Difference between revisions of "Epilog Laser Cutter"

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(Machine workflow: s5)
(Machine workflow: s6)
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*Measure the size of your material board.
 
*Measure the size of your material board.
 
*Open the hood and place the material on the metal bed without hitting the cutting head.
 
*Open the hood and place the material on the metal bed without hitting the cutting head.
*Once you are ready for printing, and if you already installed the driver, from your vector editing software press Ctrl+P or select Print.
+
*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'.
 
*Select 'Epilog Engraver' from the printer list and go to 'Printer settings' or 'Properties'.
*This way you should see the laser cutter driver. Here you can setup the laser's power and speed according to how the vector paths in your drawing are organized (you can also print raster images).
+
*The laser cutter driver interface should apear. Here you can setup 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:
 
*For a vector job:
 
**In the 'General' tab, under 'Job type' select 'Vector'.
 
**In the 'General' tab, under 'Job type' select 'Vector'.

Revision as of 11:19, 3 October 2011


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

Polipropileno / Polypropylene 0.5mm:

CUT:

  • Speed: 60%
  • Power: 40%

ENGRAVE:

  • Speed: 90%
  • Power: 15%

Polipropileno / Polypropylene 0.8mm:

CUT:

  • Speed: 60%
  • Power: 70%

Papel / Paper (thicker)

CUT:

  • Speed: 60%
  • Power: 30%

Papel / Paper (shine 1 side)

CUT:

  • Speed: 60%
  • Power: 25%

ENGRAVE:

  • Speed: 95%
  • Power: 4%

Papel transparente / Transparent Paper

CUT:

  • Speed: 75%
  • Power: 20%

Madera/ Plywood 3mm

CUT:

  • Speed: 15%
  • Power: 45%

ENGRAVE:

  • Speed: 40%
  • Power: 10%

Fieltro / Felt (white) 3mm

CUT:

  • Speed: 60% (70%)
  • Power: 30%

Fieltro / Felt (color) 1mm

CUT:

  • Speed: 90% (70%)
  • Power: 10%

Plexiglass 3mm Poly(methyl methacrylate)

CUT:

  • Speed:15%
  • Power: 60%

ENGRAVE:

  • Speed:50%
  • Power:15%

Cardboard Corrugated 5mm (2 layers)

CUT:

  • Speed:55%
  • Power: 45%

Machine workflow

  • 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 pannel (very important).
  • 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 responsibles.
  • Measure the size of your material board.
  • Open the hood and place the material on the metal bed without hitting the cutting head.
  • 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 apear. Here you can setup 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.
    • Set to 'Vector sorting' and 'Optimize'.
    • In the 'Color mapping' tab select the checkbox '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 allways engrave first and cut later. You can change the order by selecting a color and pressing the up and down arrows.

Important commands

  • Important commands here

External links

  • External links here