FabLab Kamp-Lintfort

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====== Corel Draw Tutorial ======  

[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6R_yRp9a58]]

  

====== Machine Tutorial ======  

===== Overview  =====  

Ein CO2-Laser oder umgangssprachlich auch Kohlendioxidlaser bezeichnet eine Laserklasse unterschiedlicher Bauformen aus der Gruppe der Gas-, Molekül- und Infrarotlaser im mittleren Infrarot. Sein Lasermedium ist Kohlenstoffdioxid mit einem 4-Niveau-System. Er zählt neben den Festkörperlasern zu den leistungsstärksten und am häufigsten industriell eingesetzten Lasern. Es können Ausgangsleistungen von bis zu 80 kW und Pulsenergien bis 100 kJ erreicht werden. Ein CO2-Laser arbeitet mit Wellenlängen zwischen 9,4 und 10,6 µm. CO2-Laser sind relativ effizient und kostengünstig, weswegen sie besonders in der industriellen Materialbearbeitung eingesetzt werden.

===== Cuttable Materials   =====  
 * Wood
  * Plywood
  * MDF
  * Massive wood
 * Plastics
  * Acrylic
  * Derlin/POM
  * Rubber
 * Textiles
  * Fabric
  * Cloth
 * Paper based
  * Cardboard
  * Paper

===== **NON** - Cuttable Materials   =====  
 * Vinyl and Synthetic Leather \\           
 * Infused Carbon & Glass fibres \\           
 * Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) \\           
 * Polycarbonate and ABS Plastics \\           
 * Polyvinyl butyrale (PVB) \\           
 * Polytetrafluoroethylenes (PTFE /Teflon) \\           
 * Beryllium oxide \\           
 * Any materials containing halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine), epoxy or phenolic resins \\           

**If it is not clear check the datasheet!**

===== Machine components  =====  
==== Laser Cutter  ====
The machine itself: 
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:machine.jpg?600 |}}
==== Extraction Filter  ====
Sucks the fumes and filters the fine smoke particles out.
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:filter.jpg?600 |}}
==== Air Assist Compressor   ====
Blows a stream of compressed air to protect the lens from smoke build-up as well as aid in fume extraction. 
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:airassistcomp.jpg?600 |}}
==== Chiller  ====  
Cools down the laser tube. 
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:chiller.jpg?600 |}}


===== Summary  ===== 
   - Setting the "Focus"
   - Setting the "Jog" 
   - Importing / Creating files
   - Setting the settings
   - Turning on extraction 
   - Starting the job  
   - Finalising the job

====== Detailed Steps  ======  

===== Setting the "Focus"   ===== 
For the laser beam to cut properly it has to be in focus. The beam travels from the point of exit of the laser tube to the focus lens using 45° mirrors as illustrated by the image below: 
\\
{{:documentation:machines:easdlw6040:beam.png?600|}}
\\
Different focus lenses have different focal lengths. 
\\
{{:documentation:machines:easdlw6040:focallength.png?600|}}
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In the best case scenario the focus of the beam should be set in the middle of the material to be cut. However, depending on the thickness of the material and the tolerance of the focal length it might be okay to set it on top without noticeably affecting the cut quality. 
\\
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:focus.png?600 |}}
\\
In general, setting the focus can be done using a manual tool or automatically using a sensor. The principle is the same which is maintaining a set distance between the lens and the material to be cut. 
\\
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:manautofocus.png?600 |}}
\\
Setting the correct focus affects the thickness of the cut also known as the Kerf. Laser cuts to burning or vaporising materials. this is a subtractive technique. 
\\
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:kerf.png?600 |}}\\
In cases where sizes have to be very accurate, lines have to be offset to compensate for the kerf. Without compensation the laser beam follows the centreline of the vector (cut line). There are many ways to calculate the kerf to be able to compensate for it. The image bellow illustrates how to calculate the kerf in an easy way. The principle is creating a known number of cuts, subtracting the resulting total width of all the cut pieces B from the designed dimension A and dividing the value by the number of cuts made. 
\\
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:kerfcal.png?600 |}}  \\

To set the focus of the machine use the focus tool shown below: 
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:focustool.jpg?600 |}}

Slide the focus setting tool under the laser head as shown by the illustration below: 
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:focussetting.png?600 |}}

Use the handle shown below to adjust the distance between the laser head and the focus setting tool. The aim is to feel slight resistance when sliding the tool. Please note that the laser head should neither clamp the focus tool nor be more than 1mm away. 
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:focussetter.jpg?600 |}}  

===== Setting the "Jog"    ===== 
Setting the jog is setting the starting point where the design would be cut. This point corresponds to one corner of the design file, typically what is referred to as the top right corner of the design.  
\\{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:upperright.png?600 |}}\\
===== Importing / Creating files   ===== 
To create files using Corel Draw please refer to the tutorial linked at the very top. Files can be created using a plethora of software programs. 

==== Vector vs Raster    ==== 
To cut lines vector formats are needed such as DXF, SVG, etc.  
\\
To engrave something pixels are needed such as .png images. \\

A combination of both is of course possible. For lines to be cut the stroke size has to be set to hairline, anything thicker would be regraded as pixels and thus engraved instead of cut. 

===== Setting the Settings    ===== 
==== Vector vs Raster    ==== 

=== Power    ===
The power of the laser used to cut/engrave can be set using the panel on the machine shown below:
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:powerpannel.jpg?600 |}}
=== Speed    === 
=== Frequency    === 

===== Turning on extraction    ===== 
The power switch of the extraction is located at the bottom of back side of the filter as shown below. 
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:filterswitch.jpg?600 |}}
To start the extraction filter press the start button shown below: 
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:filterpannel.jpg?600 |}}
To adjust the speed of the fan use the highlighted buttons. Increasing the fan speed increases the extraction and vice versa.
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:filterpannel2.jpg?600 |}}

===== Starting the job    =====
===Turning ON extraction:=== 
===Turning ON Laser: ===
The switch show below is used to allow power to go to the laser tube to generate the laser. You have to press the green button before sending the job otherwise the machine will move without the laser shooting out. This can be used to simulate the placement, scale of the cut, etc. before making the actual cut. 
{{ :documentation:machines:easdlw6040:laserswitch.jpg?600 |}}
===Sending the Job:=== 

Before starting the job make sure that the extraction filter is ON and that the laser is turned ON. 


===== Finalising the job    =====
After the machine finishes the cut wait until all the smoke have cleared up, turn OFF the laser power, turn OFF the extraction filter, take your parts and dispose of the remaining material properly. 


If in doubt always ask the staff. Please report any abnormalities to the staff. Always be prepared to deal with fire in case a fire starts.
FabLab Kamp-Lintfort

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