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Table of Contents

LASER CUTTER

Quelab is pleased to offer to its members access to a 80 watt CO2 infrared laser cutter.

lasercutter.jpg

Authorized Users

This is a RED level tool, and requires additional training, and is available to members-only

Only authorized users are permitted to use the laser! To become an authorized user, you must be trained by one of the Authorized Trainers.

Operation

Head over to Laser Operations for laser usage and procedures.

Configuration/Calibration Tips

The mechanical stops at the bottom of the Y-axis in their current position are really, really, really easy to crash into. Especially during [TEST] if you're off a bit on material placement. Be warned.

To tighten the second pulley for the X-axis stepper (the larger pulley on the end of the small belt that goes right to the stepper pinion), you need to remove the small timing belt – the set screw for the big pulley is beneath the timing belt (on the edge of the pulley) so you can't see it. Thanks to Ray for pointing this out. To remove the small belt, which is very tight, open the right side top access cover of the cutter. The X stepper is mounted to a black plate which has 4 vertical screws in slots (tension adjuster). Loosen those and the belt slips right off, then the set screw in the big pulley can be tightened.

File Formats

The Lasercut application will directly import Illustrator 7 files (be sure to convert all fonts to outlines and be sure that ruler units are set to mm). Note that if you name your layers “cut” and “engrave”, even if you have more than one layer named “cut” or “engrave”, Lasercut will respect those layers names and maintain your layers when importing.

The Lasercut application will directly import DXF version 12 files and lower. DXF is a CAD format. Some versions of Illustrator will export to this format, as will most CAD programs, and a slew of open-source drawing/painting programs.

PNG and JPG files can be directly imported for engraving only.

- Automatic lasercut notched six-sided box generator. A little primitive, but if you don't have – or want to spend – the time figuring out all the notches for a simple box, this can be pretty nifty. It let's you plug in material thickness and basic notch parameters. It's also a neat way to see how this technique looks if it's a new method for you.

- this page has some nice sample projects to cut - a T-Rex to get started with, a basic box demonstrating tabbed box construction, and a teeny led lamp showing curving materials with a series of slits, as well as using captured nuts with screws for joinery.

- Automatic lasercut notched six-sided box generator. A little primitive, but if you don't have – or want to spend – the time figuring out all the notches for a simple box, this can be pretty nifty. It let's you plug in material thickness and basic notch parameters. It's also a neat way to see how this technique looks if it's a new method for you.