A0 Laser Cutter - Just Add Sharks Silvertail

Bristol Hackspace is privileged to have an enormous 1200mm by 900mm 80 Watt laser cutter.
The laser cutter is a fantastic tool that allows you to produce complex shapes from designs made in CAD. It's great for quick production of 2D designs and is one of the easier rapid prototyping machines to understand.

• Any use of the laser must be in line with the Usage Agreement
• There is a charge of £5.00/hour pro rata (0.0833 per minute) for laser cutting time (Not currently in place. May be re-introduced in the future)

All users MUST be inducted prior to using the laser. Please request an induction on the discourse forum and familiarise yourself with the documentation prior to attending your induction.

• Inducted Bristol Hackspace members only
• Approved materials only
• Confirm that the chiller, extraction and air assist are working
• Do not leave laser cutting unattended

Failure to follow the guidelines, or other unsafe use may result in your access being revoked and you will not be allowed to use the laser cutter.

Recommended Software

File Preparation Instructions

Matt's Induction Notes

Common Troubleshooting tips

• Acrylic (up to ~12mm)
• Plywood (up to ~10mm)
• MDF (up to ~10mm)
• Paper/Card

Full Materials List

Laser Cutter Usage Agreement

Laser Cutter Risk Assessment 2015-08-30

Suppler FAQ Page

User Manual - This is for the A1 Blacknose but the A0 Silvertail is the same design.

Dimensions for Just Add Sharks Laser Cutters

MPC6515 controller manual - This contains documentation for the laser cutter interface!

LaserCut 5.3 Manual - See section 4, Universal Edition

LaserCut 5.3 software and drivers

Focus_Tool.ecp

Retention_Clips_x10.ecp

• Visually inspect the three mirrors and lens for dirt or damage - clean only if necessary
• Remove bed, remove waste and clean cutting area
• Check chiller filter - clean if necessary
• Check chiller water level - fill with distilled water if necessary

• Clean the mirrors and lens
• Check mirror alignment and make adjustments if necessary
• Check the extraction system for damage or dirt build-up
• Oil the linear bearings
• Check the bed is level
• Check chiller hoses for signs of wear
• Check laser tube is free of bubbles

The laser tube power output will deteriorate with use and need replacing when this falls below acceptable performance.

• 10/04/2018 - Tube Power 77 Watts

to be integrated in to page.

1. Never leave unattended
2. Always use the Emergency Stop button that is on the laser before the one on the wall, and especially so in emergency - this allows the water cooler and extractor to stay on and help put out any fires, reduce damage, etc.
3. Laser MUST be below 24c, better to be less than 21c. Read the temperature from the refrigerator unit. In the warm months, it can take 10+ minutes to come down to temperature.

Materials:

1. Full Materials List
2. Absolutely no PVC. The “Chloride” part of Poly Vinyl Chloride vapourises in to chlorine gas and can't be easily extracted by the extractor. Be extra sure of materials as some look confusing.
3. It won't cut steel
4. It can cut Aluminium, but only with a special coating
5. Acrylic 4mm will be cut through at 12-15mm/s
6. If you're unsure of laser power, do test cuts e.g. a few squares in the corner of your workpiece to work out how slow to cut through

Files:

1. Must export in DXF
2. Must be in mm
3. Open Lasercut5.3 on the PC.
4. Import DXF
5. Tools > unite lines.
6. Change scale, type X width then click 3 dots on y to set proportional scale.
7. “Pick” tool to move things
8. Use different colours to create layers
9. Double-click colour to open options
10. Generally always blow
11. Speed is measured in mm/s
12. Corner power - can reduce
13. Layers work in order, top first.
14. Generally want to engrave then cut, to prevent movement.
15. To just engrave, put 70mm, 50% for acrylic
16. Engrave Mode setting will engrave the internal area of a shape.
17. Cut Mode will cut on the lines.
18. Unsure of other modes.
19. Need to Set Knife Origin in the application, to let it know where to start the laser from.
20. Click Download, Delete All (clear queue), Download Current

Laser:

1. Position laser, then material
2. Press enter, then enter again, SET LOGIC ORG (ORIGIN).
3. Do test button to trace outline of cut.
4. Press Z button to start changing height, then up and down. Press Z again to exit height mode.
5. Use little wooden tool to ensure bed height is correct
6. Never push Datum in Z mode. There is no safety switch in Z mode, so it would keep lifting the bed and crash it in to the laser.
7. ESC is your friend
8. Wait 10 seconds for extractor to finish extracting after finishing cutting.