[Lasercutter] Out of Order

[Henry Sands]

Look like the laser cutter isn't cutting properly, I'll try and get in this weekend to fix it.

We suspect it just needs realigning.

Henry.

[Henry Sands]

Laser cutter is now Working.

On a related note, someone is editing the laser cutter config files and changing the cutting parameters, specifically upping the tube power.

Don't do this! There is no need for anyone to mess with the config files at all, upping the tube power significantly degrades tube lifetime. We want to get as much life out of it as possible.

I don't care if you have your own machine and know exactly what you're doing, don't mess with the config file!

Henry.

[Des Quilty]

Just performed a cut on some of what I think is 3mm Perspex, the micrometer battery was gone so couldn't confirm.

It cut 90% of the way through but not all the way, but perhaps I misjudged the thickness and was a bit light on the cutting power (30/100/80)

I haven't put it out of action, as it might have been my misjudgement of the thickness, and didn't have time to test again before heading back to work.

Can pop back again on my way home and retest if somebody else doesn't beat me to it.

thx

[Des Quilty]

cut another acrylic test without any problem so everything looks ok

[Charles Yarnold]

Thanks for checking it. Sadly we can't keep a working set of calipers for more than a week, will order a new set as the battery draw seems missing for that set now too.

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[Mr Ed]

On Friday, 30 September 2016 00:53:01 UTC+1, Solexious wrote:

Thanks for checking it. Sadly we can't keep a working set of calipers for more than a week, will order a new set as the battery draw seems missing for that set now too.

Do they get stolen?


-Ed

 

On 29 September 2016 at 19:46, Des Quilty <des.q...@gmail.com> wrote:

cut another acrylic test without any problem so everything looks ok

On Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 1:52:50 PM UTC+1, Des Quilty wrote:

Just performed a cut on some of what I think is 3mm Perspex, the micrometer battery was gone so couldn't confirm.

It cut 90% of the way through but not all the way, but perhaps I misjudged the thickness and was a bit light on the cutting power (30/100/80)

I haven't put it out of action, as it might have been my misjudgement of the thickness, and didn't have time to test again before heading back to work.

Can pop back again on my way home and retest if somebody else doesn't beat me to it.

thx

On Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 8:47:54 AM UTC+1, Henry Sands wrote:

Laser cutter is now Working.

On a related note, someone is editing the laser cutter config files and changing the cutting parameters, specifically upping the tube power.

Don't do this! There is no need for anyone to mess with the config files at all, upping the tube power significantly degrades tube lifetime. We want to get as much life out of it as possible.

I don't care if you have your own machine and know exactly what you're doing, don't mess with the config file!

Henry.

On Thursday, 29 September 2016 07:58:47 UTC+1, Henry Sands wrote:

Look like the laser cutter isn't cutting properly, I'll try and get in this weekend to fix it.

We suspect it just needs realigning.

Henry.

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[Charles Yarnold]

/me shrugs

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[Laurin OS]

Hi everybody,

I have some steel cable and crimps we could attach the callipers relatively permanently to the laser cutter.

Also what batteries do they take, as I just ordered some for mine. I could bring a spare set in.

Is the measuring tape still around? The one with "I love laser" on it? I velcroed that to the side ages ago.

[Adrian Godwin]

I don't think they usually last long enough to run the batteries down, but they're usually 357 or similar.

[Peter "Sci" Turpin]

I've noticed that you can now get digital callipers with plastic jaws.
Imported, they're under £4 each. Just over, within the EU. (ebay prices)

Some are also listed as being "carbon fibre" but are fractionally
cheaper still.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-Vernier-Caliper-150mm-Micrometer-Fiber-Carbon/142086951478

They might even be more suitable for using with a lasercutter used
primarily for cutting plastic. Less surface marking, etc.

On 30/09/2016 12:24, Mr Ed wrote:
>
>
> On Friday, 30 September 2016 00:53:01 UTC+1, Solexious wrote:
>
> Thanks for checking it. Sadly we can't keep a working set of
> calipers for more than a week, will order a new set as the battery
> draw seems missing for that set now too.
>
>
> Do they get stolen?
>
>
> -Ed
>
>
>
>
> On 29 September 2016 at 19:46, Des Quilty <des.q...@gmail.com

[ALx]

Late on Friday the bed wouldn't go up to point "zero" but max circa -3 mm, so I couldn't properly cut card.

BTW Henry, I've left samples (polypropylene, cork) in your box as discussed. Please let me know as soon as you tested the. Thanks.

ALx

On Thursday, 29 September 2016 07:58:47 UTC+1, Henry Sands wrote:

[Henry Sands]

Thanks ALx,

I'll be in this evening to have a crack at it.

Henry.

[Henry Sands]

Hi ALx, did the test cuts.

