¶ Lasercutter
Lasercutter is provided by and maintained by Protoskoop OÜ. Main PoC is Martti Rand.
For more information join #lasercutter on Slack.
¶ Specs
- Model: Vevor 100W CO2 Laser Engraver
- Model as defined by firmware: RDC644XG
- Area: 900 mm × 600 mm (35.4" × 23.6")
- Max detail height: 400 mm (15.7")
- Max speed: 1000 mm/s
- Location precision: 0.01 mm
- Resolution: 1000 dpi
- PC Software: RuiDa RDWorks
¶ Input
Some possible ways to design stuff for lasercutter:
- Use 2D primitives in OpenSCAD (circle, square, offset etc), use 1mm as the base unit and export to DXF. On lasercutter import the DXF and adjust the speed/power settings.
- LibreCAD: everything except text works, incl. layers.
- Inkscape: AutoCAD DXF R12 - only one layer, does not export every shape.
¶ Setting
Successfully used settings:
- 2mm plexiglas 30mm/s speed 30% power
- 3mm plexiglas 30mm/s speed 50% power
- 4mm plexiglas 20mm/s speed 80% power
- 5mm plexiglas 14mm/s speed 80% power
- 6mm plexiglas 9mm/s speed 80% power
- 10mm plexiglas 6mm/s speed 80% power
Cast acrylic is better for engraving (frosty white color marks), extruded acrylic is better for cutting giving clean and smooth polished edge but engraving will be transparent.
¶ Material
Materials that work as well: plywood, paper, MDF
NB! It's easy to confuse polycarbonate with plexiglas. Polycarbonate leaves dark burnt edges. Plexiglas has pretty sharp smell, leave the workpiece in the machine with vent on for at least 15min before opening up.
For finding suitable settings for other materials see here.
Never cut PVC, polycarbonate, ABS, HDPE, polypropene, fiberglass or coated carbon fiber - they either emit dangerous fumes or catch fire. For more info see here. Note, that while the pdf lists PTFE as a safe material to cut, please do not, it is a bad idea.