Laser cutter open day - Revision history

Freddie: Re-order.

2017-04-19T20:03:55Z

Re-order.

Freddie: Adding box link

2017-04-19T20:00:17Z

Adding box link

Freddie: Adding direct link to keyring file.

2017-04-19T19:53:54Z

Adding direct link to keyring file.

Freddie: Initial dump of info

2017-02-25T02:12:32Z

Initial dump of info

New page

This page holds various resources for the laser cutter open day, initially planned for 25/02/2017.

= Laser Cutting procedure review =
# On any PC:-
## Draw to scale in inkscape
##* Surround by a box of known dimensions - for later scaling.
## Convert all objects to paths
## Save as svg (to edit later if necessary)
## Export as dxf
## It doesn't matter what you sample in, it doesn't seem to work anyway. (?)
## Put on usb-stick and move to laser-pc.
#On laser-cutter PC:-
## File import (3rd from left top icon), & select DXF file from USB stick
## Select All, then Tools > Unite Lines with a threshold of 0.1 (note that this saves the last entry, so if someone's altered it, that needs amending)
## Set size (left side menu)
## Order cutting by colour - higher in list = earlier
## Set type (cut/score/raster) and speed/power per colour (consult tests or table in pamphlet)
## Click top timer icon to show how long it's expected to take.
## Click left side icon to 'centre to table' - often imports image outside boundaries of laser-cutter bed
## Download (bottom right of screen) > Delete all (clears buffer) > Download current
# On laser-cutter:-
## Set laser focus: Press "Z" then use focus tool (acrylic square) & Up/Down green buttons (unless someone has already set this for the material you're using).
## Esc > Datum (?)
## Esc > cursor arrows to position laser at top right of image to cut (Esc to accept start pos)
## Test to see extremes of image file. If 'Soft Stop', it's because image is outside boundaries of laser-cutter bed - in software, select 'centre to table' & lase cutter bed area should show as frame with image file inside it.
## Start to cut

= Interesting projects =

[http://www.instructables.com/tag/type-id/category-workshop/channel-laser-cutting/ Laser cutting on instructables.com] 
[http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-3D-Topographical-Maps/ Topographical Map] 
[http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-Cut-Jewelry-Box/ Simple box] 
[http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-Cut-Candle-Holders/ Candle holders] 
[http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-Cut-Peach-Pie/step5/Make-the-pastry-base/ Peach Pie(?!)] 
[http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-Cut-Periodic-Table-Name-Tag/ Periodic table coasters] 
[http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-Cut-Laptop-Stand/ Laptop stand] 
[http://boxdesigner.connectionlab.org/ Box designer] 
[http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-Cutting-Basics/ Laser cutting basics] 

= HBRectifier keyring =

Guy Lymer created a keyring which can be used as a sample design. Ask anyone of the space members for copies of the file:
* The BR_Keyring_original.svg should be fully editable
* BR_Keyring.svg is after everything's been converted 'object to path', so I don't think text is editable any more - found out the hard way.
* BR_keyring.dxf is after conversion of SVG to desktop plotter format

It's supposed to be an oval outline sized to about 60mm wide & maybe half as tall. When imported to laser cutter PC, it shows as 55mm, but we discovered that anything can be re-sized on the laser-cutter PC software, which is a good discipline anyway, as it fixes the size to something sensible.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 This page holds various resources for a laser cutter open day, whenever such a thing might be held.
 = Laser Cutting procedure review =
@@ Line 37: / Line 48: @@
 [http://boxdesigner.connectionlab.org/ Box designer]<br/>
 [http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-Cutting-Basics/ Laser cutting basics]<br/>

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 [http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-Cutting-Basics/ Laser cutting basics]<br/>
-= HBRectifier keyring =
+= Sample Projects =
-Guy Lymer created a keyring which can be used as a sample design. You can right-click and "save link as" on [[https://github.com/bridgerectifier/laser-templates/blob/master/keyring/BR_Keyring_original.svg this]] link.
+Guy Lymer created a keyring which can be used as a sample design. You can right-click and "save link as" on [https://github.com/bridgerectifier/laser-templates/blob/master/keyring/BR_Keyring_original.svg this] link.
 It's supposed to be an oval outline sized to about 60mm wide & maybe half as tall. When imported to laser cutter PC, it shows as 55mm, but we discovered that anything can be re-sized on the laser-cutter PC software, which is a good discipline anyway, as it fixes the size to something sensible.