Main Fab Lab

Never leave the laser unattended when running. Be vigilant about fire safety: a CO₂ extinguisher is fixed to one of the lasers and is the preferred extinguisher to use. Before use check the lens for dirt (its housing unscrews and you can take it out), a dirty lens can shatter from laser heat, if dirty clean it with the camera lens cleaning kit. Remember to turn on the fan.

Printing from Inkscape
In order to print from Inkscape in the vector format, you need to:

• Convert any objects (shapes, text, bitmaps) to paths. Convert bitmaps/png/rasters using the Path --> Trace Bitmap. Convert shapes using Path --> Object to Path.
• You also need your stroke width to 0.02 pixels or less (be sure units on line width are "px" not "in") 
• Make sure that the stroke color is solid (ex R:255, G:0, B:0, A:255 for a red line)
• Print from the Extensions--> Export-->Win32 Vector Print. In this screen cut properties can be assigned to colors. You must also select vector for each color (box to the left of each color).
• It is also sometimes helpful to work in the outline mode when designing very thin vectors. You may go into outline mode by clicking View-->Display Mode-->Outline. Please remember to go back into Normal display mode when you would like to print a raster.

In order to print from Inkscape in the raster format, you need to:

• Define Fill under Stroke and Fill.
• Make sure that the fill color is solid (ex R:255, G:0, B:0, A:255 for a red line)
• Print from the Extensions--> Export-->Win32 Vector Print. In this screen cut properties can be assigned to colors. You must also select raster for each color (box to the left of each color).

In order to print greyscale, print from the File-->Print Dialog box. See more details below.

Tips:

• Go to File > Document Properties and change Display Units to Inches to make alignment easier
• If the laser is starting anywhere but the top left corner, click X-Y, and reset the origin to the top left corner
• If you send a print job and the top is open the laser will not turn on the cutting laser but will show a red dot where it will cut.
• You can repeat any job by just pushing the green button again (great for multiple passes on a cut).
• When you are cutting through a material it is best to use a platform that allows air to escape from under the material. You will get cleaner cuts.
• Be sure any material you are cutting is cut all the way through before moving it, as you will not be able to get it in exactly the same spot again.
• When cutting make a small notch in your design along the edge of your material. You can use this to test if the cut is all the way through.
• Use the "skip" fuction for specific colors to avoid recutting areas you do not want to pass over again.
• Do a fast light vector on paper or cardboard to test placement. If you are engraving glass you can put your peice right over it.
• Plastics release fumes for several hours. Keep finished pieces in the laser enclosure with exhaust on until it no longer produces smells.
• Engrave with 70% gray instead of black – gives cleaner image, reduces chipping.
• When doing a raster of a photo first take it into Gimp and adjust the contrast to maximize the parts of the image you want to emphasize.
• Be sure to check the advanced tab to be sure there are not settings that mess with your print. 
• If you find your image is extended or stretched try adjusting the image density slider in the print driver. 5 is a good setting.
• When printing a raster from the regular print menu in Inkscape remember to go to Document Properties and change the page color from transparent to white. Otherwise you will get a big block of black.

Focusing Information
This cutter is equipped with the 4.0 Lens and a 2.0 lens, which means its point of Focus is roughly 4" or 2". The 4 has more room to fudge distances, the 2 is a crisper line. We have a 3D Printed focus tool, which should allow you to focus correctly. Just load your piece into the cutter, below the laser head. Place the focus tool on top. While the printer is on, hit the Z button; then use the up and down arrows to move the laser head up and down. Use the Focus Tool the same way you would on the Epilog, the laser head should bump the notch on the tool and push it out of the way. It is now focused. 

Recomended Settings

More material settings and info on page 47 of the manual
 

What Material Can Be Laser Cut

Cutting

Etching

All the above "cuttable" materials can be etched, in some cases very deeply. In addition, you can etch:

NEVER LASER THESE MATERIALS

Understanding How Raster and Vector Settings Behave

Burning a Photo to Wood

To burn a photo or anything with grey scale you need to go to the Advanced tab on the printer driver window. Here you can choose to do HalfTone or Error Defusion for the grey scale. The rule of thumb is that you should use Error Defusion on rough surfaces and HalfTone on smooth surfaces. It is also best to play with the contrast in another program before printing, the more contrast and sharpness the better. There is a great description of the technical asspects of this process at: http://www.slideshare.net/MikeClarke1/working-with-photo-graphs-on-your-laser-in-coreldraw

Remember: When printing a raster from the regular print menu in Inkscape and remember to go to Document Properties and change the page color from transparent to white. Otherwise you will get a big block of black.

Additional materials can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B5HW3m6TFEyDaHpPSS1PeV9iRTQ?resourcekey=0-2BbBAU8pQm0VFTKeKcHbLA&usp=sharing

Even More Materials at: http://www.engraversnetwork.com/support/universal-lasers/service-tos/

Additional Resources

http://fab.cba.mit.edu/content/tools/universal_laser/

Repair Notes

If it randomly stops working two things to check:

USB Spot - It uses a virtual usb port so if it is unpluged from a port and put in another the computer can get confused about what usb to use. Try other ports, or reinstalling driver.

Random Setting Reset - From time to time it will forget the settings in firmware. It then defaults to serial as the communication. You need to go into settings and change the preference to "parallel".

Max bed cutting size: 30" x 18"

Replacing Lens.

Lens are .75 or 19.05mm in Diameter.

Lens should be mounted using Loctite 409.

Tips for installing lens.

Alternative Lens Glue Material (Sugru)

Video Instructions for lens change