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equipment:cnc:laser:prep [2023/01/22 12:44] – created fraserhequipment:cnc:laser:prep [2024/11/19 21:42] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 === DXF Versions === === DXF Versions ===
-There are multiple versions of the DXF file [[https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000446.shtml|spec]]. LaserCut has been observed to have best compatibility with DXF R14, and this should be used if it is an option in your program of choice. If this is not possible check your file carefully after importing, or use LibreCAD in the [[equipment:a0_laser_cutter:software|Laser Cutter Recommended Software]] to change the version.+There are multiple versions of the DXF file [[https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000446.shtml|spec]]. LaserCut has been observed to have best compatibility with DXF R14, and this should be used if it is an option in your program of choice. If this is not possible check your file carefully after importing, or use LibreCAD in the [[equipment:cnc:laser:software|Laser Cutter Recommended Software]] to change the version.
  
 ===== Using LaserCut ===== ===== Using LaserCut =====
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 === The LaserCut Interface === === The LaserCut Interface ===
-{{  :equipment:a0_laser_cutter:lc_interfce.png?direct&700 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_interfce.png?direct&700 |}}
 The LaserCut interface consists of file handling, navigation and advanced function buttons long the top row, design tools on the left, the laser options panel on the right and a colour palette on the bottom row. Tooltips will show the name of a tool if the mouse is hovered over a button. The box in the centre refers to the 1200x900mm work area of the laser cutter. Please note if you are planning on using the honeycomb bed the actual usable area is slightly smaller due to the frame.  The LaserCut interface consists of file handling, navigation and advanced function buttons long the top row, design tools on the left, the laser options panel on the right and a colour palette on the bottom row. Tooltips will show the name of a tool if the mouse is hovered over a button. The box in the centre refers to the 1200x900mm work area of the laser cutter. Please note if you are planning on using the honeycomb bed the actual usable area is slightly smaller due to the frame. 
  
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 === Design Tools === === Design Tools ===
 == Sizing and Placing Designs== == Sizing and Placing Designs==
-When importing a design it may initially be incorrectly sized, and may be placed outside of the work area. To solve this select your entire design and click the //Size// button on the left toolbar or choose //Tools -> Size//. {{ :equipment:a0_laser_cutter:lc_size.png?direct&300  |}}+When importing a design it may initially be incorrectly sized, and may be placed outside of the work area. To solve this select your entire design and click the //Size// button on the left toolbar or choose //Tools -> Size//. {{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_size.png?direct&300  |}}
 In the pop up enter the desired size in in mm in one axis and click the //"..."// button for the other axis to keep the aspect ratio the same. Resizing can also be done by dragging a corner of the selection, however this is not useful for accurate sizing. In the pop up enter the desired size in in mm in one axis and click the //"..."// button for the other axis to keep the aspect ratio the same. Resizing can also be done by dragging a corner of the selection, however this is not useful for accurate sizing.
  
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 If The Immediate checkbox is check checked then the placement within the work area no longer matters, as long as the design is not outside the work area. In this mode the origin point can be moved and set using the controls on the laser cutter and corresponds to the knife origin point in LaserCut, shown by a blue dot on the edge of the design. This can be moved by pressing the //Set knife origin// button or //Laser -> Set laser origin// and choosing one of the radio button options. If The Immediate checkbox is check checked then the placement within the work area no longer matters, as long as the design is not outside the work area. In this mode the origin point can be moved and set using the controls on the laser cutter and corresponds to the knife origin point in LaserCut, shown by a blue dot on the edge of the design. This can be moved by pressing the //Set knife origin// button or //Laser -> Set laser origin// and choosing one of the radio button options.
-{{ :equipment:a0_laser_cutter:lc_origin.png?direct&300 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_origin.png?direct&300 |}}
  
 Here both the Immediate checkbox on the right of the interface and the knife origin (blue dot) in the upper left of the design can be seen. Here both the Immediate checkbox on the right of the interface and the knife origin (blue dot) in the upper left of the design can be seen.
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_induction_file_layers.png?direct&700 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_induction_file_layers.png?direct&700 |}}
  
