Laser Cutting

 Improved Version of SOP:

Start Up Procedure:

1.       Turn on air compressor (red switch behind laser cutter).

2.       Turn on fume extractor (green button at the side).

 

3.       Turn on main laser cutter (black switch below emergency stop).

 

4.       Wait for laser cutter to finish initialization.

 

 5.       Proceed to Corel Draw.

Operation of Laser Cutting Machine:

1. Import your SVG or DXF file to Corel draw. Adjust line weight, colour and fill depending on type of cut.

2. Make sure to set the colour red, which is for cutting to RGB 255, for colour green, which is for engraving to RGB 255 as well.

3. Print the file by using the shortcut “CTRL+P” or simply press the print button to send our design for laser cutting.

4. Go to Epilog Dashboard on the right-hand side. Set the auto focus and air assist to “ON” for Epilog M2, set the auto focus to “thickness” for the Epilog pro machine.

5. Set the process type to vector. For the speed and power ratings, follow the engraving values.

6. Load the material library and select material to be cut for all objects. Do it for both vector cut and engrave.

7. Once all settings have been adjusted, make sure the material used is the same as we have selected in the CorelDraw for laser cutting.

8. Drag the designs from the CorelDraw at the spaces available on the material. The built-in camera will provide indication on where to put the designs on. 

9. Verify that the file to be cut is yours on the display screen of the laser cutter.

10. Proceed to cut by pressing the GO button on the Epilog M2 or the PLAY button on the Epilog Fusion Pro.

Shut down Procedure:

1.Wait for laser cutter to cool down completely.

2. Remove anything or leftover items inside the laser cutter.

3. Recycle the materials into the bin.

4. Make sure the laser cutter returns to the original position before switching off.

5. Make sure steps 1-4 are done before proceed to switch off.

6. Turn off main laser cutter (black switch below emergency stop).

7. Turn off fume extractor (green button at the side).

8. Turn off air compressor (red switch behind laser cutter).

9. Switch off the plugs of the three equipment.

10. Proceed to shut down the Corel Draw

Here are the parts of our laser cutting pieces during our competency test and also for the practical:

Reflection:

During the laser cutting practical, I had been conducted a competency assessment to use the laser cutter machine and to use CorelDraw by Mr Ken, who was one of the Technical Executives for FabLab. Although the competency test itself was not difficult, but I had some difficulties in operating the CorelDraw, and fortunately I did pass the competency assessment at the end of the day. Although I was still struggled on how to operate the CorelDraw, since our group had not done printing out the parametric construction kit, I had tried up the CorelDraw once again to print them out. Unfortunately, I was quite struggled to operate the CorelDraw, I needed some help and luckily, there were 2 of our seniors from DCHE actually offer to help me and they even taught me on how to use the CorelDraw. After they had demonstrated on how to use the CorelDraw, I decided to try it out by myself again and surprisingly, I managed to print out the parametric construction kits successfully thanks to their guidance and advice.

 

This laser cutting practical is very important for us because we may need to apply the skills that we have learned during our final year project or any other relevant projects. The practical itself helps us to have a basic understanding on how we can operate the laser cutting machine since this is the first time, we use the laser cutting machine. I felt that this practical was interesting because we got the chance to make use of the machine to cut out the parametric parts that we needed for our project, and it also provided a platform for us to make whatever shapes or size of the designs based on our creativity.

 

I used to think that the laser cutting was a difficult task for me because I have no idea and experience of using the machine at all and I am grateful that I had this opportunity to operate the machine. At first, I was quite struggled and not confident on myself that I will mess up this laser cutting machine. Now I think that the laser cutting practical is not as difficult as I think, because of our seniors from DCHE, TE whom they gives me advices and techniques on how to use the laser cutting, I am confident of myself that I will able to apply the skills and techniques that I have learned. So next I will make use of the skills and techniques of laser cutting to perform hands-on practical, be able to complete the future projects, especially Capstone Project or Final Year Project in my final year in SP.