Laser Cutting Manual

Paul Nichols
Digital Fabrication Technician
p.nichols@uel.ac.uk
REASONS TO BE BANNED

// Not attending the machine while working

// Use only the materials listed (Card, Plywood,

Acrylic) unless permission has been granted from a
technician.

// NEVER USE PVC OR MDF

Lab Rules

// No food or drink in the lab

// No more than 9 students in the room

// Remove your offcuts and tidy your space

// Show up to appointments – 3 strike rule

// Maximum 2 slots allowed per day (1 in submission periods)

// if you are more than 15mins late, you loose your slot.

// No booking for someone else

// No storing materials

Multiple offenses results in a ban

Materials

GREY or WHITE CARD

Grey Card (up to 3mm)

PLYWOOD for laser cutting

Plywood (0.8mm to 6mm)

PERSPEX ACRYLIC for laser cutting (cast and not extruded)

Cast Acrylic up to 10mm

NO PVC OR MDF IS ALLOWED!!!

If you are using Rhinoceros, Autocad, Vector Works etc.

Save your file as .dxf format (preferably 2004 polylines)

If you are using Adobe Illustrator

Save your file as .ai format at version 8 only

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ENGRAVING SETTINGS

CUTTING SETTINGS
Plug the USB
flash drive at
the right side of
the machine.
Select the file
you saved and
then click Enter
to upload it. If
nothing happens,
press the 'ESC'
button.
Press ESC and then
remove the USB.
Next step is to Focus
the laser beam using
the squares saying
'FOCUS'.

At this point also make

sure your material is
flat and use the
weights if not.
Use the Up and Down
buttons to move the
laser bed (not the
laser beam) up and
down.
Press 'Test' to see how
the toolpath will evolve
(the cutting area will
be indicated). If you
want to change it, just
move the nozzle and then
press Test again.

Once everything is set,

press Start and attend
the machine at ALL TIMES.
See you all at KD.G.19!