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laser_cutter [2018/11/29 17:56] zwmm |
laser_cutter [2019/12/11 19:15] (current) glassgiant [Preparing Your Files] |
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{{ : | {{ : | ||
- | This is the cutter: [[http:// | + | This is the cutter: [[http:// |
As a general rule of thumb, you can cut non-chlorinated plastics (no vinyl, no pvc), leather and wood. Metal can't be cut or etched. | As a general rule of thumb, you can cut non-chlorinated plastics (no vinyl, no pvc), leather and wood. Metal can't be cut or etched. | ||
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Cutting plastics __with__ chlorine in them can release chlorine gas which is **highly toxic** to you (known as mustard gas in World War 1!) and can corrode the laser components. | Cutting plastics __with__ chlorine in them can release chlorine gas which is **highly toxic** to you (known as mustard gas in World War 1!) and can corrode the laser components. | ||
- | The cutter mounts as a printer, so in theory any file that can be printed can be cut or engraved. | + | |
+ | |||
+ | ===== Preparing Your Files ===== | ||
+ | The laser cutter mounts as a printer, so in theory any file that can be printed can be cut or engraved. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To prep your file with Inkscape you'll need need an SVG. Some tips: | ||
+ | * It should be as simple as possible, with objects like dynamic offsets converted to paths. | ||
+ | * Filters should be removed. | ||
+ | * All colors and layers should be 100% opacity. | ||
+ | * All layers should be 100% opacity. | ||
+ | * The page size should be less than 20x12 inches. | ||
+ | * There should be some white space between the page border and your paths. | ||
+ | * All paths should be within the page borders. | ||
+ | * Stroke styles should be solid. | ||
+ | * The laser recognizes red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, magenta and black strokes, and will treat them separately. So if you're cutting a doughnut, you might want to make the center blue and the outside red. When you cut it, specify blue before red to make sure that the doughnut doesn' | ||
+ | * The laser will " | ||
+ | * You can make SVGs from any number of programs. However, there' | ||
+ | * The laser cuts along the path. So the stroke width is irrelevant to the laser when it's cutting along a path (vector mode). | ||
+ | * Engraving (raster mode) is determined by a black and white value slider (everything darker than the slider value is engraved). | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
===== Pre-Cutting Checklist ===== | ===== Pre-Cutting Checklist ===== | ||
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===== Monitoring ===== | ===== Monitoring ===== | ||
- | We've installed a nodeMCU on the wall which is monitoring the temperature in the vent tube and the position of the blast gate. The recent temperature | + | We've installed a nodeMCU on the wall which is monitoring the temperature in the vent tube and the position of the blast gate. The recent temperature |
- | You can also subscribe to hmslasermonitor on [[https:// | + | You can also subscribe to hmslasermonitor on [[https:// |
There are various commands you can send to the bot, including one to get an update of the current vent conditions. | There are various commands you can send to the bot, including one to get an update of the current vent conditions. |