How to use the Epilog Laser Mini

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Overview

The Epilog laser is a laser cutting and engraving device. It can load thing materials such as wood, plexiglass or cardboard and cut out various shapes and sizes from them. Aside from this it has a engraving mode. The machine can take plates of up to 60 by 30 centimeters. Any vector design in the PDF file format can be cut out by the machine.

How to laser cut

Step 1

First you need a vector graphics file of the shape you want to cut or engrave. You can make these files with programs such as Inkscape, Coreldraw or Adobe Illustrator. Make sure you save the file as pdf. Lines that you want cut should be 0.01 mm thick. Everything else will be rasterized.

Step 2

Turn on the machine.

Step 3

Choose your material and place it in the machine. It is always best to make a dummy version in cheap cardboard first, to see if you got your measurements and settings right. If your are going to cut the material, make sure the honeycomb bed is in the machine.

On the machine, press the [X/Y OFF] button followed by the green [GO] button for confirmation. Now proceed to move the laser by hand to where you want it to start cutting. If you need help aiming press the [POINTER] button to get a red dot on the lasers position. You can use the arrow buttons on the machine [up] and [down] to lower the bed for placing thicker materials.

Bear in mind the machine starts at the top left corner of your design file. If you are satisfied with the position you can press [SET HOME].

Step 4

Open the Document in Adobe PDF reader on the computer. Press the [CTRL]+[P] buttons to print. Click on the [PROPERTIES] tab to set the laser cutter's options. Here you will need to determine the settings that correspond with the material you have placed in the laser cutter.

Step 5

First select either [RASTER], [VECTOR] or [COMBINED] from the selection in the top center. Raster means engraving only, vector means cutting only, combined means both. The next step is to set the piece size. Here you fill in the size of the material you placed in the lasercutter. Make sure you have [AUTO FOCUS] and [VECTOR SORTING] selected.

The last step is to set the raster and vector settings in the right side of the dialog window. Below you will see a table with the settings for the materials we use in the FabLab. When this is done you can press the [OK] button to get back to the main dialog print window.

In this window make sure you have the right printer selected and not fill but actual print size selected. When ready hit the print button. The job will be waiting in the lasercutter.

Switch on the ventilation and the air pressurizer. And then hit the green [GO] button on the machine.

Print options

Epilogs printing options. Here you chose what resolution you want, if you want raster(engraving) or vector(deeper cutting) cutting. When you are going to adjust the speed, power and freq options, first look in the manual for the best settings.

Color Mapping

When you use color mapping you can set different options to different colors. To remove a color just mark it and hit the – button. To Add a color you hit the + button. You can also move the color up and down the list, the color that is at the top is the one that is going to get cut first. The speed, power and frequency options works in the same way, as in the general options.

Things to watch out for

Before you start cutting, open the machine turn on the pointer. If the red dot hits one of the ruler you need to adjust the x an y.

1. Press X/Y OFF
2. Press GO to confirm disabling the X and Y axis (Press STOP to cancel and send the carriage back to its Park position if you change your mind!)
3. Move the lens assembly by hand to your desired location (remember to turn the Red Diode Pointer on as a visual locator aid)
4. Press SET HOME to establish your new home position. After you have set home, pressing the RESET button will move the carriage to its park position a short distance (approx.1/2 inch (12 mm)) to the front of where you set home.
5. Once you are finished with your home position, and want to restore the carriage to the upper left corner of the machine, press the Set Home key and the Reset key simultaneously. Press the GO key and the carriage will move back and to the left to its normal upper left corner Park position.

Good to know

If you are making press fit design it is good to test first before cutting your whole design. Per laser cutter machine and per acrylic plate there can be a slight difference (like o.something mm) with is enough to make a pressfit design work or not.

