Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- lasercutter [2022-05-27 02:12] – clean up table MirZa
+++ lasercutter [2025-02-22 16:01] (current) – [Prices] simon
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
   * [[lasercutter2|Laser Cutter #2]]
   * [[lasercutter_tips_and_tricks|Laser cutting tips and tricks]]
+**Save your project file on the local disk if it's very complex otherwise the software will be slow (because the latency of the network share slows down the compile process).**
 ===== Materials =====
@@ Line 35: / Line 38: @@
 ===== Prices =====
-Usage is charged by cutting time: £0.09 per minute (£5.40 per hour) for members, £15 per hour for non-members. You don't need to pay for a full hour if you don't use it.
+Usage is charged by cutting time: £0.09 per minute (£5 per hour) for members, £15 per hour for non-members. You don't need to pay for a full hour if you don't use it.
 Materials cost between £1.50 (3mm MDF) and £13 (6mm acrylic), per 300x600mm sheet. [[lasermaterials|See the pricelist]]. You may provide your own materials as long as they are suitable for laser cutting.
@@ Line 50: / Line 53: @@
 ^ Material ^^ Cut Speed ^ Cut Power ^ Notes ^
-| Acrylic | 1mm | 12 | 98 | Recommended by Julian |
+^ Acrylic | 1mm | 12 | 98 | Recommended by Julian |
 | :::     | 2mm | 9.5 | 98 | Recommended by Julian |
 | :::     | 3mm | 8 | 98 | From HPC Manual |
@@ Line 58: / Line 61: @@
 | :::     | 8mm | 1.5 | 98 | Recommended by Julian |
 | :::     | 10mm | 1 | 98 | From HPC Manual |
-| Ply     | 1.5mm | 10 | 98 | From HPC Manual |
+| |||||
+^ Ply     | 1.5mm | 10 | 98 | From HPC Manual |
 | :::     | 3mm | 7 | 98 | From HPC Manual |
 | :::     | 4mm | 7 | 98 |  |
 | :::     | 5mm | 7 | 98 | From HPC Manual |
 | :::     | 6mm | 1.5 | 98 | From HPC Manual |
-| MDF     | 2mm |  |  |  |
+| |||||
+^ MDF     | 2mm |  |  |  |
 | :::     | 3mm | 5 | 98 | From HPC Manual |
 | :::     | 4mm | 4 | 98 | From HPC Manual |
 | :::     | 6mm |  |  | From HPC Manual |
-| Laminate | 3mm | 15 | 80 | From HPC Manual |
+| |||||
-| :::      | 1.5mm | 22 (x3 passes) | 80 | Recommended by Random |
+^ Laminate | 1.5mm | 22 (x3 passes) | 80 | Recommended by Random |
+| :::      | 3mm | 15 | 80 | From HPC Manual |
+| |||||
 | Corrugated Cardboard 3mm  || 12 | 98 | From HPC Manual |
 | Hardboard 3mm || 3 | 98 | From HPC Manual |
@@ Line 139: / Line 146: @@
 ===== using AutoCAD or other CAD software =====
-Save a DXF file, selecting AutoCAD DXF R12 to R14 format.
+Save a DXF file, selecting AutoCAD DXF R12 to R14 format. R14 seems to work better.
 ===== Beam Alignment (DRAFT) =====
@@ Line 161: / Line 167: @@
 The protective film is safe to cut, and protects the acrylic from smoke and accidental scratching. For engraving, the top layer of film should be removed as it can affect the quality of the engraving.
