Legend 36 EXT 50 W Laser Cutter

Epilog Legend 36 EXT 50 W Laser Cutter

Technical specifications

• Cutting area 900 x 600 millimeters / 35.4" x 23.6" inches
• Cutting power max. 50 Watt.
• Maximum Power Consumption:

Health & Safety

Epilog Laser Cutter

1. PRECAUTIONS

Step	Description
	1.	If you are not going to use the computer in the Fab Lab, install the Epilog drivers in your computer (you can reach the machine inside the Fab Lab network).
	2.	Turn on the main fume extractor in the big laser cutter switch panel.
3.	Turn on the small air compressor on the left hand side of the machine.
4.	Turn on the laser cutter (left side of the machine).
5.	Turn on the pc desktop and the monitor of the Lab connected to the laser machine.
6.	Make sure the material you want to use is in the 'Materials and configuration' list. If it is not there, ask the Fab Lab responsible.
7.	Measure the size of your material board. If it doesn’t fit into the board of the laser machine ask the Fab Lab responsible for cutting the correct format.

2. FILE SETTINGS

Step	Description
	1.	Open dxf, 3dm, or compatible file with Rhino.
	2.	Select the curves and hatches and put them in separate layers.
3.	Choose the correct colour for every operation (Cutting, Engraving, Raster E.).
4.	Select all objects and make sure that they are displayed by layer on properties.
5.	From your vector editing software, once you are ready for printing and if you already installed the driver, press Ctrl+P or select ‘Print’.
6.	Select ‘Epilog Engraver 50’ from the printer list and go to ‘Printer settings’ or ‘Properties’.
7.	The laser cutter driver interface should appear. Here you can set-up the laser’s power and speed according to how the vector paths in your drawing are organized (you can also print raster images).

3. PRINT SETTINGS:

Step	Description
	1.	For a vector job, In the 'General' tab, under 'Job type' select 'Vector'.
	2.	Set the size of the material sheet under 'Piece Size'.
3.	Set to 'Vector sorting' and 'Optimize'.
4.	In the 'Color mapping' tab select the checkbox 'Color mapping'. You must have an organized drawing with lines in different layer colors and sort them depending on the type of job (raster, engraving and cutting).
5.	Once this is done, you can set the power, speed, and frequency of every color in your drawing. Take a look at the 'Materials and configuration' list above for the right power/speed values according to the material you are using.
6.	Send parameters with the double arrow once you set for each color.
7.	The list order determines the execution sequence of every type of job. You should always engrave first and cut later. You can change the order by selecting a color and pressing the up and down arrows.
8.	Once you are done with this configuration, press 'OK'.
9.	For a raster job, In the 'General' tab, under 'Job type' select ‘Raster’. For both jobs select ‘Combined’ and follow the steps from 2 to 8.
10.	Make sure the Scale is 1:1 (100%) and set the window by moving it to the correct point in the drawing. You should see the parts that you want to cut/engrave fitting the material in the preview.
11.	Finalize the process with 'Print' and the file will be sent to the laser cutter.

4. MACHINE:

Step	Description
	1.	Open the hood and place the material on the metal bed without hitting the cutting head.
	2.	If the material you use is too thick you should lower the bed switching OFF the X/Y and bring the bed to the desired Z position by pressing the 'up' and 'down' arrows.
3.	Turn on the laser pointer 'Puntero’.
4.	Set the machine head to the origin by pressing 'Restaur.' and focus the laser by pressing 'Enfocar' and click 'GO/Entra' to run the file.
5.	Tape the corners for the material and where it is needed, if necessary. Close the hood.
6.	After you have sent the job to the machine you will see 'Job:job name' in the display.
7.	Pressing the up and down arrows will allow you to select the different jobs stored in the machine.
8.	Press 'GO/Entra' to start cutting/engraving.
9.	Press 'STOP/Salir' if something burns inside the machine or the material is not in the right position.
10.	Never leave the machine unattended.

CAM

• 2D Printer driver from most CAD or ilustration software
• From PDF

Caution

• this remark should go on all pages for lasers:

The honeycomb structure of the bed of the machine is very expensive and it easily gets damaged. The quality of the cuts is only going to be good if the bed is perfectly flat and undamaged. Take good care of the honeycomb

