Laser Cutting Overview

Overview

The GSD has 7 Universal Laser Systems machines. These are CO2 lasers ranging in power from 120 to 150 watts for etching patterns or cutting virtually any 2-dimensional, and some 3-dimensional shapes from a wide variety of thin materials such as acrylic, chipboard, wood veneer, bristol, and thin plywood. Used within the school for model making, prototyping, and assisting with many forms of research, the laser cutters also mimic larger, more powerful industrial laser systems used in the production of building components. 

Users can utilize the laser cutting machines either by reserving a time slot through the Online Reservation App, or, if it isn’t busy, just by using an idle one that is idle. If you do not reserve a laser, you can be bumped off by someone who has. The Sign-Up System is for the six machines located in L40 and L40E. See the Laser Room Camera tab to see if any machines in the basement are idle.

There are laser TAs who are responsible for cleaning lenses and responding to other maintenance issues. They can also answer other questions and help you to use the machine. You also can send an email to [email protected]  . 

These TAs also hold a limited number of office hours daily. See the Google schedule or the one posted on the door of L40 for more details.

How To:

PLS Universal Laser Cutters

All Universal laser cutters have bed dimensions of 18″ x 32″.

Preparing a file for laser cut

Once you have pieces laid out and ready to be sent to the laser cutters, please follow the following steps to ensure a proper file setup.

Option #1

On every computer connected to the laser cutters, templates with the right settings are saved on the desktop. Find the right type of template for the program you are using and copy and paste your file into the template file (please make sure to “save as” this new file), be conscious that your geometry lines are 0mm, hairline, or default in lineweight, and that all your geometry lines fit within the bounding box already laid out.

Option #2

In case the template is not available, please follow these steps to set up your cutting file properly

1) Create a bounding box the size of the laser beds (18″ x 32″), and lay out pieces within that box.

2) Distinguish cut lines from etch lines by assigning different colors accordingly.

***Use the exact RGB color values listed above (NOT CMYK). Otherwise, the laser cutter will not read your file!

3) Select all lines and set them to a 0mm, hairline, or default in the line weight setting. 

4) You are now ready to send your file to the laser cutter for print

Sending your file to the laser cutter

• Autocad 

Once your file is correctly set up, follow the following steps to send your file to the laser cutter machine

1) Under FILE go to PRINT then PLOT. A window will pop up with printer selection and settings.

2) Once you click on PROPERTIES the following window will appear. Click on CUSTOM PROPERTIES

• Rhino

Once your file is correctly set up, follow these steps to send your file to the laser cutter machine

1) Under FILE, click PRINT.A window will pop up with printer selection and settings.

2) If your file is already scaled then you should print 1:1 otherwise select the appropriate scale for your job

3) Once you select to set your window, make sure to select your bounding box in Rhino as your window. Press ENTER.

4) Set your file’s line type to Hairline

5) Set up the correct settings by clicking on Properties.

6) The laser cutter software window will open.

This is where you choose the right settings for the cuts. Please refer to the settings cheat sheet provided with each laser.

• Illustrator

Once your file is correctly set up, follow the following steps to send your file to the laser cutter machine

1) Under FILE, click PRINT.A window will pop up with printer selection and settings.

2) When you click on Setup, a new window will appear. Click Preferences to continue with the settings.

3) The laser cutter software window will open.

This is where you choose the right settings for the cuts. Please refer to the settings cheat sheet provided with each laser.

Adjusting the Laser settings

1. In the laser cutter manual control panel, select the desired color row by clicking on it

2. Use the POWER, SPEED, and PPI sliders to adjust your settings according to the cheat sheet of each machine, or enter the exact numbers in their boxes

3. Select the MODE type (Raster, Vector, Skip)

4. Click on APPLY to save the settings

Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 until you have all the colors you need with the right machine settings

5. Select the colors you won’t use and set mode to SKIP

6. Move up and down the colors according to the order you want to cut (Raster/Etching, Score, Inside Cut, Outside Cut)

7. Click OK then Print on the print setup page to send the file for print on the laser cutter.

You will be prompted to LOGIN to finalize the printing process. Enter your GSD username and password.

Click OK

Click PRINT

Your file should now be sent to the laser cutter and ready for cutting.

Machine Preparation

1. On the desktop of the computer, find the laser cutter software icon (UCP) and click on it

2. You should then see the page below with your file opened and ready to be cut. DON’T PRESS THE GREEN BUTTON YET.

The laser cutter machine should be set up properly per the material type and thickness before cutting anything. Please follow these steps to set up the machine correctly.

3. Familiarize yourself with the laser cutter components below

3. Once familiar with the components above, lay out your material on the laser cutter bed.

• FOCUS the laser

You need to focus the laser each time you set up the machine and whenever you change material type and thickness.  

a. SELECT ‘Focus View’ button within the software and click on a point in the bed near where you’ll be cutting, with the material you’re cutting in place.

b. Put the focus stick flush against the laser head 

c. Select Z axis on the machine pad

d. Using the up and down arrow buttons to raise or lower the bed until the laser head is sitting on the ledge of the focus stick

e. Once the laser is focused, hit the return button in the machine pad to reset the laser head to its origin

f. Remove the focus stick and close the laser cutter lid

The laser is now focused, and you can start cutting. PRESS THE GREEN BUTTON.

When finished cutting, WAIT at least 30 seconds before opening the lid to exhaust any leftover fumes

Turn off the machine by hitting the red STOP button on the desk adjacent to the machine.