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== '''NEVER CUT THESE MATERIALS''' ==

== '''NEVER CUT THESE MATERIALS''' ==

*'''PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride):''' Also known as '''"vinyl"''' '''"pleather"''' or '''"artificial leather."''' Most adhesive vinyl shelf paper (e.g. Con-Tact Paper) also is PVC. Emits pure chlorine gas when cut! Don't ever cut this material as it will ruin the optics, cause the metal of the machine to corrode, and ruin the motion control system.

* '''PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride):''' Also known as '''"vinyl"''' '''"pleather"''' or '''"artificial leather."''' Most adhesive vinyl shelf paper (e.g. Con-Tact Paper) also is PVC. Emits pure chlorine gas when cut! Don't ever cut this material as it will ruin the optics, cause the metal of the machine to corrode, and ruin the motion control system.

*'''Polycarbonate:''' Also known as '''"Lexan."''' Polycarbonate is also often found as flat, sheet material. The case cover window on the laser cutter is made of Polycarbonate because polycarbonate strongly absorbs infrared radiation! This is the frequency of light the laser cutter uses to cut materials, so it is very ineffective at cutting polycarbonate. Polycarbonate can also emit flame and chlorine gas when cut, making it a poor choice for laser cutting.

* '''Polycarbonate:''' Also known as '''"Lexan."''' Polycarbonate is also often found as flat, sheet material. The case cover window on the laser cutter is made of Polycarbonate because polycarbonate strongly absorbs infrared radiation! This is the frequency of light the laser cutter uses to cut materials, so it is very ineffective at cutting polycarbonate. Polycarbonate can also emit flame and chlorine gas when cut, making it a poor choice for laser cutting.

*'''ABS:''' ABS does not cut well in a laser cutter. It tends to melt rather than vaporize, and has a higher chance of catching on fire and leaving behind melted gooey deposits on the vector cutting grid. It also does not engrave well (again, tends to melt). Finally, ABS emits cyanide when cut.

* '''ABS:''' ABS does not cut well in a laser cutter. It tends to melt rather than vaporize, and has a higher chance of catching on fire and leaving behind melted gooey deposits on the vector cutting grid. It also does not engrave well (again, tends to melt). Finally, ABS emits cyanide when cut.

*'''HDPE:''' "milk bottle" plastic. It melts. It gets gooey. It catches on fire. Don't use it.

* '''HDPE:''' "milk bottle" plastic. It melts. It gets gooey. It catches on fire. Don't use it.

*'''PolyStyrene Foam:''' It catches fire, it melts, and only thin pieces cut. This is the #1 material that causes laser fires!!!

* '''PolyStyrene Foam:''' It catches fire, it melts, and only thin pieces cut. This is the #1 material that causes laser fires!!!

*'''Fiberglass:''' It's a mix of two materials that can't be cut. Glass (etch, no cut) and epoxy resin (fumes)

* '''Fiberglass:''' It's a mix of two materials that can't be cut. Glass (etch, no cut) and epoxy resin (fumes)

*'''Coated Carbon Fiber:''' Again, it's a mix of two materials. Thin carbon fiber mat can be cut, with some fraying. However, once coated with epoxy it will emit noxious fumes.

* '''Coated Carbon Fiber:''' Again, it's a mix of two materials. Thin carbon fiber mat can be cut, with some fraying. However, once coated with epoxy it will emit noxious fumes.

==Safe Materials==

== Safe Materials ==

The laser can cut or etch. The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood, paper, cork, and some kinds of plastics. Etching can be done on almost anything, wood, cardboard, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, marble, stone, tile, and glass.

The laser can cut or etch. The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood, paper, cork, and some kinds of plastics. Etching can be done on almost anything, wood, cardboard, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, marble, stone, tile, and glass.

*Cutting

* Cutting

**Many woods up to 1/4" thick. Composite woods like plywood contain glue, and may not laser cut as well as solid wood. Engineered woods like MDF are okay to use but may experience a higher amount of charring when cut. Be very careful about cutting oily woods, or very resinous woods as they also may catch fire.

** Many woods up to 1/4" thick. Composite woods like plywood contain glue, and may not laser cut as well as solid wood. Engineered woods like MDF are okay to use but may experience a higher amount of charring when cut. Be very careful about cutting oily woods, or very resinous woods as they also may catch fire.

**Paper cuts very very well on the laser cutter, and also very quickly. Thin paper and single layer card stock and cardboard are perfectly OK. Thicker cardboard, carton, and other papers also cut very well but need to be watched to make sure they don't catch fire.

** Paper cuts very very well on the laser cutter, and also very quickly. Thin paper and single layer card stock and cardboard are perfectly OK. Thicker cardboard, carton, and other papers also cut very well but need to be watched to make sure they don't catch fire.