 == Tiling == == Tiling ==
 To cut multiple identical objects it is possible to tile your design by pressing the //Copys// button on the left toolbar and specify a number of times to tile and gap between each copy per axis.  To cut multiple identical objects it is possible to tile your design by pressing the //Copys// button on the left toolbar and specify a number of times to tile and gap between each copy per axis. 
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_copy_options.png?direct&300 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_copy_options.png?direct&300 |}}
 No gap can will result in the very edges being cut twice, unnecessarily increasing scorching along these cuts. For more advanced tiling options such as the ability to automatically tile to fit a material size, click the //Set array output options// button in the top toolbar. Nesting or intelligent tessellation are not possible within LaserCut. No gap can will result in the very edges being cut twice, unnecessarily increasing scorching along these cuts. For more advanced tiling options such as the ability to automatically tile to fit a material size, click the //Set array output options// button in the top toolbar. Nesting or intelligent tessellation are not possible within LaserCut.
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_array_result.png?direct&300 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_array_result.png?direct&300 |}}
  
 == Unite Lines == == Unite Lines ==
 When a file is imported it will often contain many separate cuts to make up one shape. The start/stop point for a cut is shown as a yellow node on the line. When a file is imported it will often contain many separate cuts to make up one shape. The start/stop point for a cut is shown as a yellow node on the line.
 To optimise each shape into one continuous cut, so that the cut is faster and has less scorching due to overlap, go to //Tools -> Unite lines.// To optimise each shape into one continuous cut, so that the cut is faster and has less scorching due to overlap, go to //Tools -> Unite lines.//
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_unite_window.png?direct&300 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_unite_window.png?direct&300 |}}
 In the Unite lines options window choose a tolerance to use when calculating lines to merge. A large value will combine shapes that should remain separate. See the before and after below. In the Unite lines options window choose a tolerance to use when calculating lines to merge. A large value will combine shapes that should remain separate. See the before and after below.
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_unite_lines.png?direct&700 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_unite_lines.png?direct&700 |}}
  
 == Layers == == Layers ==
 LaserCut uses colours to signify layers. These allow you to choose the order of cuts or to cut parts of the design using different settings. LaserCut uses colours to signify layers. These allow you to choose the order of cuts or to cut parts of the design using different settings.
 Unless you have incorporated LaserCut compatible colours into your design all lines will be black by default. To change colours select the area to change and click on a colour from the bottom palette. Unless you have incorporated LaserCut compatible colours into your design all lines will be black by default. To change colours select the area to change and click on a colour from the bottom palette.
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_induction_file_layers.png?direct&700 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_induction_file_layers.png?direct&700 |}}
 In the image above the design uses two layers, Blue and Black. In the laser settings panel to the right these are ordered so that Blue will be cut first, so that the inner detail will be cut before the piece is cut out from the sheet material. To change the order click on one of the layers in the laser settings panel, and click the //Up// or //Down// buttons. In the image above the design uses two layers, Blue and Black. In the laser settings panel to the right these are ordered so that Blue will be cut first, so that the inner detail will be cut before the piece is cut out from the sheet material. To change the order click on one of the layers in the laser settings panel, and click the //Up// or //Down// buttons.
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_layers.png?direct&300 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_layers.png?direct&300 |}}
  
 === Laser Settings === === Laser Settings ===
 For each layer in the laser settings panel there is a drop-down menu under the mode column with the following options: Cut, Engrave, GradeEngrave and Hole. For each layer in the laser settings panel there is a drop-down menu under the mode column with the following options: Cut, Engrave, GradeEngrave and Hole.
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_modes.png?direct&300 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_modes.png?direct&300 |}}
  
 == Cut (Vector) == == Cut (Vector) ==
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 To set the speed and power double click on either of these columns. The Set cut options window will open. To set the speed and power double click on either of these columns. The Set cut options window will open.
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_cut_settings.png?direct&300 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_cut_settings.png?direct&300 |}}
  
