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lasercutter [2022-05-27 02:51] MirZalasercutter [2025-02-22 16:01] (current) – [Prices] simon
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   * [[lasercutter2|Laser Cutter #2]]   * [[lasercutter2|Laser Cutter #2]]
   * [[lasercutter_tips_and_tricks|Laser cutting tips and tricks]]   * [[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 ===== ===== Materials =====
  
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 ===== Prices ===== ===== 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. 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.
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 ===== using AutoCAD or other CAD software ===== ===== 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) ===== ===== Beam Alignment (DRAFT) =====
  
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   * [[http://www.lbp.co.uk/pdfs/pdf_files/cleaning_co2_optics.pdf|Cleaning of CO2 laser optics]]   * [[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}}   * {{ :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 ===== ===== Log =====
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 2022-05-25: 2022-05-25:
   * Clogged extraction filter cleaned   * Clogged extraction filter cleaned
 +
 +2023-07-04:
 +  * Tube has been replaced with an SPT Laser tube C60.
 +    * Rated power: 60w; Max power: 80w; Warranty: 5 months (last at least until 2023-12-02)
 +    * https://www.megacold.uk.com/products/lasertubec60/2238954000000647085
 +    * It was measured to run at 55W, 10mA. Power supply setting kept at 36%.
 +    * 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
 +
 +  * 320 hours for the previous laser tube (rated 40w)
 +    * 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
 +
 +  * 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
 +    * "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
 +    * "I would suggest changing the water every 6 months" - Miron
 +
 +  * 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
 +
 +2023-08-01:
 +  * PC replaced - was: Pentium 4, 3GB RAM, 256GB HDD; now: i3-7100T, 8GB RAM, 256GB NVMe
  
 {{tag>equipment}} {{tag>equipment}}
lasercutter.1653619906.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022-05-27 02:51 by MirZa

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