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lasercutter [2018-08-24 00:41] – log alfielasercutter [2023-12-24 13:37] (current) simon
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 {{:small_laser_cutter.jpg?500}} {{:small_laser_cutter.jpg?500}}
  
-See also: [[lasercutter2|Laser Cutter #2]]+See also:  
 +  * [[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 ===== ===== Materials =====
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 ===== Prices ===== ===== Prices =====
  
-Usage is charged by cutting time: £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.+Usage is charged by cutting time: £0.09 per minute (£5.40 per hourfor 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 300x660mm 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.
  
 ===== Power Levels ===== ===== Power Levels =====
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 Please add your own preferred settings here, but do not edit the existing entries. If you believe a setting is inappropriate, use <del>strikeout</del> and add a new entry with your corrections. Add your name to the notes so that other users can make an informed decision where there is a conflict of recommendations. Please add your own preferred settings here, but do not edit the existing entries. If you believe a setting is inappropriate, use <del>strikeout</del> and add a new entry with your corrections. Add your name to the notes so that other users can make an informed decision where there is a conflict of recommendations.
  
-^ Material ^ Engrave Speed ^ Engrave Power ^ Cut Speed ^ Cut Power ^ Notes ^ +^ Material ^^ Cut Speed ^ Cut Power ^ Notes ^ 
-Acrylic 3mm 200 21 | 8 | 98 | From HPC Manual | +Acrylic | 1mm 12 | 98 | Recommended by Julian | 
-Acrylic 5mm 200 21 | 3.5 | 98 | From HPC Manual | +| :::     | 2mm | 9.5 | 98 | Recommended by Julian | 
-Acrylic 10mm 200 21 | 1 | 98 | From HPC Manual | +| :::     | 3mm | 8 | 98 | From HPC Manual | 
-| Ply 1.5mm | 200 | 17 | 10 | 98 | From HPC Manual | +:::     4mm 4.5 | 98 | Recommended by Julian | 
-Ply 3mm | 200 | 17 | 7 | 98 | From HPC Manual | +| :::     | 5mm | 3.5 | 98 | From HPC Manual | 
-Ply 5mm 200 17 | 7 | 98 | From HPC Manual | +:::     5mm (black) | 3 | 98 | Recommended by Julian | 
-Ply 6mm | 200 | 17 | 1.5 | 98 | From HPC Manual | +| :::     8mm | 1.5 | 98 | Recommended by Julian | 
-| MDF 3mm 200 25 | 5 | 98 | From HPC Manual | +| :::     | 10mm | 1 | 98 | From HPC Manual | 
-MDF 4mm 200 | 25 | 4 | 98 | From HPC Manual | +||||| 
-MDF 6mm | 200 | 25 |  |  | From HPC Manual | +Ply     | 1.5mm | 10 | 98 | From HPC Manual | 
-| Corrugated Cardboard 3mm  | 200 | 20 | 12 | 98 | From HPC Manual | +:::     3mm | 7 | 98 | From HPC Manual | 
-| Hardboard 3mm | | 3 | 98 | From HPC Manual | +:::     4mm 7 | 98 |  | 
-| Paper | 200 | 15 | 20 | 20 | From HPC Manual | +| :::     | 5mm | 7 | 98 | From HPC Manual | 
-| Card | 200 | 20 | 25 | 40 | From HPC Manual | +:::     6mm | 1.5 | 98 | From HPC Manual | 
-| Mount Board | 200 | 20 | 12 | 98 | From HPC Manual +||||| 
-| Engraving Laminate | 20 | 21 | 15 | 80 | From HPC Manual | +MDF     2mm   |  | 
-| Engraving Laminate 1.5mm | 200 | 80 | 22 (x3 passes) | 80 | Recommended by Random +| :::     | 3mm | 5 | 98 | From HPC Manual | 
-| Funky Foam | not suitable || 25 | 25 | From HPC Manual | +:::     4mm | 4 | 98 | From HPC Manual | 
 +:::     6mm |  |  | From HPC Manual 
 +| ||||| 
 +^ 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 | 
 +| Paper || 20 | 20 | From HPC Manual | 
 +| Card || 25 | 40 | From HPC Manual | 
 +| Mount Board || 12 | 98 | From HPC Manual | 
 +| Funky Foam || 25 | 25 | From HPC Manual |
  
 +^ Material ^ Engrave Speed ^ Engrave Power ^ Notes ^
 +| Acrylic | 200 | 21 | From HPC Manual |
 +| Acrylic | 200 | 50 | Recommended by Julian |
 +| Ply | 200 | 17 | From HPC Manual |
 +| MDF | 200 | 25 | From HPC Manual |
 +| Corrugated Cardboard | 200 | 20 | From HPC Manual |
 +| Paper | 200 | 15 | From HPC Manual |
 +| Card | 200 | 20 | From HPC Manual |
 +| Mount Board | 200 | 20 | From HPC Manual |
 +| Engraving Laminate | 200 | 21 | From HPC Manual |
 +| Engraving Laminate | 200 | 80 | Recommended by Random |
 ===== Z-axis adjustment/focussing the laser ===== ===== Z-axis adjustment/focussing the laser =====
  
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 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. 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 ===== ===== Log =====
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 2018-08-??: 2018-08-??:
  
-  * DIY chiller failed and was replaced with old ambient cooler from big laser. Seems to be keeping up with normal cutting/engraving, but cannot deal with the heat from extended 100% cuts.  +  * DIY chiller failed and was replaced with old ambient cooler from big laser. Seems to be keeping up with normal cutting/engraving, but cannot deal with the heat from extended 100% cuts.
-===== Other Specifications (for maintenance) ===== +
  
-Water tubingsilicone, 9.5mm OD, 6.3mm ID, 1.6mm wall\\ +2019-04-27
-Water pump: 2500L/hour (max), 2.5m head (max)\\ +  * Laser hour-meter removed (718 hours on the clock). 
-Air compressor: Hailea ACO-328, 82L/min, pressure >0.035Mpa\\ +  * Tool access controller installed.
-Air assist tubing: PVC, 6mm OD, 4mm ID, 1mm wall (approx)\\ +
-Mirrors: 20mm diameter\\ +
-Lens: 20mm diameter, ZnSe, 50.8mm focus+
  
-===== Resources =====  +2021-10-29:  
-  * [[http://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Equipment/LaserCutter|London Laser cutter wiki]] +  * Realigned red laser to be correct for 3mm ( was way off ~ 1cm)  
-  * [[http://www.atxhackerspace.org/wiki/Laser_Cutter_Materials|ATXHackerspace guide to materials]] + 
-  {{:hpc_laser_ltd_ls3060_manual.pdf|HPC Laser Ltd LS3060 Manual}} +2022-05-25
-  * [[http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm|Sam'Laser FAQ]] +  * Clogged extraction filter cleaned 
-  * [[http://www.lbp.co.uk/pdfs/pdf_files/cleaning_co2_optics.pdf|Cleaning of CO2 laser optics]]+ 
 +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.ukhas all the raw data but I never got as far as making meaningful reports for itI think it'been 98 hours since April 2019 when the old meter was removed." - timh 
 + 
 +  * Water has been replacedThe 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 lasersOtherwise in the  attic there is a UV water decontamination on decommissioned air con we useBrown 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.1535071280.txt.gz · Last modified: 2018-08-24 00:41 by alfie

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