Fiber-Laser-user-guide: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "{| | width="33%" |'''Shop Area:''' Rapid Prototyping '''Tool:''' Fiber Laser Engraver <span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span style="background-color:#B22222;">'''Requires in-person training:''' Yes</span></span> | width="33%" |'''Procedure Number''' UG 120-03, Rev. 0 | width="33%" |'''Date''' 12/12/2023 |} =GENERAL= The 80 watt SFX MOPA fiber laser is used to engrave metals and can even generate color on stainless steel and titanium. The laser is controlled using the Li...")
 
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=PROCEDURE=
=PROCEDURE=
*LightBurn is the software for controlling the laser.
*LightBurn is the software for controlling the laser. The general workflow is the same as that of the CO2 laser.
**Draw an item in Inkscape or FreeCAD.
**Save the drawing as an svg or dxf file.
**Import the svg or dxf file into LightBurn.
**Lightburn is then used to control power, speed, and cutting operations before sending the job to the laser cutter.
*
*


 
*
<u>'''Materials that should NOT be cut or engraved with a laser.'''</u>
 
These materials include (but are not limited to):
*Artificial leather that contains chromium (VI)
*Carbon fibers (Carbon)
*Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
*Polyvinyl butyrale (PVB)
*Polytetrafluoroethylenes (PTFE /Teflon)
*Beryllium oxide
*Any material containing halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine), epoxy or phenolic resins
<u>'''Two different cutting techniques: “Vector” and “Raster”.'''</u>
*Vector is much more adept at cutting things out, while Raster to be used for engraving.
'''''Vector'''''
*Vector is a straight line cut.
*When cutting material with vector, there is an additional setting beyond the power and speed. The frequency setting controls how many laser pulses are applied to the piece being cut.
'''''Raster'''''
*In raster mode, laser acts similar to an inkjet printer, and prints thousands of dots per inch (dpi). Depending on how dark the area you want etched is the more dpi will be needed.
==Rotary Engraving==
==Rotary Engraving==
The laser cutter can perform rotary operations using the U-axis. The general procedure is as follows:
The laser cutter can perform rotary operations using the U-axis. The general procedure is as follows:

Revision as of 16:13, 12 December 2023

Shop Area: Rapid Prototyping

Tool: Fiber Laser Engraver

Requires in-person training: Yes

Procedure Number

UG 120-03, Rev. 0

Date

12/12/2023

GENERAL

The 80 watt SFX MOPA fiber laser is used to engrave metals and can even generate color on stainless steel and titanium. The laser is controlled using the LightBurn software, just like the CO2 lasers, but there are more variables to control using the fiber laser. The five key variables are:

  1. Power
  2. Speed
  3. Interval (line spacing)
  4. Frequency
  5. Q-Pulse


Each of these variables plays an important role in creating the engraving you desire. Below are reasonable ranges of values you can expect to use for each of these variables; however, the specific values you need for your project are best found by using LightBurn's Material Test tool, which generates a table of engravings that modify two variables at a time. This tool can be found in LightBurn -> Material Test.

Parameter Units Typical Range
Power % 0 - 100
Speed mm/s 500 - 2500
Interval mm 0.01 - 0.001
Frequency KHz 50 - 200
Q-Pulse nS 20 - 80

SAFETY

  • The lasering process may generate smoke and gasses that can harm you and damage the machine. Use the fume extractor to minimize these gasses.
  • Lasers are a fire hazard. Keep extinguishers close and NEVER leave the machine unattended.
  • Do not look directly at the laser beam. The fiber laser outputs in the 1024nm wavelength and requires appropriate eye protection.
  • The high intensity laser beam can produce extremely high temperatures and significant amounts of heat.

REFERENCE

PROCEDURE

  • LightBurn is the software for controlling the laser. The general workflow is the same as that of the CO2 laser.

Rotary Engraving

The laser cutter can perform rotary operations using the U-axis. The general procedure is as follows:

  1. Plug the rotary engraver into the inside, right wall of the laser.
  2. Navigate to Tools > Rotary Settings. Click the Enable Rotary button and set either the Object Diameter or Object Circumference to match your part's dimensions.
  3. Use ‘Start from current position’ in Lightburn
  4. Jog x and y on the control panel to move the laser to the required starting point on the work
  5. Press ‘Origin’ button on the control panel
  6. Send job (not start) from Lightburn to laser
  7. Load file from control panel by pressing File -> filename. Then run job by pressing start button on control panel.
  8. DO NOT FORGET to disable rotary when finished. Tools > Rotary Settings, deactivate Enable Rotary. Otherwise the machine will not work for the next person.

TROUBLESHOOTING

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