User:Reyninho/FabLab-Reykjavik/Laser-cutting

Laser cutting
Such as laser cutting machine takes into account vector to cut. Moreover it's passsible to raster the support. In the FabLab Reykjavik the machin used is an Epilog Laser Mini. It's the same process as the vinyl cutting to edit a project using inkscape software.

Editing a project

 * 1) Open Inkscape and draw what you want. You can also import a picture frome your computer and converte it into vectors or draw above it.
 * 2) Your drawing done, clik on edit fill and stroke.

Cut

 * If you want tu cut in order to separte your draw from the suport, you do not have fill by cliking on the cross.
 * You do have a stroke that must me full red (255,0,0)
 * Change the thikness of the stroke to 0,02mm. The machine takes into account these settings only. Thaht why it's very important to check if they are ok.

Raster

 * If you want tu do some raster in order to engrave a picture for exemple, you must have fill by cliking on the FULL button.
 * You do have a fill that must me full black (0,0,0)
 * Turn off the strock by clicink on the cross. The machine takes into account these settings only. Thaht why it's very important to check if they are ok.

Then ou can change the propertie documents in order to fit the page to the objects you've drawn just befor with a small margine Exporte to PDF file with the resolution you want and the extra-space settings you want.

Cutting

 * 1) Above all turn on the machine
 * 2) Open your PDF file
 * 3) Check the support you take is large enought regarding to your drawing.
 * 4) Put your support inside the machine.
 * 5) On the laser machine screen, press the button POINTER (9). Now you can see where the laser's light is.
 * 6) Press the X/Y OFF then GO. Now you can hande move the laser in order to define the origine you want. Be carreful to move the laser with the metal tongue. Don't tuch the lens where the laser pass through. Fixe your originie at the top left of the space you want the laser to cut on your support.
 * 7) Do the focus by hande. Take the trinagular caliber and put it on the laser. Then press the up and down arrows in order to have the triangular caliber the closest possible from the support.
 * 8) Then presse the  SET HOME button and press RESET. Your Origine is done!
 * 9) Click on PRINT in your PDF file. A print window appear.
 * 10) Chose the good Printer.
 * 11) Click on actual size.
 * 12) BECAREFULL to allways click on Portrait!
 * 13) Clic on Properties. An other windows appears.
 * 14) Define the resolution.
 * 15) Select the job type.
 * 16) Define the Piece size. This is where you allows the machine to work. So check that this size is large and long enought for the dimentions of your document and for the dimentions of your piece.
 * 17) Then define the Raster and Vector settings regarding to the nature of your suport (some of them are shown on the wall).
 * 18) Clic on OK
 * 19) Last check (Partrait!)
 * 20) To finsih, clic on PRINT. Your file has been sent in the machine.
 * 21) Check on the machine screen that it's your file name wich is shown.
 * 22) Close the glass window.
 * 23) If it's not auto, turn on the compressor.
 * 24) press GO.
 * 25) Enjoye technologie!
 * 26) If you see something goes wrong, press the Red STOP buton.
 * 27) When it's finished, waint 20 secondes time to evacuate the gas.
 * 28) Open up the glass window, take off your piece.
 * 29) Turn off the comressor.
 * Done!!