Maker Space Laser Cutter Policies

• Have you read the Wiki? 
• Members Only
• £6 per hour
• In addition to membership
• Preferably in advance
• Log your time
• Needed for maintenance as well as costing 
• Material
• Bring your own for large jobs
• Scrap available
• Good/Bad Materials 
• Training
• Supervised use Initially
• Maintenance
• Don't try to maintain the laser yourself
• Inform a maintainer if you think there's a problem
• Before you use the machine
• Check with a keyholder to make sure there's enough time to do the job
• Add 15 mins for letting the laser cool down after the job is finished 

Introduction to the machine

• Laser Keys - tbc
• What each plug does
• Laser and Laptop - ALWAYS ON
• Water Pump - ALWAYS ON AND AT LEAST 15 MINS AFTER USE
• Extractor Fan
• Air Pump 
• Remove anything from the bed (Ensure clear path for laser to home) 
• Key - Should read "FIRING" - not "FIXING"
• Turn On - Head Homes
• Laptop On 

Introduction to Lasercut 5.3

• Export to ASCII DXF (R13/R14)
• Lasercut 5.3 on desktop
• Import file
• Locate on bed if not on already
• use X to reposition
• Navigation buttons
• Picking Tool - Needed if you do anything else
• Zoom
• Pan
• Zoom to Table
• Zoom to All Objects

Preparing the Job

• Symbols on the design
• Blue Circle - Laser Origin
• Yellow Squares - "Pecks" 
• Red Arrows - Cut Direction (in theory) 
• Unite Lines
• Layers
• Avoid using red
• Based on colours used in CAD file (Not layers) 
• Defines Cut Order
• Engrave before cutting
• Cut Types - Samples to show different results
• Cut
• Vector Engrave
• Engrave
• Grade Engrave 
• Hole
• Settings sheets
• On the Wiki - can be updated
• Max power = 66 
• Engraving 
• Don't use Engrave or Grade Engrave near the sides of the bed 
• Set Laser Origin
• Not needed most times but can be useful
• Stopwatch
• Not accurate but can be used for job recording
• Download
• Dialog shows what's on the laser
• Delete / Delete All
• Download

Preparing the Material 

• Check nothing in the way of the head before moving
• Move X-Y
• Set Focus
• Move Z 
• Red Laser not correct if focus is out
• May need to tape material down if warped
• Don't press the material down whilst setting focus 
• Set Start Position
• Often easier to move the material 
• Test
• With the Lid Up
• Start/Pause
• Stop
• Emergency Stop
• Explain but don't demonstrate 

Starting the Job

• Lid Down
• Air Pump ON
• Extractor ON
• Don't leave the machine unattended (e.g. fires)
• Watch out for thin material blowing around

Finishing the Job

• Log your job time
• Summary Sheet
• Payment Sheet 
• Leave the fan on if required
• Clear offcuts from bed
• Big pieces on shelves
• Small usable pieces in box
• Really small bits in scraps box.
• Keys and Focus Tools in blue box on bed
• Shut down laptop 
• Leave the Main switch on for at least 15 mins
• Return laser keys