BOSS LS-3655 150w Laser Engraver

BOSS LS-3655 150w Laser Engraver
Owner/Loaner	PS:One
Serial Number	SERIAL NUMBER
Make/Model	BOSS LS-3655 150w
Arrival Date	January 2017
Usability	yes
Contact	CNC Area Host
Where	CNC Shop
Authorization Needed	yes
Hackable	no
Estimated Value	$17,000
Host Area	CNC

About

The BOSS LS-3655 is an industrial CO2 laser engraver with a 36" x 55" bed, supporting over-sized material pass-thru on four sides and up to 7 inches of table depth. Originally shipped with 100W tube, but that has been replaced with 150W tube in May, 2017.

Status

(2017/05/20) 150W Tube & Power Supply installed. Alignment & focusing pending.
(2017/06/12) The laser has been aligned and focused. 2" Laser lens focal depth set to 5.1mm.

Usage Policy

The laser cutter is easily one of the most used machines at PS1. Due to this demand we request the cooperation of all members to share the laser cutter and associated computer. First and foremost, the practice "being excellent" should be observed at all times; respect yourself, other members, and the equipment. This is a usage policy so that everyone can use the laser:

Any user not actively test cutting or cutting will cede the computer and laser to the next person waiting in line, as soon as that waiting user notifies the current computer user. If you are still designing your file, please do so on another computer. Artastic (another PC upstairs) in the Crafts Area also has a copy of Adobe Illustrator.
If someone is waiting in line to use the laser, no active test cut or cut series shall be longer than 1 hour. No jobs will be allowed to start that overrun the 1 hour time limit when a new user is waiting.
In the case that your last cut is longer than the 1 hour time limit, and a waiting user presents themselves after the cut has started, the cut job shall be allowed to finish and the waiting user will be allowed to set up their file in their own user account, during the cutting period.
Continuous cutting shall not exceed 3 consecutive hours without a half hour break for the laser to cool. If a new user arrives before or during the cooling period the current user shall cede the laser to the next user, and the next user will wait for the cooling period to finish and the cooling period shall not count towards the 1 hours limit should another user present themselves.
Waiting users shall notify the current user verbally that they are waiting and where they will be waiting until it is their turn. If multiple users are waiting, the next waiting user must start their test cutting or cut job within 10 minutes of being notified of a laser opening. The current user will keep a record of who is waiting, where they will be, and notify subsequent users of the status of the queue. The current user will find the next waiting user and verbally inform them that the laser is available.

Authorizations

Authorizations will be limited to small groups, e.g. 4 or less, due to nature of the equipment.

Power-On & Safety Check

Check Wiki for status updates
Check if Cutting Material is Safe: check wiki for a list of safe and unsafe materials for cutting
Check Fire Extinguisher: Make sure it is close by and charged
Release Emergency Stop: Rotate red button until it releases
Turn Power Key: Display will load up
Turn on Air Assist & Chiller: Flip the switch and ensure exhaust & chiller are on and functioning. Double check chiller temp with laser temp.

RD Works

Load Program & Check USB Connection Status
Importing Files: Importing AI, DXF, SVG, & images
Introducing User Interface: quick review of UI including Drawing, Grouping, Preview, Work Tab, Layers, Laser Work, & Head Position
Detailed Overview of Work Tab: major cutting settings & parameters reside here
Starting a Job
Saving a File

Boss Laser Operation

LED Keypad Overview
Adjusting the Z-Height: raise and lower bed
Autofocus: Setting focal height for material
Setting Origin
Jogging the Laser Head in XY
Adjusting High Pressure Air Regulator: Changing the compressed air flow
Loading a File via USB Port
Load & Unload honeycomb
Cleaning Up & Clearing Catch Tray

Individual Walkthrough: each member is required to perform the following:

Start-Up the machine
Turn on exhaust, air-assist, & chiller
Place Material, autofocus, set origin
Load RDworks, create 3 layers (Cut, Scan, Dot) & run laser job
Shutdown machine & clear catch tray

Settings

Honeycomb vs. Aluminum Lamella : The honeycomb is used for engraving and pieces that benefit from precise leveling. Use the aluminum lamella (slats under honeycomb) for cutting through to reduce flashback and improve airflow (warning small pieces will fall through).

4" Lens Focus Depth 38.5mm (this is a just an approximate, FD calibration must be performed each time the lens is changed)
2" Lens Focus Depth 5.3mm (this is a just an approximate, FD calibration must be performed each time the lens is changed)

Procedures

Powering On Machine

Check Fire Extinguisher
Release Emergency Stop button
Turn power key
Turn on air assist & water chiller Switch & ensure both are functioning

Powering Off Machine

Material Safety & Information

Safe Materials for Cutting

- Plastics:
  - ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
  - Acrylic (also known as Plexiglas, Lucite, PMMA)
  - Delrin (POM, acetal)
  - High density polyethylene (HDPE) – melts badly
  - Kapton tape (Polyimide)
  - Mylar (polyester)
  - Nylon – melts badly
  - PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol)
  - Polyethylene (PE) – melts badly
  - Polypropylene (PP) – melts somewhat
  - Styrene
  - Two-tone acrylic – top color different than core material, usually for custom instrumentation panels, signs, and plaques.
- Foam:
  - Depron foam – often used for RC planes.
  - EPM
  - Gator foam – foam core gets burned and eaten away compared to the top and bottom hard shell.
- Other:
  - Cloths (leather, suede, felt, hemp, cotton)
  - Papers
  - Rubbers (only if they do not contain chlorine Teflon (PTFE, Polytetrafluoroethylene)
  - Woods (MDF, balsa, birch, poplar, red oak, cherry, holly, etc.)

MATERIALS NOT SAFE

- Polycarbonate (PC, Lexan) due to the fumes.
- Any material containing chlorine such as PVC & Vinyl

Aligning Materials

- The table is not aligned with the laser's X-Y axis
- To align your material use the laser pointer by holding one axis constant while moving along the other axis to align corners of your material

Resources

The proprietary LaserWORKS software can be downloaded from BOSS here - https://www.bosslaser.com/laser-software/

Manuals for the BOSS laser and the LaserWORKS software are located here - https://www.bosslaser.com/download-manuals-guides/

BOSS test files are available here

Some laser settings from Boss

Excellent Facebook Group for RDWorks Tips and help

Forum for RDworks user group

If the language for RDWorks (the Boss control software) is showing garbage, follow this video.

Youtube Channels

Following are a couple good YouTube Channels with lots of information on the software and machine

Cleaning & Maintenance

When changing the lens, make sure the convex/domed side of the lens is facing upwards (towards the ceiling)
Focus Lens should be cleaned once a week with Acetone or Denatured Alcohol

List of Currently Certified Users

Qualified Member	Trained By
Andrew Camardella	Danger Committee
Matt Keith	Danger Committee
Skylar Nova	Danger Committee
Jason Araujo	Danger Committee
Ray Doeksen	Danger Committee
Matt Meshulam	Danger Committee
Ashish Jasani	Danger Committee
Joe Juhnke	Ashish Jasani
Casey Olson	Ray Doeksen
Andrew Vaughan	Burton Kent
McTavish McArdle	Burton Kent
Erik Wessing	Ray Doeksen
Theo T	Ray Doeksen
Molly Adamski	Joe Juhnke