**Cork cuts nicely, but the quality of the cut depends on the thickness and quality of the cork. Engineered cork has a lot of glue in it, and may not cut as well. Cork thicker than 1/4" should be avoided.

** Cork cuts nicely, but the quality of the cut depends on the thickness and quality of the cork. Engineered cork has a lot of glue in it, and may not cut as well. Cork thicker than 1/4" should be avoided.

**Acrylic (also known as Lucite, Plexiglas, PMMA) cuts extremely well on the laser cutter, leaving a beautifully polished edge. With care, acrylic material up to 1/2" thick can be cut on the laser cutter.

** Acrylic (also known as Lucite, Plexiglas, PMMA) cuts extremely well on the laser cutter, leaving a beautifully polished edge. With care, acrylic material up to 1/2" thick can be cut on the laser cutter.

**Delrin (POM) in thin sheets does cut. Delrin comes in a number of shore strengths (hardness) and the harder delrin tends to work better. Great for gears!

** Delrin (POM) in thin sheets does cut. Delrin comes in a number of shore strengths (hardness) and the harder delrin tends to work better. Great for gears!

**Kapton tape (Polyimide) : Works well, in thin sheets and strips like tape. 1/16" thick is about as thick as you can cut reliably.

** Kapton tape (Polyimide) : Works well, in thin sheets and strips like tape. 1/16" thick is about as thick as you can cut reliably.

**Mylar : Works well if it's thin. Once you get too far past 1/16" thick mylar has a tendency to warp, bubble, and curl. Gold coated mylar will not work.

** Mylar : Works well if it's thin. Once you get too far past 1/16" thick mylar has a tendency to warp, bubble, and curl. Gold coated mylar will not work.

**Solid Styrene : Smokes a lot when cut, but can be cut. Keep it thin (1/16")

** Solid Styrene : Smokes a lot when cut, but can be cut. Keep it thin (1/16")

**Depron foam: Used a lot for hobby, RC aircraft, architectural models, and toys. 1/4" cuts nicely, with a smooth edge. Must be constantly monitored when cutting.

** Depron foam: Used a lot for hobby, RC aircraft, architectural models, and toys. 1/4" cuts nicely, with a smooth edge. Must be constantly monitored when cutting.

**Gator foam: foam core gets burned and eaten away compared to the top and bottom hard paper shell. Not a fantastic thing to cut, but it can be cut if watched.

** Gator foam: foam core gets burned and eaten away compared to the top and bottom hard paper shell. Not a fantastic thing to cut, but it can be cut if watched.

**Cloth (leather, suede, felt, hemp, cotton, polyester, but NEVER vinyl or pleather-- see above) They all cut well. Leather is very hard to cut, but can be if it's thinner than a belt (call it 1/8")

** Cloth (leather, suede, felt, hemp, cotton, polyester, but NEVER vinyl or pleather-- see above) They all cut well. Leather is very hard to cut, but can be if it's thinner than a belt (call it 1/8")

**Magnetic Sheet material cuts beautifully

** Magnetic Sheet material cuts beautifully

**NON-CHLORINE containing rubber is fine for cutting.

** NON-CHLORINE containing rubber is fine for cutting.

**Teflon (PTFE) in thin sheets

** Teflon (PTFE) in thin sheets

**Carbon fiber mats/weave that has not yet had epoxy applied can be cut, very slowly. You must not cut carbon fiber that has been coated!!

** Carbon fiber mats/weave that has not yet had epoxy applied can be cut, very slowly. You must not cut carbon fiber that has been coated!!

*Etching

* Etching

All the above can be etched, in some cases very deeply. In addition, you can etch:

All the above can be etched, in some cases very deeply. In addition, you can etch:

**Glass (green seems to work best) .. looks sandblasted. Only FLAT GLASS can be engraved in our cutter. No round or cylindrical items.

** Glass (green seems to work best) .. looks sandblasted. Only FLAT GLASS can be engraved in our cutter. No round or cylindrical items.

**Ceramic tile

** Ceramic tile

**Anodized aluminum ( vaporizes the anodization away )

** Anodized aluminum ( vaporizes the anodization away )

**Painted/coated metals ( vaporizes the paint away )

** Painted/coated metals ( vaporizes the paint away )

**Stone : Marble, Granite, Soapstone, Onyx. Gets a white "textured" look when etched

** Stone : Marble, Granite, Soapstone, Onyx. Gets a white "textured" look when etched

*Marking

* Marking

There expensive coating called 'cermark'. This marking compound costs $100 for a small bottle, and must be diluted with ethanol and applied to metal (not ceramics or stone) before being etched to leave behind a permanent dark black mark.

