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laser_cutter [2017/06/09 02:24] – [Material Settings] thesaxmachine | laser_cutter [2021/07/10 03:53] – [Material Settings] RevEng | ||
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- | ==== Large Laser Cutter ==== | + | ==== Laser Cutter ==== |
- | Note: We have two laser cutters now. This page is for the big one! | + | |
+ | ==== Getting Started Manual ==== | ||
+ | [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Inkscape ==== | ||
+ | [[https:// | ||
==== Material Settings ==== | ==== Material Settings ==== | ||
Please consider the following settings as guidelines only, it's always a good idea to do a test cut first. | Please consider the following settings as guidelines only, it's always a good idea to do a test cut first. | ||
- | === Through Cuts === | + | === Through Cuts (with 150W Laser 2) === |
^ Material | ^ Material | ||
- | | Plywood | + | | Plywood |
- | | Plywood | + | | Plywood |
| MDF | 1/ | | MDF | 1/ | ||
| MDF | 1/ | | MDF | 1/ | ||
| Hardboard | 1/8" | 100% | 40mm/s | | | | Hardboard | 1/8" | 100% | 40mm/s | | | ||
| PET-G | 1/ | | PET-G | 1/ | ||
+ | | PET-G | .020" | ||
| Acrylic | 1/8" - 3mm | 100% | 20mm/ | | Acrylic | 1/8" - 3mm | 100% | 20mm/ | ||
- | | ABS | 1/8" - 3mm | 75% | 20mm/s | | | + | | ABS | 1/8" - 3mm | 100% | 11mm/s | ** Tested on new tube ** Used to say 18, but that wouldn' |
| Felt | 1/16" | 10% | 20mm/ | | Felt | 1/16" | 10% | 20mm/ | ||
| Styrene | 0.30" | 100% | 20mm/ | | Styrene | 0.30" | 100% | 20mm/ | ||
- | | Acetate Film (Transparencies)| |10-15%|50mm/ | + | | Acetate Film (Transparencies)| |10-15%|50mm/ |
- | | Paper/Heavy Paper | -- | 5% | 50mm/s| | + | | Paper/Heavy Paper | -- | 5% | 50mm/s| | |
- | | Bristol Board | -- | 20% | 50mm/s| | + | | Bristol Board | -- | 20% | 50mm/s| | |
+ | | Compact Disc | -- | 15% | 25mm/s| | | ||
+ | | EVA Foam | 1/2" | 100% | 40mm/s | 50mm/s almost got through, but not quite| | ||
+ | | EVA Foam | "Hobby Foam" maybe 2mm? | 100% | 80mm/s | This may have been way overkill, but it was my first attempt and it worked fine but scorched the bottom a bit. | | ||
* Make sure the first pass cuts through or there will be too much smoke. The second pass is necessary because the plastic melts itself back together during the first pass. | * Make sure the first pass cuts through or there will be too much smoke. The second pass is necessary because the plastic melts itself back together during the first pass. | ||
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=== Masking your work with paper transfer tape === | === Masking your work with paper transfer tape === | ||
- | Sometimes you can't easily raise your work. You might be dealing with warped stock which is difficult to both raise and pull flat (see below), or cutting tightly-spaced parts that risk falling " | + | Sometimes you can't easily raise your work. You might be dealing with warped stock which is difficult to both raise and pull flat (see below), or cutting tightly-spaced parts that risk falling " |
=== Holding down thin, warped material === | === Holding down thin, warped material === | ||
If you've ever cut 1/8" plywood, you'll know that warped stock is pretty much inescapable, | If you've ever cut 1/8" plywood, you'll know that warped stock is pretty much inescapable, | ||
- | An excellent alternative is to use rare earth/ | + | An excellent alternative is to use rare earth/ |
- | === Etching === | + | === Rastering (with 40W Laser 1) === |
+ | ^ Material | ||
+ | | Plywood | ||
+ | | Acrylic | ||
+ | |||
+ | Remove any surface covering (e.g. plastic film, masking tape). Focus with 11.5mm from tip of nozzle to surface of material. Adjust valve on air line so that you can't feel air coming out of nozzle tip unless you completely cover it with your finger tip. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Etching | ||
+ | ^ Material | ||
+ | | Plywood | ||
+ | | Acrylic | ||
+ | |||
+ | Focus with 11.5mm from tip of nozzle to surface of material. Adjust valve on air line so that you can't feel air coming out of nozzle tip unless you completely cover it with your finger tip. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Etching (with 150W Laser 2) === | ||
^ Material | ^ Material | ||
- | | Plywood | + | | Plywood |
- | | Acrylic | + | | Acrylic |
- | | Leather | + | | Leather |
| Stainless Steel | 100% | 25mm/s to 50mm/s | | | Stainless Steel | 100% | 25mm/s to 50mm/s | | ||
+ | | PCB Solder Mask | 14.5% [1] | 200mm/s | | ||
+ | [1] Note that lines will tend to overcut at corners and ends. Consider using the 40W laser for finer lines and more consistent power. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Focus with 6mm from tip of nozzle to surface of material. | ||
=== Transparencies === | === Transparencies === | ||
^ Method | ^ Method | ||
| Raster | 1% | 40mm/s | [[smtstencil|Detailed SMT Stencil Instructions]]| | | Raster | 1% | 40mm/s | [[smtstencil|Detailed SMT Stencil Instructions]]| | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Laserable Materials === | ||
+ | This chart was stolen from Epilog, maker of lasers that are more expensive than ours. However, still being CO2 lasers, one can assume the list of compatible materials should be the same. | ||
+ | ^ Material ^ Engrave ^ Cut ^ | ||
+ | | Wood | x | x | | ||
+ | | Acrylic | x | x | | ||
+ | | Fabric | x | x | | ||
+ | | Glass | x | | | ||
+ | | Coated Metals | x | | | ||
+ | | Ceramic | x | | | ||
+ | | Delrin | x | x | | ||
+ | | Cloth | x | x | | ||
+ | | Leather | x | x | | ||
+ | | Marble | x | | | ||
+ | | Matte Board | x | x | | ||
+ | | Melamine | x | x | | ||
+ | | Paper | x | x | | ||
+ | | Mylar | x | x | | ||
+ | | Pressboard | x | x | | ||
+ | | Rubber | x | x | | ||
+ | | Wood Veneer | x | x | | ||
+ | | Fiberglass | x | x | | ||
+ | | Painted Metals | x | | | ||
+ | | Tile | x | | | ||
+ | | Cork | x | x | | ||
+ | | Corian | x | x | | ||
+ | | Anodized Aluminum | x | | | ||
+ | | Stainless Steel | x | | | ||
+ | | Titanium | x | | | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||