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Digital technologies/Laser cutting/Laser cutting- Beginner (view source)
Revision as of 18:16, 29 June 2022
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Laser cutting is a technology that uses light amplification by stimulation of emitted radiation or, a laser, to vector or raster stock material. The material removal required to obtain a cut or a raster is obtained by a process called thermal separation. In industry, and depending on the materials involved, the lasers used in the laser cutting process greatly range in power. At the uOttawa Makerspace, depending on the machine, the lasers may output either 50 or 60 watts of ultraviolet light, which can be used to cut through many woods, plastics, and other materials of lesser density. The principle is fairly simple: the laser generated by the machine is reflected to a focusing head, which in turn focuses the power contained in the ultraviolet beam to a small point on the stock, inducing the desired thermal separation. The power of the laser as well as the focusing head path is then adjusted by software to obtain one of two modes of cut: rastering and vectoring.
Laser cutting is a technology that uses light amplification by stimulation of emitted radiation or, a laser, to vector or raster stock material. The material removal required to obtain a cut or a raster is obtained by a process called thermal separation. In industry, and depending on the materials involved, the lasers used in the laser cutting process greatly range in power. At the uOttawa Makerspace, depending on the machine, the lasers may output either 50 or 60 watts of ultraviolet light, which can be used to cut through many woods, plastics, and other materials of lesser density. The principle is fairly simple: the laser generated by the machine is reflected to a focusing head, which in turn focuses the power contained in the ultraviolet beam to a small point on the stock, inducing the desired thermal separation. The power of the laser as well as the focusing head path is then adjusted by software to obtain one of two modes of cut: rastering and vectoring.
==How Laser Cutting Works==
==How Laser Cutting Works==
|There are many '''normally''' laserable items such as thin wood laminates that you can purchase that become un-cuttable when the manufacturer adds a layer of peel-off glue on the bottom to attach them to surfaces. Examples include cork tiles, thin wood laminate, acrylic tiles, and paper stickers. Never cut these materials in the laser cutter if they have this backing. The glue will vaporize forming a coating on the lens that will coat it, cloud it, heat it, and then potentially crack the lens. The glue residue is worse than resin, and can't be removed without risking damage to the lens ... requiring a lens replacement.
|There are many '''normally''' laserable items such as thin wood laminates that you can purchase that become un-cuttable when the manufacturer adds a layer of peel-off glue on the bottom to attach them to surfaces. Examples include cork tiles, thin wood laminate, acrylic tiles, and paper stickers. Never cut these materials in the laser cutter if they have this backing. The glue will vaporize forming a coating on the lens that will coat it, cloud it, heat it, and then potentially crack the lens. The glue residue is worse than resin, and can't be removed without risking damage to the lens ... requiring a lens replacement.
|}
|}
===Materials Allowed and Recommended Settings===
===Materials Allowed and Recommended Settings===
Epilog (the company that manufactures the laser) has an extensive list of materials that you can cut with their lasers. Simply consult Appendix B in the [https://www.epiloglaser.ca/assets/downloads/manuals/legend-manual-web.pdf Owner's Manual for the Mini/Helix] (p.143) to get access to that list. Make sure you use the settings for the laser you are planning to use (50 Watts VS 60 Watts). Here are some extra materials that are unlisted but have been proven to work at these settings:
Epilog (the company that manufactures the laser) has an extensive list of materials that you can cut with their lasers. Simply consult Appendix B in the [https://www.epiloglaser.ca/assets/downloads/manuals/legend-manual-web.pdf Owner's Manual for the Mini/Helix] (p.143) to get access to that list. Make sure you use the settings for the laser you are planning to use (50 Watts VS 60 Watts). Here are some extra materials that are unlisted but have been proven to work at these settings:
==Which Laser Cutters do we have?==
==Which Laser Cutters do we have?==
The following are the laser cutters available for use at the Makerspaceː
The following are the laser cutters available for use at the Makerspaceː
{{LaserInfobox
| name = Epilog Mini 24
| image = mini24.jpg
| powerSource = CO2
| powerRating = 50W
| materials = see charts below
| maxResolution = 1200
|float=none|buildWidth=610|buildDepth=305|buildHeight=140|buildWidthIN=24|buildDepthIN=12|buildHeightIN=5.5}}
{{LaserInfobox
| name = Epilog Helix
| image = helix.png
| powerSource = CO2
| powerRating = 60W
| materials = see charts below
| maxResolution = 1200
|float=none|buildWidth=610|buildDepth=457|buildHeight=216|buildWidthIN=24|buildDepthIN=18|buildHeightIN=8.5}}
==How to Laser Cut in the Makerspace==
==How to Laser Cut in the Makerspace==