Changes

=== Pumping Station: One - Laser Cutter Workflow ===

=== Pumping Station: One - Laser Cutter Workflow ===

== Introduction ==

== Introduction ==

Our laser cutter is an Epilog Mini 24 30-watt system with a bed 24” by 12” (610 x 305 mm) and which can cut through materials up to 0.25” (6.35 mm) thick (Thicker materials can be cut, but may require multiple passes). Material must lie flat on the bed, as warped or curved materials will cause the beam to be out of focus when it cuts or engraves. Important: only certain materials can be cut, but of special note is '''NO PVC OR VINYL''' as those materials will release toxic chlorine gas (think World War I) and damage the machine. If you have questions about the material use the “hot wire” test (see below). Also beware of fabrics, as certain dyes can also release toxic vapors.  

This page was written when the only laser was the Epilog Mini. Now that there are at least two lasers including the Boss 3655, take note that these recommendations may only apply to the Epilog.  

The laser has two modes: raster and vector. Raster (aka: “multi-pass cut”) etches an image via multiple passes over an area, whereas vector (aka “single-pass cut”) makes a single pass over the material, cutting where the reference image has indicated. The host computer sees the laser cutter as just a regular printer and thus it can print from any program. We suggest you print from a vector-capable program such as Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, Corel Draw, AutoCAD, etc.

 

The Epilog laser has two modes: raster and vector. Raster (aka: “multi-pass cut”) etches an image via multiple passes over an area, whereas vector (aka “single-pass cut”) makes a single pass over the material, cutting where the reference image has indicated. The host computer sees the laser cutter as just a regular printer and thus it can print from any program. We suggest you print from a vector-capable program such as Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, Corel Draw, AutoCAD, etc.

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b. “Hairlines” (0.001”/0.025 mm/0.1pt) are vector cuts. Anything larger is a raster engraving.  

b. “Hairlines” (0.001”/0.025 mm/0.1pt) are vector cuts. Anything larger is a raster engraving.  

c. If you are importing an image, make sure that any fonts that would not be normally found on a Windows machine (assuming you’re printing from the lab machine) have been rasterized.  

c. If you are importing an image, make sure that any fonts that would not be normally found on a Windows machine (assuming you’re printing from the lab machine) have been rasterized.

== Configuring Laser Settings ==

== Configuring Laser Settings ==

* Do '''not''' enable Auto Focus.

* Do '''not''' enable Auto Focus.

* Set the piece size accordingly, or just set to 24” by 12” and set the art board within the vector application to 24” by 12” and then position the cutting/engraving image within the art board in).

* Set the piece size accordingly, or just set to 24” by 12” and set the art board within the vector application to 24” by 12” and then position the cutting/engraving image within the art board in).

* Raster settings (for engraving) are applied to strokes within the image that’s over a hairline (as defined above), while vector settings (for cutting) are applied to hairlines. If you have a combo image, you’ll have to set both. These settings depend on the material properties and thickness and there is a handy reference chart on the wall with commonly used materials.

* Raster settings (for engraving) are applied to strokes within the image that’s over a hairline (as defined above), while vector settings (for cutting) are applied to hairlines. If you have a combo image, you’ll have to set both. These settings depend on the material properties and thickness and there is a handy reference [[Laser settings]] chart on the wall with commonly used materials.

* Set “Engrave Direction” to “Bottom Up” as cutting in that manner works better with the airflow through the machine.

* Set “Engrave Direction” to “Bottom Up” as cutting in that manner works better with the airflow through the machine. *It doesn't make much difference.

* Dithering settings can usually be left alone, except in the cases of specialized images.

* Dithering settings can usually be left alone, except in the cases of specialized images.

* “Vector Sorting”, which determines which cuts are made first should be checked. Generally optimize is fine.

* “Vector Sorting”, which determines which cuts are made first should be checked. Generally optimize is fine. Concentric however, prevents small inner cuts from becoming out of register to the outer cuts, which can result from bits falling away from the material and shifting a bit to the side before the cuts are done.

* Frequency Automatic can generally be left alone.

* Frequency Automatic can generally be left alone.

* Click OK.

* Click OK.

# Heat copper wire until red-hot again.

# Heat copper wire until red-hot again.

# A green flame means that the plastic contains chlorine so do not use it.

# A green flame means that the plastic contains chlorine so do not use it.