Changes

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.

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 rotates 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. In this document, we will take you through some steps and procedures to help you successfully complete your rotary engraving project.

=== Setting Up the Tool ===

=== Setting Up the Tool ===

==== Roller Positioning ====

==== Roller Positioning ====

The right hand roller can be repositioned to adapt to the length of your part. You want to choose a position that optimizes a flat top surface, a smooth rolling surface, and good balance.

The right hand roller can be repositioned to adapt to the length of your part. You want to choose a position that optimizes a flat top surface, a smooth rolling surface, and good balance.

[[File:Roller Positionning.png|center|thumb|480x480px|Repositioning of the roller using the set screw]]

[[File:Roller Positionning.png|center|thumb|480x480px|Repositioning of the roller using the set screw]]

==== Top Surface Leveling ====

==== Top Surface Leveling ====

If you have a conic part, you still need to have a flat top surface. To get the perfectly flat top surface, you will have to manually level the bed to the highest point of your part, which should be the left side. Then, while keeping your focusing tool on, you can move the laser to the right hand side and adjust the roller height until the part touches the focusing tool. Go back to the left hand side to make sure your focus didn't change and you should now have a good leveling. You can repeat the steps if you are not satisfied. You can also use a bubble level to check if the top surface has the same level as the gantry.  

If you have a conic part, you still need to have a flat top surface. To get the perfectly flat top surface, you will have to manually level the bed to the highest point of your part, which should be the left side. Then, while keeping your focusing tool on, you can move the laser to the right hand side and adjust the roller height until the part touches the focusing tool. Go back to the left hand side to make sure your focus didn't change and you should now have a good leveling. You can repeat the steps if you are not satisfied. You can also use a bubble level to check if the top surface has the same level as the gantry.  

[[File:Leveling Method.png|center|thumb|479x479px|You can see that the right hand side is a little lower. You can raise it if you would like, but the difference in results for such a small difference will probably not be visible to the naked eye.]]  

[[File:Leveling Method.png|center|thumb|479x479px|You can see that the right hand side is a little lower. You can raise it if you would like, but the difference in results for such a small difference will probably not be visible to the naked eye.]]  

==== Tubing and Light Parts ====

==== Tubing and Light Parts ====

Lighter parts, such as tubes, tend to slip on the rollers due to lower friction. If possible add weight to your part (i.e. add water to a water bottle). If adding weight is not a option, you can use the attachment for tubing. It will clamp down the part onto the rollers to minimize slippage.  

Lighter parts, such as tubes, tend to slip on the rollers due to lower friction. If possible add weight to your part (i.e. add water to a water bottle). If adding weight is not a option, you can use the attachment for tubing. It will clamp down the part onto the rollers to minimize slippage.  

[[File:Tubing Attachment 2.png|center|thumb|746x746px|Put on the accessory for lightweight parts when encountering slippage issues.]]  

[[File:Tubing Attachment 2.png|center|thumb|746x746px|Put on the accessory for lightweight parts when encountering slippage issues.]]  

You want your part to be sitting against the plastic bumper on the left side of the tool. The rollers are made intentionally so that it pushes the part against that small plastic bumper to minimize lateral movement. Additionally, to avoid having the part moving while engraving, you want to do a ''Top-Down'' engraving. If you do a ''Bottom-Up'' engraving the part will move away that plastic bumper and warp your engraving.

You want your part to be sitting against the plastic bumper on the left side of the tool. The rollers are made intentionally so that it pushes the part against that small plastic bumper to minimize lateral movement. Additionally, to avoid having the part moving while engraving, you want to do a ''Top-Down'' engraving. If you do a ''Bottom-Up'' engraving the part will move away that plastic bumper and warp your engraving.

[[File:Plastic Bumper on Rotary Tool.jpg|center|thumb]]

[[File:Plastic Bumper.png|alt=|center|thumb]]

=== Setting Home Point ===

=== Setting Home Point ===

[[File:Focusing.png|left|thumb|557x557px|Focusing tool should not be sitting on the part, only barely touching.]]

[[File:Focusing.png|left|thumb|557x557px|Focusing tool should not be sitting on the part, only barely touching.]]

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=== Setting Up Your File ===

=== Setting Up Your File ===

Your file setup will be the same as per usual engraving projects. The only consideration you should keep in mind is the orientation. The top part of your file will be facing the same way the machine as it is on your screen.

Your file setup will be the same as per usual engraving projects. The only consideration you should keep in mind is the orientation. The top part of your file will be facing the same way the machine as it is on your screen.