Digital technologies/Laser cutting/Rotary Laser Engraving

Sometimes you want to engrave something that isn't flat, and that's okay. The Epilog laser engraver has an attachment that can let you do such things. The tool is equipped of motorized rollers that rotate your part (i.e. a water bottle) to allow you to engrave all around it. The Makerspace of uOttawa is perfectly well equipped to do this type of engraving.

Setting Up the Tool

To use the rotary engraving tool, you need to take out the honeycomb bed. To do so, simply lift up all the rulers and then lift up the bed to take it out. The bed is not heavy, if you happen to struggle to take it out, there is probably an obstruction in the way. At the Makerspace, ask a staff member to assist you if possible. Once the bed is removed, you can also remove the crumb trey by opening the front magnetic door of the laser and then sliding it out. You should now see the three holes in which the tool pins are inserted and also the connection plug-in should now be exposed.

Setting Home Point

Epilog Control Panel

When using this tool, the Epilog laser is pre-programmed to a set y coordinate, the only coordinate you can change is the x axis home point. To set home point, use the usual button combination on the control panel of X/Y Off ^(5.) → Go ^(1.) to disengage the gantry and then Set Home ^(4.) when the desired location is set. It is ok if you accidentally change the y position while setting your home point, the laser will not take the change into consideration.

Focusing

Focusing the laser works the same as usual. Do not use the Auto Focus feature on the Epilog laser in the Makerspace. Doing so will cause the bed to crash into the laser head. Use the manual focus by pressing the Focus ^(7.) button on the control panel, then add the focus tool to the laser head and use the up and down arrows ^(8.) so that the tip of the focus tool barely touches your part.