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spacedocumentation:lasercutterhowto
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spacedocumentation:lasercutterhowto [2012/11/04 05:51] shanet [Software] |
spacedocumentation:lasercutterhowto [2017/09/11 03:33] (current) branth [Plastic Film Sheets] |
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| ====== Laser Cutter HOW TO ====== | ====== Laser Cutter HOW TO ====== | ||
| + | Note: This was originally written in December 2011 for the 25 Watt Laser Cutter. Things may have changed since then. | ||
| ===== Introduction ===== | ===== Introduction ===== | ||
| Line 9: | Line 10: | ||
| Some jobs take a long time to run. If you need to run to the bathroom or something, find someone to watch it for you. | Some jobs take a long time to run. If you need to run to the bathroom or something, find someone to watch it for you. | ||
| - | [ Note: You can download a PDF of the original manual here: http:// | ||
| ===== Starting up the Laser Cutter ===== | ===== Starting up the Laser Cutter ===== | ||
| Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
| Once you have your template file loaded, you can create your artwork, or import a file. | Once you have your template file loaded, you can create your artwork, or import a file. | ||
| - | I've found that DXF files seem to work for vector format, and PNG works for raster format. It should be noted that there is a documented problem when importing SVG's into CorelDraw...it will rescale them to roughly 3/4 of their original size. No one seems to have a fix for this yet, but the other formats work just fine. | + | I've found that DXF files seem to work for vector format, and PNG works for raster format. It should be noted that there is a documented problem when importing SVG's into CorelDraw...it will rescale them to roughly 3/4 of their original size. No one seems to have a fix for this yet, but the other formats work just fine. Found a workaround, since Corel Draw can easily import a PDF file. You can use [[https:// |
| Make sure you do a 'Save As' and give your file a name. (You' | Make sure you do a 'Save As' and give your file a name. (You' | ||
| Line 61: | Line 61: | ||
| You'll see that Power, Speed, and PPI can now be adjusted. Adjust them as needed and click that big ' | You'll see that Power, Speed, and PPI can now be adjusted. Adjust them as needed and click that big ' | ||
| + | |||
| + | The "image density" | ||
| + | High image density = 6, slowest, highest quality | ||
| + | Low image density = 1, fastest, lowest quality | ||
| + | A setting of 4 or 5 will generally produce an acceptable image faster than always using 6 | ||
| {{ : | {{ : | ||
| Line 71: | Line 76: | ||
| ===== Preparing Adobe Illustrator Files ===== | ===== Preparing Adobe Illustrator Files ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | This is a prefix detailing how I (Shane T.) use Illustrator CS5 to create files for laser cutting via CorelDraw 12. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1.) In order to import into Corel, the colors must be CMYK. For example, to get " | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2.) For vector cutting and etching, you need to set the stroke weight to .001. This will translate to " | ||
| + | |||
| + | 3.) For text, make sure you select the text object, then go to Text--> | ||
| + | |||
| + | 4.) To save things properly, select "Save As". In the top-most drop-down box, select " | ||
| + | |||
| + | 5.) " | ||
| + | |||
| + | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
| Corel Draw will directly (and mostly correctly!) import Adobe Illustrator files if they are prepared properly. | Corel Draw will directly (and mostly correctly!) import Adobe Illustrator files if they are prepared properly. | ||
| Line 80: | Line 99: | ||
| TODO(jgessner): | TODO(jgessner): | ||
| - | Another important thing to remember in Illustrator is that (supposedly - i need to verify this) a .1 pt stroke is equivalent to the " | + | Another important thing to remember in Illustrator is that (supposedly - i need to verify this) a .1 pt stroke is equivalent to the " |
| + | Note: A " | ||
| ===== Laser Cutter Control Panel ===== | ===== Laser Cutter Control Panel ===== | ||
| Line 93: | Line 113: | ||
| NOTE: These aren't hard and fast rules - always check your job with a scrap of the material you want to use first! | NOTE: These aren't hard and fast rules - always check your job with a scrap of the material you want to use first! | ||
| - | * Paper | + | [[spacedocumentation: |
| + | |||
| + | ==== Paper ==== | ||
| * Watch out! Paper burns easily! | * Watch out! Paper burns easily! | ||
| * 100% power is fine as long as your speed is under N%. | * 100% power is fine as long as your speed is under N%. | ||
| * Jason G had good luck with 80%-100% power and 30% speed. | * Jason G had good luck with 80%-100% power and 30% speed. | ||
| - | * Baltic Birch Plywood | + | ==== Baltic Birch Plywood |
| * 100% Power - 1-3% speed. | * 100% Power - 1-3% speed. | ||
| * Will easily take 3 or more passes, depending on how clean the mirrors are. | * Will easily take 3 or more passes, depending on how clean the mirrors are. | ||
| * See more notes on [[equipment: | * See more notes on [[equipment: | ||
| + | ==== Cutting HDPE ==== | ||
| + | * Absorbs too much heat, not a clean cut | ||
| + | * Hard to get through 1/8" material without reflow/ | ||
| + | * Better machined/ | ||
| + | * {{: | ||
| + | * {{: | ||
| - | Rubber Stamp Cutting Notes | + | ==== Direction of wood grain ==== |
| - | Rubber Stamp setting | + | * When setting |
| - | * Subsetting under the Rubber Stamp options were left as their defaults | + | * This minimizes how much the piece will warp over time. |
| - | * Pattern was build as a negative | + | * Shape A will curl up more than Shape B. |
| - | * Black color was used as what would be cut out | + | * See image below: |
| - | * Invert any text as a stamp is a negative | + | * {{: |
| + | ==== Plastic Film Sheets ==== | ||
| + | In September 2017 we received a donation of several rolls of plastic film. We think they were dielectric materials | ||
| + | * Denser than water, sinks (not a polyolefin, HDPE, LDPE) | ||
| + | * Curls slightly when melted but does not drip or bubble | ||
| + | * Little smoke/ | ||
| + | * Metallized PP and PET films are used in capacitors from GE | ||
| + | {{: | ||
| + | {{: | ||
| + | {{: | ||
| - | Laser Power @ Speed = Results | + | ===== More Information ===== |
| + | Universal Laser has a [[https:// | ||
| - | * 100% @ 50 = Clean cut. High Flame. Shallow cut | ||
| - | * 100% @ 25 = Clean cut. No Flame. Deep cut. Very Successful. | ||
| - | * Note: May need one more pass at this setting | ||
| - | * 100% @ >.5 = Scorching. Rubber started to melt and charred | ||
| - | * Note: Tried to use to cut through the rubber. Not advised | ||
spacedocumentation/lasercutterhowto.1352008289.txt.gz · Last modified: 2012/11/04 05:51 by shanet
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