Class Red Equipment
High risk of injury
See Workshop Safety
Training is required to use this tool
Rule 0. Do not be on fire.
- If you're not sure, don't do it (even switch it on)
- Do not leave the laser cutter running unattended for any reason. See Hackspace Rule 0
- Donations accepted - £5 per hour of cutting appreciated for replacement tube. There's a lasercut ply honesty box on the shelf near the cutter.
- Log job settings/length of print in log book (please time it) as this helps understand how much life we're getting out of the tube (book to be made)
- This laser cutter has a bed size of: 600mm x 430mm
- Laser cutters can do 3 types of cut: Cut, Raster and Engrave.
- Cut: Cuts through the image
- Engrave: Engraves the outline of an image/logo
- Raster: Engraves (and fills) an image/logo
Please check the Sticky Notes on the PC next to the laser cutter for the latest settings.
Note: This laser cutter used in the wrong way can cause fires. Please don't use this unless you've had a brief from a maintainer.
- Check water bucket is clean.
- Turn on white plug gang (contains laser cutter and water pump)
- Turn on extraction fan switch (by the first door when you enter downstairs)
- Turn on PC next to laser cutter
- Press the on-switch on the laser cutter itself
- Open K40 Whisperer with desktop shortcut
- Open Design file (.svg, RED lines == Cut, Blue == Vector Engrave, Shades of Grey == Raster)
- Click 'Initialize Laser Cutter'
*Place in material and make sure it is aligned
- Position Laser with jog-step so red dot on material is where it should cut based on grey circle in software
- Set laser power percent on Laser Cutter Machine (please do not exceed 85%)
- Put emergency stop in 'up' position
- Set movement speed on K40 Whisperer in the appropriate section (RasterEngrave/VectorEngrave/VectorCut)
- Click either RasterEngrave/VectorEngrave/VectorCut
DO NOT LEAVE IT UNATTENDED
- Turn off K40 Whisperer
- Put emergency stop in 'down' position
- Turn off Power Switch On Laser Cutter
- Pull out gang way switch for pump/laser cutter
- Turn off extraction fan in not in use by other members
Every once in a while, the bottom of the laser cutter will fill up with little bits of burnt material.
Check this before you use, and please vacuum this up to keep it tidy if you see any debris.
If a material is not listed here, ask a director or the relevant room lead before use. The Manufacturer's Data Sheet (MSDS) is the gold standard for determining if a material is safe to laser cut. Look specifically for the chemicals produced during thermal breakdown.
- Laser rated Ply (not any old ply)
- Laser rated MDF
- Acrylic
- Paper
- Card/Cardboard
- Laser safe rubber (stinks!)
- Leather (stinks so do it during low useage times, think burning flesh...)
- Felt
- Laser safe Ply (not any old ply)
- Laser safe MDF
- Acrylic
- Paper
- Card/Cardboard
- Laser safe rubber (stinks!)
- Leather (stinks so do it during low useage times, think burning flesh...)
- Some light coloured stone
- Stainless Steel. Note, requires Dry Moly spray
- Aluminimum. Note, requires Dry Moly spray
- Ceramic. Note, requires Dry Moly spray
This is not an exhaustive list, but here are some common materials which cannot be laser cut due to the toxic fumes that are released during cutting.
- PVC
- Vinyl
- ABS
- Polycarbonate
Use the switch inside the laser cutter on the right to move the bed up and down. Be careful as this switch stays on until it's in the center position (small movements are key).
Once the bed has moved, check the alignment of the bed with material and your aliment marker (see photo).