   * **Blow radio buttons:** Turns on and off the air assist. If there isn't a good reason the air assist should always be used.    * **Blow radio buttons:** Turns on and off the air assist. If there isn't a good reason the air assist should always be used. 
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 == Engrave (Raster) == == Engrave (Raster) ==
 Primarily used to engrave raster (pixel based) images rather than vector line drawings. In this mode the laser head will move back and forth over the material in a similar manner to an inkjet printer, taking significantly longer than a vector operation. Inputs should either be a high contrast black and white Bitmap, Jpeg or TIFF image where black will be engraved and white will not, or or an enclosed vector shape where the entire inner area will be engraved. Double click on the Power or Speed columns to open the options. Primarily used to engrave raster (pixel based) images rather than vector line drawings. In this mode the laser head will move back and forth over the material in a similar manner to an inkjet printer, taking significantly longer than a vector operation. Inputs should either be a high contrast black and white Bitmap, Jpeg or TIFF image where black will be engraved and white will not, or or an enclosed vector shape where the entire inner area will be engraved. Double click on the Power or Speed columns to open the options.
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_engrave_settings.png?direct&300 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_engrave_settings.png?direct&300 |}}
  
   * **Speed:** The speed in mm/s for the laser head to use when moving. This will depend on your material and desired depth of engrave.   * **Speed:** The speed in mm/s for the laser head to use when moving. This will depend on your material and desired depth of engrave.
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 == Hole (Vector) == == Hole (Vector) ==
 A vector based mode similar to cut, but will perforate holes along the line rather than a solid cut. The holes are just tine dots made with a static laser, so the only limited control over hole size is the Radiation time setting. Double click on the Speed or Power column to open the options. A vector based mode similar to cut, but will perforate holes along the line rather than a solid cut. The holes are just tine dots made with a static laser, so the only limited control over hole size is the Radiation time setting. Double click on the Speed or Power column to open the options.
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_hole_settings.png?direct&300 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_hole_settings.png?direct&300 |}}
   * **Power:** Percentage power to the laser tube. This will depend on your material choice. The laser is unlikely to fire below ~5-12%, **and __must never be used above 100%__. Doing so will dramatically decrease the lifespan of the tube for little to no gain in cutting power!**   * **Power:** Percentage power to the laser tube. This will depend on your material choice. The laser is unlikely to fire below ~5-12%, **and __must never be used above 100%__. Doing so will dramatically decrease the lifespan of the tube for little to no gain in cutting power!**
   * **Hole on centre:** If checked the laser will make one hole in the geometric centre of each shape, instead of perforating along the centre.   * **Hole on centre:** If checked the laser will make one hole in the geometric centre of each shape, instead of perforating along the centre.
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 === Downloading to the Laser Cutter === === Downloading to the Laser Cutter ===
 Once your design is ready to be cut you must download it to the laser cutter. With the laser powered on press the download button at the bottom of the laser options panel, the Stand-alone file manage window should open. Once your design is ready to be cut you must download it to the laser cutter. With the laser powered on press the download button at the bottom of the laser options panel, the Stand-alone file manage window should open.
-{{ :a0_laser_cutter:lc_download.png?direct&300 |}}+{{ :equipment:cnc:laser:lc_download.png?direct&300 |}}
 Click //Del all// to delete the previous file followed by //Download current// to download the current design. If you get an error message or file manager with many unnamed files in it, the laser cutter may be off or the USB connection may have been interrupted requiring unplugging and reconnecting. The the laser cutter is the silver USB cable in the front of the laser PC. Click //Del all// to delete the previous file followed by //Download current// to download the current design. If you get an error message or file manager with many unnamed files in it, the laser cutter may be off or the USB connection may have been interrupted requiring unplugging and reconnecting. The the laser cutter is the silver USB cable in the front of the laser PC.
  
-\\ +
-**Continue using the controls on the laser cutter itself, please see the [[equipment:a0_laser_cutter:operation|Laser Cutter Operation]] guide.**+
  
  
  
  • equipment/cnc/laser/prep.1674391472
  • Last modified: 5 months ago
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