Polypropylene seems to cut fine, that's OK.

Cork is a non starter though, whenever I got into the power range that it would cut all the way through, it just wanted to char heavily and set alight.

[ALx]

Re polypropylene - great, thanks! What settings have you used? As for the cork it's a pity. Maybe because it was 6mm? Or do you think any thickness would burn?

[Henry Sands]

It looked pretty burny no matter what power I used, I'm just going to mark it as banned.

[Henry Sands]

for 0.8mm sheet, I used 80 100 80

[NivagSwerdna]

Does that mean polyethylene is also now on the allowed list? Polyethylene & polypropylene are physically very similar; polyethylene having a lower melting point.

In particular... https://www.kitronik.co.uk/5501-red-polyethylene-craft-foam-sheet-2mm-x-600mm-x-400mm.html

?

On Tuesday, 4 October 2016 17:28:17 UTC+1, Henry Sands wrote:

[Henry Sands]

No, they are chemically different as well as it being a foam, it would require its own material testing.

[NivagSwerdna]

Can I drop you a sample? For testing?

No hurry

[Henry Sands]

Sure, drop it in my members, it's in one of the middle rows right at the back on the top left, marked Henry Sands.

I'll test it when I do training this week.

[Billy]

Thank you for testing the polypropelene successfully.

Back when we were in Cremer St, we tried testing thicker sheets, around 10mm, and while it cut successfully, it was hot enough that it fused again almost as soon as the laser moved away.

We didn't have any thinner sheets to test, then.

I'll have to get some to test it's structural capabilities.

@Henry, where did you order the 0.8mm sheets from?

Also, Lidl's regularly have tools in their seasonal sale section. They have had digital calipers for £10, though my local branch doesn't have any in stock right now. If other people could keep an eye out for them, we'd be more likely to get a new set for less price than usual.

[Adrian Godwin]

The art shop on Kingsland Road (near Cremer St) has a good selection of thin polypropylene sheet.

--

[Laurin OS]

Hi,
Firstly I want to say a big thank you for the testing.
I wrote a post earlier but had no answer. Maybe it's better here.

I was wondering if there are any glues that are safe to use on the laser cutter. If I want to laminate two different materials together to be able to cut them at the same time.

At the moment it would be felt but it might be interesting for other materials such as card, plastics, veneer, etc.

Thanks
Laurin

[Giacomo Giacomo]

Thanks for the testing - does that mean no engraving/raster on Cork?  

http://www.cutlasercut.com/laser-cutting-materials-laser-engraving-materials/laser-cutting-cork-sheet

These guys will only cut up to 5.5mm cork, thinnest starting at 1mm.

[NivagSwerdna]

Dropped into your personal storage box.  Hopefully it's a big enough bit for your tests.... if not I can provide more another time.

Thanks

[Jasper Wallace]

On Fri, 30 Sep 2016, Charles Yarnold wrote:

> Thanks for checking it. Sadly we can't keep a working set of calipers
> for more than a week, will order a new set as the battery draw seems
> missing for that set now too.

There where some spare ones in the metal working safe - I bought 3 last
time we lost one. Andy knows where they are.

> On 29 September 2016 at 19:46, Des Quilty <des.q...@gmail.com> wrote:
> cut another acrylic test without any problem so everything looks ok
>
> On Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 1:52:50 PM UTC+1, Des Quilty wrote:
> Just performed a cut on some of what I think is 3mm Perspex, the micrometer battery was gone so couldn't confirm.
>
> It cut 90% of the way through but not all the way, but perhaps I misjudged the thickness and was a bit light on the cutting power (30/100/80)
>
> I haven't put it out of action, as it might have been my misjudgement of the thickness, and didn't have time to test again before heading back to
> work.
>
> Can pop back again on my way home and retest if somebody else doesn't beat me to it.
>
>
> thx
>
> On Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 8:47:54 AM UTC+1, Henry Sands wrote:
> Laser cutter is now Working.
> On a related note, someone is editing the laser cutter config files and changing the cutting parameters, specifically upping the tube power.
>
> Don't do this! There is no need for anyone to mess with the config files at all, upping the tube power significantly degrades tube lifetime.
> We want to get as much life out of it as possible.
>
> I don't care if you have your own machine and know exactly what you're doing, don't mess with the config file!
>
> Henry.
>
> On Thursday, 29 September 2016 07:58:47 UTC+1, Henry Sands wrote:
> Look like the laser cutter isn't cutting properly, I'll try and get in this weekend to fix it.
> We suspect it just needs realigning.
>
> Henry.
>
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>
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[Harry Streuli]

From my experience, cork works very well up to a thickness of 3mm, and produces some lovely results with engraving. Anything over that does indeed get very burny.