lasercutter_tips_and_tricks
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lasercutter_tips_and_tricks [2019-10-23 22:20] – DavidW | lasercutter_tips_and_tricks [2021-08-13 18:30] – MirZa | ||
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* The laser will however etch off paint and dye from metal. Anodised aluminium works great: [[engravingaluminium|]] | * The laser will however etch off paint and dye from metal. Anodised aluminium works great: [[engravingaluminium|]] | ||
* To etch bare metal, it can be coated with a heat activated chemical (Molybdenum Disulphide). Sold as “Dry Moly Lube” : https:// | * To etch bare metal, it can be coated with a heat activated chemical (Molybdenum Disulphide). Sold as “Dry Moly Lube” : https:// | ||
+ | * Settings: 25 speed, 100 power, 0.5mm scan gap works fine (Costa) | ||
* Thin metal can buckle from the heat - turning off Bi-dir and lowering power helps with this | * Thin metal can buckle from the heat - turning off Bi-dir and lowering power helps with this | ||
* Costa has experience with this | * Costa has experience with this | ||
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* The edges of the thin [[https:// | * The edges of the thin [[https:// | ||
* It might give a better result if cutting with multiple passes at lower power | * It might give a better result if cutting with multiple passes at lower power | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Glass** | ||
+ | *Glass can't be cut on the laser, but it can be " | ||
+ | *Engraving: https:// | ||
+ | *Engraving lines can be used to score glass for cutting https:// | ||
**Food** | **Food** | ||
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* Human Skin (not a good idea) https:// | * Human Skin (not a good idea) https:// | ||
- | **PLA*** | + | **PLA** |
* It can be cut but smells really bad so we don't recommend long cuts | * It can be cut but smells really bad so we don't recommend long cuts | ||
* Material has a tendency to warp when heated up | * Material has a tendency to warp when heated up | ||
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**Box generators** | **Box generators** | ||
*[[https:// | *[[https:// | ||
+ | *[[https:// | ||
**Engraving Gray scale images** | **Engraving Gray scale images** | ||
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**Painting** | **Painting** | ||
- | * Paint can be rubbed into etched areas in acrylic, then cleaned up with a wet cloth: https:// | + | * Paint can be rubbed into etched areas in acrylic |
* Same can be done for wood: https:// | * Same can be done for wood: https:// | ||
* Multiple colours can be done with repeated spray painting and engraving the reverse side of clear acrylic https:// | * Multiple colours can be done with repeated spray painting and engraving the reverse side of clear acrylic https:// | ||
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* Switch the 2 copies around | * Switch the 2 copies around | ||
* run the engrave again | * run the engrave again | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Rotary Axis** | ||
+ | *The Big laser has a rotary attachment for engraving and cutting cylindrical objects | ||
+ | *To use it: | ||
+ | *lower the bed of the laser down until you can see 2 switches and a socket on the right wall of the cutting area | ||
+ | *bring the laser head to roughly the centre of the bed | ||
+ | *plug in the rotary axis and flick both switches, this changes the laser from controlling the up/down motor to controlling the rotary axis motor | ||
+ | *cutting and engraving is done exactly the same as before, you may need to adjust the vertical scaling to get a nice result | ||
+ | *when you're done, don't forget to return the laser to the state you found it in | ||
**Making rigid material flexible with living hinges** | **Making rigid material flexible with living hinges** | ||
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* TODO: insert image | * TODO: insert image | ||
+ | **Acrylic bending** | ||
+ | * Can be done with hair straightener or hot air gun | ||
+ | * Costa has made a nice jig for bending acrylic at precise angles, consisting of nichrome wire, 2 board boards and a hinge https:// | ||
+ | * This can also be done on the laser, using an out of focus beam or with the lens removed https:// | ||
+ | * Another cool example of this: https:// | ||
===== Design ===== | ===== Design ===== | ||
**Removing duplicate lines** | **Removing duplicate lines** | ||
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* Good explanation: | * Good explanation: | ||
* The laser cutter has something called “kerf”, if you send a 1cm square to the laser, the part will come out slightly smaller (~9.8mm) | * The laser cutter has something called “kerf”, if you send a 1cm square to the laser, the part will come out slightly smaller (~9.8mm) | ||
- | * This difference is about 0.1mm, so paths need to be offset by 0.1mm to compensate for this. | + | * This difference is about 0.1mm, so paths need to be offset by 0.1mm to compensate for this using the offset tool in Lasercut 5.3 |
* Fusion 360 has a plugin which does kerf correction automatically: | * Fusion 360 has a plugin which does kerf correction automatically: | ||
* This should also be possible with the “offset path” tool in any vector editing software like Inkscape or AI | * This should also be possible with the “offset path” tool in any vector editing software like Inkscape or AI | ||
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* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | **General Laser cutter inaccuracies** | ||
+ | * https:// | ||
===== Material sourcing ===== | ===== Material sourcing ===== |
lasercutter_tips_and_tricks.txt · Last modified: 2023-12-20 23:47 by danshearer