Materials and configurations

Settings

Laser settings for common materials - Epilog 50W

Material	Cut			Engraving			Raster Engraving - 600 DPI
		Speed (%)	Power (%)	Frequency (Hz)	Speed (%)	Power (%)	Frequency (Hz)	Speed (%)	Power (%)	Frequency (Hz)
	Polypropylene - White - 0.5mm	55	50	5000	100	10	5000	100	15	5000
Polypropylene - Transparent - 0.8mm	35	60	5000	100	20	5000	80	20	5000
Polypropylene - Black 1.2mm	30	80	5000	85	30	5000	100	20	5000
Acrylic - White - 2mm	25	90	5000	90	30	5000	100	25	5000
Acrylic - White - 3mm	15	88	5000	100	10	5000	100	15	5000
Acrylic - Transparent - 2mm	25	90	5000	100	5	5000	100	15	5000
Acrylic - Transparent - 3mm	15	90	5000	100	5	5000	100	15	5000
Acrylic - Transparent - 4mm	10	95	5000	100	5	5000	100	15	5000
Acrylic - Transparent - 5mm	10	100	5000	100	5	5000	100	8	5000
Acrylic - Transparent/Matt - 3mm	15	90	5000	100	10	5000	100	15	5000
Acrylic - Transparent/Matt - 6mm	5	100	5000	100	15	5000	100	30	5000
Acrylic - Black/Semi-Transparent - 3mm	15	90	5000	100	5	5000	100	15	5000
EVA Foam (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) - Black - 10mm	20	100	1000	90	15	1000	90	10	1000
EVA Foam (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) - Yellow - 11mm	15	100	1000	90	15	1000	90	10	1000
Polyurethane Foam - 10mm	65	60	500	100	5	500	100	15	500
Foam with textile - 3mm	60	55	250	100	15	250	100	10	250
Felt - Black (5mm) / Fieltro	55	55	250	100	5	250	100	10	250
Lycra - White - 0.3mm	70	30	500	100	3	500	100	8	500
Wood - Plywood (4mm) / Madera	20	95	300	70	10	500	100	10	500
Wood - Plywood (5mm) / Madera	15	90	2500	80	10	500	100	9	500
Wood - MDF (3mm)	15	90	500	70	10	500	100	20	500
Wood - MDF (4mm)	15	100	500	70	10	500	100	20	500
Wood - MDF (5mm)	8	100	30	70	10	500	100	20	500
Wood - Veneer (0.7mm)	85	55	500	70	5	500	100	7	500
Paper - black - 0.4mm	90	35	500	100	2	500	100	10	500
Paper - White - 0.6mm	80	35	500	100	3	500	100	10	500
Paper - Black finish - 1.3mm	70	50	500	90	5	500	90	10	500
Paper - Grey - 1.5mm	55	75	500	100	10	500	90	10	500
Cardboard - Corrugated (4mm/1 layers)	40	45	500	100	10	500	100	20	500
Cardboard - Corrugated (5mm/2 layers)	30	70	500	100	20	500	100	15	500
Cardboard - Corrugated high res. - white (6mm/1 layer)	2x 20	90	500	100	10	500	100	15	500

Note: Settings above are a good starting point. Laser cutting quality is affected by several factors including lens cleanliness, maintenance and/or aging laser tube. If you are not achieveing a cut, try to increase the power, decrease the speed or a do combination of both. Change settings with 5-10% step at a time.

Suppliers

For a supplier list take a look at this table maintained by de Fab Lab BARCELONA

Machine work flow

• If you are not going to use the computer in the Fab Lab, install the Epilog drivers in your computer (you can reach the machine inside the Fab Lab network).
• Turn on the main fume extractor in the big laser cutter switch panel.
• Turn on the small air compressor on the left hand side of the machine.
• Turn on the laser cutter (left side of the machine).
• Make sure the material you want to use is in the 'Materials and configuration' list. If it is not there, ask the Fab Lab responsible.
• Measure the size of your material board.
• From your vector editing software, once you are ready for printing and if you already installed the driver, press Ctrl+P or select 'Print'.
• Select 'Epilog Engraver' from the printer list and go to 'Printer settings' or 'Properties'.
• The laser cutter driver interface should appear. Here you can set-up the laser's power and speed according to how the vector paths in your drawing are organized (you can also print raster images).
• For a vector job:
  • In the 'General' tab, under 'Job type' select 'Vector'.
  • Set the size of the material sheet under 'Piece Size'.
  • Set to 'Vector sorting' and 'Optimize'.
  • In the 'Color mapping' tab select the check box 'Color mapping'. You should have organized your drawing in different colors if you need to do different types of jobs (for example engraving and cutting).
  • Once this is activated, you can set the power, the speed, and other parameters for every single color in your drawing. Take a look at the 'Materials and configuration' list above for the proper power/speed values according to the material you are using.
  • The list order determines the execution sequence of every type of job. You should allays engrave first and cut later. You can change the order by selecting a color and pressing the up and down arrows.
  • Once you are done with this configuration, press 'OK'.
• For a raster job:
  • You should see the parts that you want to cut/engrave fitting the material in the preview. If not, you should scale, move, rotate or change the units of the drawing to get it as you want.
  • Finalize the process with 'Print' and the file will be sent to the laser cutter.
• At the machine:
  • Open the hood and place the material on the metal bed without hitting the cutting head.
  • If the material you use is to thick (engraving bigger objects), you should lower the bed.
    • To lower the bed:
      • Press 'X/Y off' and bring the bed to the desired z position by pressing the 'up' and 'down' arrows.
  • Turn on the laser pointer 'Puntero'.
  • Set the machine head to the origin by pressing 'Restaur.' and focus the laser by pressing 'Enfocar' and 'GO/Entra'.
    • If you want to change the x/y origin follow this steps:
      • Press 'X/Y off' and bring the laser manually to the desire origin.
      • Then press 'Ajuste Inicio' and you should have now a new origin point.
• If you already sent the job to the machine you will see 'Job:job name' in the display.
• Pressing the up and down arrows will allow you to select the different jobs stored in the machine.
• Press 'GO/Entra' to start cutting/engraving.
• Press 'STOP/Salir' if something burns inside the machine or the material moves from its original position.
• Don't leave the machine unattended.

Epilog Legend 36 interface pannel

Important commands

Structure:

• http://issuu.com/fablabbcn/docs/epilog_quick_start?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222/
  

External links

• Epilog Legend Series
• 'Laser cutting' in the Wikipedia

Downloads

• User Manual