Difference between revisions of "Epilog Laser Cutter"

Revision as of 12:52, 20 February 2012

Technical specifications

• Cutting area 900 x 600 millimeters.
• Cutting power max. 75 Watt.

CAM

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

Tools

• Tools here

Materials and configurations

Suppliers

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

Polypropylene 0.5mm / Polipropileno

CUT:

• Speed: 60%
• Power: 40%

ENGRAVE:

• Speed: 90%
• Power: 15%

Polypropylene 0.8mm / Polipropileno

CUT:

• Speed: 60%
• Power: 70%

Paper(250gr) / Papel

CUT:

• Speed: 60%
• Power: 30%

ENGRAVE:

• Speed: 85%
• Power: 6%

Paper(shine 1 side) / Papel

CUT:

• Speed: 60%
• Power: 25%

ENGRAVE:

• Speed: 95%
• Power: 4%

Transparent Paper / Papel transparente

CUT:

• Speed: 75%
• Power: 20%

Plywood 3mm / Madera

CUT:

• Speed: 15%
• Power: 45%

ENGRAVE:

• Speed: 40%
• Power: 10%

Plywood 5mm / Madera

CUT:

• Speed:15%
• Power: 85%

ENGRAVE:

• Speed:40%
• Power:10%

Plywood / Madera RASTER SOLID 0.5mmdeep

• Speed: 30%
• Power: 20%

Felt(3mm) / Fieltro

CUT:

• Speed: 60% (70%)
• Power: 30%

Felt(1mm) / Fieltro

CUT:

• Speed: 90% (70%)
• Power: 10%

Poly(methyl methacrylate)- Plexiglass(3mm)

CUT:

• Speed:15%
• Power: 60%

ENGRAVE:

• Speed:65%
• Power:10%

Cardboard Corrugated 5mm (2 layers)

CUT:

• Speed:55%
• Power: 45%

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:
  • Describe it here...
• 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.
  • Press 'X/Y off' and bring the bed to the desired z position pressing the 'up' and 'down' arrows.
  • Go to the origin by pressing 'Restaurar'.
• Turn on the laser pointer 'Puntero'.
• Set the machine head to the origin 'Restaur.' and focus the laser 'Enfocar'.
• If you want to change the x/y origin follow this steps:
  • Setting the origin here...
• 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' to start cutting/engraving.
• Press 'STOP' 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