FLC1490 Laser Cutter

Creator:
Gtpyro
Status:
Building the How To Guide, Experimenting with Various Materials
Born On:
19:23, 08 August 2015 (CST)
Last Updated:
15:59, 28 September 2015 (CDT)

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Past

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Specifications

Outside Dimensions (LxWxH): TBD"xTBD"xTBD"
Net Weight: a LOT!
Maximum material size: TBD"xTBD"
Maximum engrave-able area: 1400 x900mm
Standard Lens: TBD
Maximum material thickness: TBD"
CO2 Laser Wavelength: 10.6um
Maximum Laser Power: 100W
Maximum Power Requirements: TBD W
Max engraving speed: 0-60,000mm/min
Max cutting speed: 0-30,000mm/min
Laser output control: 1-100% software setting
Location precision: less than 0.01mm
Highest scanning precision: 2500DPI
Operating temperature: 0 - 45
Operating humidity: 5- 95%
Minimum shaping character: English 1.0 x 1.0mm
Graphic format supported: BMP, PLT, DST, DXF, and AI
Driving system: stepper
Cooling mode: water-cooling and protection system
Auxiliary equipments: Exhaust-fans, air-exhaust pipe
Controlling software: DSP control system.
Compatible Software: TAJIMA, CorelDraw, AutoCAD, Photoshop
Color separation: yes

Overview

This is How to Use the laser cutter.

Things the laser cutter can cut:
Plywood up to 3/8" thick depending on glue content
Soft Solid Wood up to 1.5" (like a 2x4)
Hard Wood up to 1"
MDF up to 1/2"
Paper
Fabric
Extruded and Cast Acrylic sheets up to 1.5" (yes really 1.5")
Polystyrene sheets up to 3/16"
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) sheets Up to 1/8"
PET(E)(G) (Polyethylene terephthalate) sheets up to 1/4"
EVA Foam Sheets (Ethylene-vinyl acetate) AKA craft foam or EVA Mats up to 1.5"

It cannot cut:
Metal, but it can engrave or "mark" it.
Stone
PVC (toxic)
materials with high moisture content like fruit/vegetables, damp wood etc.

SAFETY

NOTE - THE BELOW WAS STOLEN FROM THE 40 Watt Laser Cutter PAGE. ACTUAL SAFETY STUFF MIGHT DIFFER!!!
Treat the Laser Cutter like an angry cobra and you should be just fine. *edit for large format laser cutter* treat this laser cutter like a chinese knock off cobra whose venom is no longer supported by the manufacturer. It likes to not do what you tell it without warning. and sometimes it warns you, in chinese.
- As long as the safety mechanisms are working the laser is perfectly safe. If you defeat the magnetic safety interlock switch and run the laser with the case

open, then you are exposing yourself to Class 4 Laser Radiation and you deserve what you get. Class 4 means that a coherent reflection can cause "DEVASTATING AND PERMANENT" eye damage with less than 1/100th second exposure, and even diffuse reflections are harmful within a certain distance. Add to that the fact that this is an infrared laser, which means the beam is invisible, and it falls more along the lines of an angry radioactive cobra. DO. NOT. DEFEAT. THE. SAFETY. INTERLOCK. *edit for large format laser cutter* this unit has a reed switch, it will interrupt the cut in progress, but if you press START it will ignore the reed switch and start cutting door open or not.

- - Replacement laser tubes are $1000 a piece. Don't be a doofus. *edit for large format laser cutter* likely we will be best served refilling the current tube once or twice to reduce repair cost.
The big red E-STOP button is there for a reason. Use it if things go awry. usually if the end stops fail.
stay out of the software settings unless you know what you are doing, you can really mess things up.
What happens if you engrave or cut something containing hydrogen or vinyl chloride?
- If you don't know what's in the material you're engraving or cutting, you may have unintentionally cut or engraved items containing polyvinyl chloride. Performing this once or twice will likely not drastically damage your machine; however, continued engraving or cutting of this material will corrode the inside of your machine. PVC foam board like Sintra and Komatex brand contain PVC and are no-nos.
- A more important consideration are the potentially hazardous fumes that might be released from processing these materials. Some materials are quite toxic when burned and the damage to your health is much more important than the minor damage you might do to your machine.
- Material Safety Data Sheets are an invaluable resource for laser engravers. To protect your health and the life of your machine, always obtain a MSDS for materials about which you are uncertain.
- There are doors all over the large format laser cutter, not all of them have sensors that stop the laser, don't be careless and do not leave children unsupervised around the laser, the doors are easy and fun to open to small fingers.
- The unit has a motorized Z which can drop about 12-14" down, ensure nothing is stored below in the cabinet before you lower it more than 4-5 inches. Always hover your hand above the Emergency stop when lowering the Z for the first time.