Laser Cutter

Machine: Trotec Speedy300 Laser Cutter/Engraver

General Info

  • This CO2 Laser cutter is good at making minor cuts in non-metallic materials and even better at intricately engraving things like leather, wood, anodized aluminum, etc.
  • Do not use the autofocus feature.  It’s a common mistake to run the build table into the focusing apparatus b/c of this.
  • Lenses cost $500 dollars apiece! Be extremely careful not to damage lenses and clean them regularly.  If you choose a speed too low when cutting things like wood/plastic, the resulting flame can destroy the lens.  Go for higher velocity and multiple passes versus low velocity cutting if you see flame ups.
  • If your autocad file won’t print to the cutter make sure it’s saved on the desktop.  The printer driver doesn’t like to read off USB thumb drives for some reason.
  • It’s easy to import pictures and engrave them directly.  The Engrave Lab program is good at preparing them for the machine.
Manual
  • Click here for a manual written by Matt

Limits

  • Cutting thicknesses vary considerably depending on the properties of what is being cut
  • 1/4 Inch Acrylic cuts very well.  The machine can cut (with some difficulty) up to ½ inch Acrylic.  If you’re making a thick cut keep in mind that the beam will un-focus as the cut depends.   You can account for this by inputting z-axis offset or just moving the table up a smidgen.

Safety:

  • Do not cut any plastic that might off gas a poisonous inhalant.  PVC is a good example of this (chlorine is released).  Never cut pvc!
  • Never leave the machine unattended- there have been fires caused by doing so.

Cutting Materials:

  • Acrylic is the best plastic to cut with.  Other plastics work (HDPE, HLPE, PLA, etc) but some melt considerably.
  • Leather backed notebooks work very well (think moleskins)
  • Thin wood, felt, and even plain paper works quite well.

For ideas of BIG things you can make from laser cut components, visit http://www.woodmarvels.com/

If you need Acrylic in a hurry, you can pick up same day from McMaster-Carr.*
If you want Acrylic for cheap, you may want to try eStreetPlastics.*
If you want more exotic Acrylic, you may want to try Inventables.*

*Links do not imply endorsement by the Invention Studio, Georgia Tech, or any of its employees.