Safety

• Main article: Safety

Fire safety

1. NEVER let the Laser system operate if it will be unattended.
2. KEEP the area around the machine clean and free of clutter, combustible materials, explosives, or volatile solvents such as acetone, alcohol, or gasoline.
3. ALWAYS keep a properly maintained and inspected fire extinguisher on hand. Epilog recommends a Haltron fire extinguisher. Since it discharges a clean, easily removable substance that is not harmful to the mechanics or the wiring of the laser system.
4. ALWAYS use air assist when vector cutting.
5. BE CAREFUL many materials have the potential to suddenly burst into flames. Always monitor the machine when its operating.
6. KEEP you laser system clean and free of debris. Regularly remove the vector grid to clean any small pieces that have fallen through the grid.

Laser safety.

1. DO NOT disassemble the machine or remove any of its protective covers while the unit is plugged in.
2. DO NOT attempt to defeat the door interlocks.
3. DO NOT view directly into the beam of the laser diode pointer (red dot pointer).
4. DO NOT operate the Laser Diode Pointer without the machine's focus lens in place. If the unfocused beam strikes a reflective surface, it could be directed out of the cabinet.

Electrical Safety

1. DO NOT open any of the machine's access panels while the unit is plugged in. Opening a panel may expose the operator to the unit's AC input power.
2. DO NOT make or break any electrical connections to the system while the units is turned on.

Material	Engraving	Vector Cutting	300 DPI engraving (speed/power)	400 DPI engraving (speed/power)	600 DPI engraving ((speed/power)	Vector Cutting (speed/power/frequency)
Akryl (Plexiglass)	X	X	100/75	100/65	100/55	3mm – 12/100/5000 6mm – 5/100/5000
Anóðerað ál	X		100/100	100/90	100/80	Ekki vektorskurður
Avonít (harðplast)	X	X	20/100	25/100	30/100	3mm – 20/100/5000
Rock	X		?	?	25/100	Ekki vektorskurður
Corian (harðplast)	X	X	20/100	25/100	30/100	3mm – 20/100/5000
Cotton (industrial t-shirt)	X	X	x	x	100/20	x
Delrin (harðplast)	X	X	100/70	100/60	100/50	3mm – 60/100/500
Dúkur	X	X	?	?	?	?
Flísar	X		?	?	?
Glass	X		25/100	30/100	35/100
Rubber	X	X	10/100	20/100	30/100	15/100/100
Toasted bread	X		?	?	45/50
Hljúpaðir málmar	X		15/100	20/100	25/100
Ceramic	X		?	25/100	?
Cork	X	X	?	?	?	?
Plywood	X	X	?	?	?	?
Leather	X	X	100/65	100/55	100/45	3mm – 35/50/500
Marmari	X		?	?	?
Malaðir málmar	X		?	?	?
Melamín (harðplast)	X	X	40/100	50/100	60/100	?
Mylar (PET polyester)	X	X	?	?	?	75 dpi 1 speed,5 power
Paper	X	X	?	?	?	1 mm -40/50/500
Cardboard	X	X	?	?	80/40	40/90/2500
Plast ?	X	X	100/80	100/70	100/60	20/60/5000
Ryðfrítt stál	X		?	?	?
Wood- Cherry – Alder - Walnut	X	X	30/100	35/100	40/100	3mm – 30/100/500 6mm – 7/100/500
Trefjagler	X	X	?	?	?
Granite	X	X	X	X	20/100 X2

How to get Epilog laser running on net with Ubuntu

• System -> Administration -> Printing ->
• Server->New Printer
• Select Devices -> Network Printer
• Host 192.168.12.236
• Queue queue -- Forward

• Select printer from database ->Generic -- Forward
• Models Raw queue --Forward
• Printer name laser -- Apply

Useful links

• Epiloglaser handbook
• Hugmyndagallerí fyrir Epilog laserskera, dæmi um möguleika á notkun
• Electronic_brochures from Epilog Laser
• Creating_3d_artwork
• what materials you can use for laser
• Mini helix information and drivers and so
• Epilog laser technical support.