Tools/laser

Pirahna 1060 Laser Cutter

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Please remove this tag once this page has been improved that standard

This tool requires induction

Owing to it's dangerous nature, delicate nature, or expense, this tool requires that you be inducted on it's proper handling before use.

Introduction

The laser cutter is one of our most heavily used tools, it's a 90W CO2 laser system with a 1000mm x 600mm bed. At the moment we limit the power output of the laser to 68W in order to extend the life of the laser tube as that's the most expensive consumable part of the laser system. At this setting it's able to cut a variety of materials including Acrylic (up to 12mm thick), MDF (up to 12mm thick) and Plywood (up to 15mm thick)

Current Status

Date	Status	Comment
10th September 2018	Functional	The laser is limited to 75% power output to extend the life of the tube, this is intended to be permanent.

What to do if RDWorks crashes

First of all check that it is RDWorks Version 7 that you are running (It's not unknown for people to try installing a newer version - which will not work at all with this machine). After that, if it is coming up in hieroglyphics, then it usually means it has managed to crash, and had defaulted back to it's out of the box setup - which is Chinese!

Language

To reset it, goto the Help Menu - then to the Language.

Network settings

At the bottom right, press the what looks like a button, where it says "USB: Auto". Then change it to "web", and a ip address of 172.16.0.100

Old wiki content

The machine is now limited by the controller to 75% power which is just over 25mA. This means the current dial can be left set all the way to the top for consistent output. Any power level set in RDWorks > 75% will just get reduced to 75% rather than scaled by the controller.

LARGE LASER CUTTER NOTES:

Checklist - Startup:

1) Water Chiller ON ***

2) Power ON (green round button) on front panel

3) 4 Switches on side (only switch laser on whilst editing in RDWORKS 7)

   

water should alarm if low, if alarm sounds, check the water level gauge on rear of chiller unit. Top up with de-ionised water only ignore button image on switches - press upper part of button for 'on' position'* Laser Default Position:

Press home, then press top arrow and enter (laser head will move to default far top right)

Lift lid, place sheet on laser bed

Reset arrows to position probe over top right of sheet, head over gap in slat.There is a slim black finger behind the laser head which actually sets the height. Make sure that is over your material as well.

Thickness 10 /15mm?

‘Menu>Func>Autofocus’, enter ----- be ready on emergency stop (ES)

Software:

Turn on Rdworks 7 (free) - (Please note if downloading software at home, untick ‘enable feeding’)

Notes:

Import file, 'dxf' or 'ai' (from Illustrator and other graphic apps)

For Example:

Autocad save as R12 dxf

Inkscape (0.48) outputs DXF R14

or draw in Rdworks 7

Please note if possible it is useful to layer these effectively in the cad package to save time in Rdworks at rlab.

Colours are layers, select cut, dot or scan (used for engraving) or none (no cut mode)

Double click for options menu, edit…

‘Handle>cut optimise’

Reorders cuts, eg. 'Element 1', Element 2' etc.

Set out properties

If you want to do multiple cuts of same object, you can 'array' these and also add gaps in between the objects to avoid any overlaps

Path optimised* unticked - do not use ‘Go scale’ - check area of 'cut'

Ready to cut

Turn the other switches on, eg. fan, light, etc.

Warning: Do not look through the gap between the laser lid and the bed ** Press 'start' - make sure it is running okay, get ready to press ES if need be.

Once job is complete

Leave it shut until fumes gone.

Lift lid, remove work.

Turn off the switches

Clean the laser bed with the vacuum adjacent to the laser

documentation The output to turn on the laser power supply is a 0-3.6 V and the shortest pulse is 270 us

Planned Upgrades

Parts and upgrades that are planned/Budgeted/Purchased for in the near future

Either reinstate head mounted aiming laser, or add coaxial sighting laser
Add dynamic auto-focus system apparently supported by controller
Create long-focus lens system for deeper cutting

Pirahna 1060 Caretakers

Inductions

The following people are able to provide inductions on the Pirahna 1060

Name/Contact	Notes
Tony-S

Maintainers

These are the people who look after and repair the Pirahna 1060, they're the ones to contact if there's any problems with it

Name	Notes
Steve-R	In reading around 50% of the time, fast response if in reading
Richard-I
Rupert-E

Recent Changes

If you make any non-trivial changes to the Pirahna 1060 or perform maintenance please note it here, delete records older than 1 yr

Added section on resetting RDWorks Ruperte (talk) 11:47, 8 October 2018 (UTC)
PC power supply went "pop" and blew fuse - Thorough cleaning restored function. Stever (talk) 07:10, 21 September 2018 (UTC)