There expensive coating called 'cermark'. This marking compound costs $100 for a small bottle, and must be diluted with ethanol and applied to metal (not ceramics or stone) before being etched to leave behind a permanent dark black mark.

* [http://www.abbeyspecialties.com/ Abbey Specialties] for acrylic in varied sizes, this company is our landlord. They are in the other half of our building and if you ask they can drop off in our shared loading dock.

* [http://www.abbeyspecialties.com/ Abbey Specialties] for acrylic in varied sizes, this company is our landlord. They are in the other half of our building and if you ask they can drop off in our shared loading dock.

==General references==

== General references ==

incredible box maker, with holes and text: http://www.makercase.com/

incredible box maker, with holes and text: http://www.makercase.com/

(code at: https://github.com/ashanan/hinges)

(code at: https://github.com/ashanan/hinges)

python svg library written by [[User:toba|Toba]]: https://github.com/eastein/svgcuts

python svg library written by [[User:toba|Toba]]: https://github.com/eastein/svgcuts

parametric flexbox generator: http://flexbox.herokuapp.com/

parametric flexbox generator: http://flexbox.herokuapp.com/

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/08/how-to-lasercut-custom-bo.html - Laser cut boxes<br>

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/08/how-to-lasercut-custom-bo.html - Laser cut boxes<br />

[[:Image:psone-logo-cutout.svg|PS:One Logo]]<br>

[[:Image:psone-logo-cutout.svg|PS:One Logo]]<br />

==Long-ass list of laser designs on Thingiverse==

== Long-ass list of laser designs on Thingiverse ==

[http://www.thingiverse.com/tool:33/things All laser cutter things on Thingiverse]<br>

[http://www.thingiverse.com/tool:33/things All laser cutter things on Thingiverse]<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2321 - Theo Janssen<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2321 - Theo Janssen<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2073 - Drill gauge<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2073 - Drill gauge<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:247 - Hex connector toy<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:247 - Hex connector toy<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1960 - 2010 hex desktop calendar<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1960 - 2010 hex desktop calendar<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2023 - clock<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2023 - clock<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1739 - shoe hanger<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1739 - shoe hanger<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1616 - geneva wheel<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1616 - geneva wheel<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:201 - Square gears<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:201 - Square gears<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1521 - Gyroscope<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1521 - Gyroscope<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1393 - End mill set holder<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1393 - End mill set holder<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1203 - 608 bearing wrapper + face<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1203 - 608 bearing wrapper + face<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:952 - Small box<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:952 - Small box<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:981 - cable chain<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:981 - cable chain<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:855 - Chess set<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:855 - Chess set<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:20 - Chess set<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:20 - Chess set<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3353 - Chess board with compass rose inlay<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3353 - Chess board with compass rose inlay<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:587 - gEarrings<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:587 - gEarrings<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3411 - gearcuffs<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3411 - gearcuffs<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:807 - Mystery box<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:807 - Mystery box<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:516 - tumbler, key, and case<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:516 - tumbler, key, and case<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:409 - Resistor lead tool<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:409 - Resistor lead tool<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:211 - Planetary gear business card<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:211 - Planetary gear business card<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:53 - planetary gears<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:53 - planetary gears<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3021 - Scale mail<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3021 - Scale mail<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5265 - Peristaltic pump<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5265 - Peristaltic pump<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5243 - laser cut tetris blocks<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5243 - laser cut tetris blocks<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5076 - Wire spool holder<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5076 - Wire spool holder<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5727 - Settlers of Catan<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5727 - Settlers of Catan<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5730 - Teardrop pendant light<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5730 - Teardrop pendant light<br />

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7796 - Gear coasters<br>

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7796 - Gear coasters<br />

==Software Compatability==

== Software Compatability ==

Note: this indicates success in using this software with the printer driver, not general capabilities about the software itself.

Note: this indicates success in using this software with the printer driver, not general capabilities about the software itself.

== List of Currently Certified Users ==

== List of Currently Certified Users ==

This list is hugely incomplete because nobody was doing it. Someone should fix that eventually... for now, new certs should go in here. If you are certified and remember who certified you, go ahead and add yourself. Your non-presence on this list is not intended to insult you or your relatives.

This list is hugely incomplete because nobody was doing it. Someone should fix that eventually... for now, new certs should go in here. If you are certified and remember who certified you, go ahead and add yourself. Your non-presence on this list is not intended to insult you or your relatives.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"

{| class="wikitable" border="1"

== Certifying users ==

== Certifying users ==

The laser cutter now has recommended certifiers. A recommended certifier can follow the instructions on [[Laser Engraver Certification]] to enable logins to the laser engraver computer.

The laser cutter now has recommended certifiers. A recommended certifier can follow the instructions on [[Laser Engraver Certification]] to enable logins to the laser engraver computer.