Laser Cutting

 Laser Cutting Documentation Blog Entry

In this blog, I will descrbe my understanding and experience of laser cutting: 

1.    These are the 4 important hazards and the respective safety control measures on the operation of laser cutting machine:

Hazards	Safety control measures	Pictures to support the explanation
1. Fire	Fire extinguisher
2. Wrong type of material releasing harmful toxins	List of suitable materials & SOP
3.Toxic smell and particles	Extractor
4. Fumes from material being cut	Fume extractor

 

 

2.    Below are the materials that can be cut/engraved using laser cutting machine in FabLab.

Material	Photo of material
1. Wood
2. Acrylic
3. Cardboard

 

Below are the materials that can’t be cut/engraved using laser cutting machine in Fablab.

Material	Photo of material
1. PVC
2. Foam
3. Metal

 

3.    Below are the steps on the operation of UNIVERSAL laser cutter machine in FabLab:

 1) Starting the compressor, turning on the laser cutting machine and fume extractor.

Steps and description	Photos to support the description
1. Turn on the power for laser cutter, Air assist and Extractor
2. Turn on the fume extractor
-----	-----

 

2) Importing a .DXF file to coreldraw and modify the lines/fill for cutting and engraving.

Steps and description	Photos to support the description
1. Select File > Import > Select the  .DXF and press import
2. Select decision, Vector Cut – Pen outline Colour: RGB RED ---> Line Width: Hair line Engrave – Fill Colour: RGB GREEN ---> Line Width: NONE  Vector Engrave – Fill Colour: RGB GREEN ---> Line Width: NONE
3. Adjust the line colour/width & fill colour to meet laser cutting requirement

 

3) Sending the coreldraw drawing to laser cutter software and setting the laser cutter power, speed, PPI in the software.

Steps and description	Photos to support the description
1. Click on file > print > click on the cogwheel for settings
2. Click LOAD → Select the presets that matches your material type and thickness and select OPEN
3. Set your Laser cutter software settings (Power, Speed, Pulses Per Inch (PPI) and Z-axis)

 

4) Starting the job on the laser cutter machine.

Steps and description	Photos to support the description
1. Use "focus" to direct the laser pointer to the allocated space on the material. (Second picture from the left)
2. Use "move" to move the drawings within the available workspace. (Third picture from the left)
3. Press ON to activate (If PLAY button green before activating UCP, Deactivate and reactivate it again

 

DOs and DONTs when there’s flame/fire on the material being cut.

DOs and DONTs	Photos to support the description
1. Any flame MUST DIE OUT within 1-2 seconds. If the flame persists, lift the lid of the laser cutter and stop the cutting operation. > blow out the fire if its small
2. If the fire is unable to blow off,  a. remove material from the laser cutter b. place it on the floor and step on it to put out the fire
3. If the fire is uncontrollable, go to the closest fire extinguisher and put it out. Get people’s attention by shouting for help.

 

4.    Below is my Learning Reflection on the laser cutter activities.

While creating the laser cutter SOP, I felt that the process of laser cutting was going to be very tedious and tiring however after being on site and physically setting the laser cutter and seeing the end product, it felt way easier and simpler then I had previously anticipated. I realised that operating a laser cutter is way easier then a 3D printer and completes so much faster. I managed to create a panda keychain within 1 min compared to 3D printing which would have took 3 hours.

I will be looking forward to using the laser cutter more often!😀