+===== Other Specifications (for maintenance) =====
+Water tubing: silicone, 9.5mm OD, 6.3mm ID, 1.6mm wall\\
+Water pump: 2500L/hour (max), 2.5m head (max)\\
+Air compressor: Hailea ACO-328, 82L/min, pressure >0.035Mpa\\
+Air assist tubing: PVC, 6mm OD, 4mm ID, 1mm wall (approx)\\
+Mirrors: 20mm diameter\\
+Lens: 20mm diameter, ZnSe, 50.8mm focus
+===== Resources =====
+  * [[http://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Equipment/LaserCutter|London Laser cutter wiki]]
+  * [[http://www.atxhackerspace.org/wiki/Laser_Cutter_Materials|ATXHackerspace guide to materials]]
+  * {{:hpc_laser_ltd_ls3060_manual.pdf|HPC Laser Ltd LS3060 Manual}}
+  * {{:mpc6515hardwaremanual.pdf|Keypad interface manual}}
+  * [[http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm|Sam's Laser FAQ]]
+  * [[http://www.lbp.co.uk/pdfs/pdf_files/cleaning_co2_optics.pdf|Cleaning of CO2 laser optics]]
+  * {{ :lasercut_laser_palette.zip | Zeno's LaserCut5.3 Palette for Inkscape, makes all 40 layers colours match}}
+  * [[https://bristol.hackspace.org.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=equipment:a0_laser_cutter:prep|Bristol Hackspace's guide to LaserCut 5.3]]
 ===== Log =====
@@ Line 300: / Line 325: @@
 -05-25:
   * Clogged extraction filter cleaned
-===== Other Specifications (for maintenance) =====
-Water tubing: silicone, 9.5mm OD, 6.3mm ID, 1.6mm wall\\
+-07-04:
-Water pump: 2500L/hour (max), 2.5m head (max)\\
+  * Tube has been replaced with an SPT Laser tube C60.
-Air compressor: Hailea ACO-328, 82L/min, pressure >0.035Mpa\\
+    * Rated power: 60w; Max power: 80w; Warranty: 5 months (last at least until 2023-12-02)
-Air assist tubing: PVC, 6mm OD, 4mm ID, 1mm wall (approx)\\
+    * https://www.megacold.uk.com/products/lasertubec60/2238954000000647085
-Mirrors: 20mm diameter\\
+    * It was measured to run at 55W, 10mA. Power supply setting kept at 36%.
-Lens: 20mm diameter, ZnSe, 50.8mm focus
+    * Driving a higher power tube at a lower power will hopefully give a longer lifetime
+    * It was ordered 2 July, arrived and installed on 4 July
-===== Resources =====
+  * 320 hours for the previous laser tube (rated 40w)
-  * [[http://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Equipment/LaserCutter|London Laser cutter wiki]]
+    * Laser timer/lifetime counter: "It's not easy to get at right now. The database behind https://toolstatus.ehlab.uk/ has all the raw data but I never got as far as making meaningful reports for it. I think it's been 98 hours since April 2019 when the old meter was removed." - timh
-  * [[http://www.atxhackerspace.org/wiki/Laser_Cutter_Materials|ATXHackerspace guide to materials]]
-  * {{:hpc_laser_ltd_ls3060_manual.pdf|HPC Laser Ltd LS3060 Manual}}
+  * Water has been replaced. The tubes have been cleaned a little bit but had a lot of brown dust, which TKerby thinks may be biofilm
-  * {{:mpc6515hardwaremanual.pdf|Keypad interface manual}}
+    * "we may want to use distilled water plus a wetting agent and biocide - there are plenty out there for lasers. Otherwise in the  attic there is a UV water decontamination on decommissioned air con we use. Brown dust suggests we need to better seal the containers…" - TKerby
-  * [[http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm|Sam's Laser FAQ]]
+    * "I would suggest changing the water every 6 months" - Miron
-  * [[http://www.lbp.co.uk/pdfs/pdf_files/cleaning_co2_optics.pdf|Cleaning of CO2 laser optics]]
-  * {{ :lasercut_laser_palette.zip | Zeno's LaserCut5.3 Palette for Inkscape, makes all 40 layers colours match}}
+  * the speed/power table now needs to be sped up about x2 because it was made when the laser tube was aged a bit already
+  * 3mm plywood cuts reliably at 15 speed 100 power
+  * Mirrors cleaned and realigned
+-08-01:
+  * PC replaced - was: Pentium 4, 3GB RAM, 256GB HDD; now: i3-7100T, 8GB RAM, 256GB NVMe
 {{tag>equipment}}