Table of Contents

1. Machine Process

2. Software and Setup

3. Materials

General Notes

• The Epilog Laser Engraver/Cutter uses line weight in the drawing sent to it to determine how to interpret whether or not it will be engraving or cutting a given shape.  A vector operation is a cut, and a raster operation is going to engrave the image onto the material.  If the line weight is equal to 0.001 points, it will be interpreted as a vector cut, and if it is greater than that 0.001 points in weight (thickness) then it will be interpreted as a raster.

• The laser kerf is 0.004 inches or .1016 mm.

• Cutting/engraving order: Generally the machine engraves first, then cuts.  It will almost always cut the interior shapes before cutting the outside profile (Not true with letter outline or scanned images converted to vector).

• Color mapping can be used for different depths of engraving, but you need to define the colors/depths in the RGB color space, and they must perfectly match the RGB values in the Epilog Print Driver.  For help with this, please consult one of the Makerspace Technologists.

Machine Process

1. Start up

   1. Turn on computer and laser

   2. Turn on exhast and compressor

   3. Clean lens (this process is performed periodically by Makerspace technicians. See details below.)

   4. Set material to be engraved/cut onto cut bed grid and push material to the back left corner against the rulers

   5. Set manual focus depth

   6. Close cover of engraver

2. Set up Image to print

   1. Standard is Adobe Illustrator (see below)

3. On the Epilog Device

   1. Scroll through settings on keypad → Find job and start. The most recent job should appear first.

   2. Watch job complete, to make sure it doesn’t catch fire, always watch the laser.

   3. DO NOT LEAVE LASER UNATTENDED

      If on fire → hit emergency stop button. Open the cover and push the gantry out of the way. Use the provided fire blanket to smother the flame. Check that the flame has been completely neutralized before removing the fire blanket or material. If the flame is too large to smother with the fire blanket, pull the pin from the fire extinguisher next to the machine, squeeze the trigger, and spray in a right to left motion at the base of the flame. 

   4. You can stop and remove media, but there will be no good registration for continuing the part if you do.

   5. Always watch the laser while in operation!!

   6. If a cut fails to completely penetrate the material, leave the material in place, and if safe to do so, the job can be run a second time over the same paths.

4. Shut down

   1. Make sure nothing is still burning or generating fumes

   2. Turn off exhaust, laser cutter, and compressor

   3. Clean out the cut bed grid of spare parts, if needed, using the provided vacuum

Software:

• The primary software used to print directly from the Makerspace computers is Illustrator. Please ensure that your line weight is always set to .001 for cutting.

• AutoCAD - select a window

• Can use anything for raster (eg. Photoshop)

• Process: File → Print → Epilog → Setup → Preferences (this is the dashboard)

• Cut ⇒ set stroke width to 0.001 points for cutting as a vector operation

• Engrave ⇒ Anything above 0.001 point (raster operation)

Options to set in Preferences (Dashboard)

• Resolution: default is 600.  Max is 1200.  Go lower for faster etching.  Doesn't affect cutting.

• Autofocus on (and set material thickness size) or turn autofocus off and set grid up/down height with jog functions and jig.  Autofocus is not really autofocus since you have to manually put in the thickness

• Manual focus → place registration tool on focus head, then click focus on panel, then use the joystick to adjust the height of the table.

• If the material varies in height, jog to desired location and then focus.  Don't save anything → just uncheck autofocus and don't change stage height

• Reset → sends head back to home location without changing the height

• Center engraving → not used often. Sets a new home position. And that position is set by eye (manually).

• Pick raster/vector (cut) or both.  E.g. If you have both types in the file and set it to raster it will ignore the cut lines (stroke weight < 0.001pt)

• Make your Illustrator Artboard/paper drawing size the same as your stock size, and then make the size in preferences the same too.

• There are separate laser settings for both raster and vector

• Look in the manual for setting guidelines, but note that you may have to interpolate or guess, if the material or thickness is not covered explicitly

• Balance speed and power - Its useful to experiment with new materials/thicknesses to get best balance of cutting/burning

• Cutting small areas → head won't get to full speed in full areas.  10% speed per inch of width

• Engrave direction - generally starts at the back of the machine and works forwards ⇒ not often changed.

• May want to reverse to avoid soot from covering freshly etched surface

• Image dithering ⇒ not often changed.  May want to adjust for images or photos

  • “Jarvis” setting may work better with photos

• Speed Comp ⇒ Reduces speed by ½

• Power Comp ⇒ Reduces speed when rounding corners with cutting

• Sometimes a faster setting with multiple passes will work better because it doesn't burn as much. Higher power can lead to flame  

• When printing, sometimes media size may not match file size, go back to settings → preferences, and will update size

Raster: variable depth control (Color mapping)

• Use RGB color mode (File → New → Color map RGB)

• Set color → laser cutting values in

• Print → Setup → Preferences → Color mapping

•  

  • Print → Setup → Preferences → Advanced

  • Save and load preset settings for laser and piece size

  • Can dowload presets from Epilog

Setup

• Vector grid - make sure pins on bottom seat in the holes on the base of the machine.  Should be positioned almost all of the way to the back of the interior space available.

• Vector grid can be used for cutting and etching.  Standard bed can only be used for etching (don't use for cutting).  Most people leave the vector grid in place all the time.  Only remove if need to put something large or heavy in place.  Vector grid front can also be opened to clean out small parts/offcuts that fall through, as needed.

• Clean the lens and mirror at the cutting head with a swab and the cleaning fluid.

• Wipe to clean the lens at the end of each day of use (or at the beginning of each day)

• Need to get q-tips (Steve P mentioned ones for chemistry that leave fewer threads)

• WIll save on life of laser

• Just turn off laser and pull gantry forward to access.  

• Three thumb screws remove laser cover.  

• Watch for spring loaded bar on bottom.

• Need to clean both lens and final mirror on carriage above material.  

• Less often need to clean mirror on side.

• Wipe down belts regularly (weekly?)

Laser focus:

• Use Auto Focus, but need to specify material thickness in software (Preferences pane  of print dialog when printing)

• Manual Focus: Hang manual focus gauge, just touch surface of material to position.

Materials:

Bad Materials:

• Don't cut vinyl, PVC  (or anything with vinyl in it) ⇒ toxic fumes,  don't use sintra or comatex (PVC)

• Polycarbonate (eg. Lexan) doesn't work ⇒ smokes and melts, sooty

• Gatorcore not ok either

Good Materials:

Foamcore is fine

Foam insulation works well -- even up to 2".  Edge quality might suffer for thick materials - Polystyrene is ideal

Can't cut metal, but can use Cermark^(tm) with metal (burns onto the metal)

Can etch anodized aluminum (eg. back of iPhone, iPad)

Corian cuts well - great use for offcuts from local cabinet/sink shops

Very good use is for matching wood veneers (marquetry)

Cardboard and foamcore are succeptable to catching fire

Can cut many materials up to ½"

For acrylic → best to keep the backing paper on the bottom to avoid reflection from the vector table

Can also just elevate the material off of grid

Possible Sources of materials:

Laserbits.com ⇒ source for laser cutting materials

Local hardware stores - limited selection, no colors