain tube by lowering bucket and turning off pump

-refill tube (turn pump back on)

-place laser cutter flat on table again

-place bucket back in place

-check for bubbles again

-if right bubble is still there repeat this procedure

if there is a bubble on the left:

-turn the pump off and on to slightly drain and refill the tube in order to try to bush the bubble out of the tube.

Check that bubbles are gone
replace honeycomb and board and wood
place material in cutter
Check that laser cutter power is plugged in
Check that air condenser is plugged in and hooked up to air inlet on laser cutter

where to connect the air condenser

Check that compressed air leaves underneath the focusing lens
Turn on the scrubber (press round green button)

Check that exhaust is coming out the back of the scrubber
Turn on the laser cutter

Normal Operation

watch this introduction to the software

Go to the computer next to the laser cutter and fire up the Retina software.
Launch the application associated with the file in the Google drive folder.
Print from the application to the Retina software.
If using inventor:

-save the 2-D sketch (click on the "I" icon then click on save)

-export it as a .dwg (click on the "I" icon, mouse over "export" on the dropdown menu and click on "export to DWG")

-click on the down arrow to the right of the "new" button which is located to the right of the "I"

-select drawing from the drop down menu

-Import the .DWG file (click on the "I" icon, mouse over "open" on the dropdown menu and click on "Import DWG")

-print to full spectrum engineering driver *WARNING: If laser cutter is on and connected with lid closed this step will IMMEDIATELY BEGIN laser cutting make sure lid is open or laser cutter is not connected before hitting print*

make sure laser is connected to computer
Home the print head.
Move to the upper left corner.
Jog right .8
Put the 2 inch focus block underneath the air supply and aim the laser.
Run the perimeter to make sure the laser stays on top of your material.
Press print in the Retina software.