Updated 22 Feb 2016: notes for undergraduate users (Raven logon)
Two HPC Laser Ltd, LS 6090 PRO Laser engraving and cutting machines successfully arrived in the Dyson Centre on Tuesday 9 February 2016.
(Note these machines are non-metals laser cutters, and whilst we are told they can engrave metals with a non-reflective coating on, the penalty for trying on a metal "too reflective" is the wrecking of some of the internal parts of the machine as a result of bouncing a focussed laser beam back up where it shouldn't be.)
The machines are intended for undergraduate use, and it is intended that these will be machines which ultimately you can operate for yourselves, though we will need to provide some instructions on how to do this and there will be some help on hand.
For the time being, and until we find out feet, all operation will be with supervision of a trained operator - we have also found that this is best in terms of spotting and stopping potential machine ruining events, so that suitable safeguards can be put in place before handing over to full self-use.
The model of self-use operation has worked successfully at Makespace (with exactly this make and model of machine) and also at the Institute for Manufacturing and at the Department for Architecture (though in this case with some restrictions on use by first years).
Further details will follow on this page, likely in the next two weeks.
In the mean time further details can be found on:
- The manufacturer's page about this make and model of machine.
- The Makespace page about their LS 6090 units, including details of use.
Provisional Notes For Use of Laser Cutters
If you wish to use the laser cutters, then you will need:
- ...to appreciate that we are currently working within the entirely sensible constraints of this system.
- ...Your own material which can be laser cut (not that normal plywood should not be laser cut - special laserable plywood should be purchased). We are working to provide a supply of materials for purchase, but this will take a few days to get this started.
- ...The drawing for the part/s you wish to cut. Various file formats cam be imported - DXF is the most common. A list of other formats will appear hear shortly.
- ...To have read this page of notes. However, please note that these notes are for a 60 Watt laser - ours has been upgraded to 80 Watts: so where they list a 50% of full power setting, this would be 37.5% of full power on our machine, and so on!
- ...To send an email request to the Dyson Centre manager, with full details of the material you have, what you want to do, and also attach a pdf of the shape you wish to cut (and the file you wish to cut, as long as it is under 10MB - for larger please send a WeTransfer link to the file). This will get passed to the group of people trained to use the machine for possible comment and to see if we can accommodate your request at this very early stage whilst we are still getting set up for using these machine.
Please watch this space for more details over the next week or so.
References and Links
- Department of Engineering page on Laser Safety
- Link to University of Cambridge safety page on Lasers
- Link to University of Cambridge: HSD013R Safe Use of Lasers
RLR20 (Rich), 22 February 2016