Embedded Files
Cutting from Onshape
Cutting from Onshape
Right click on the part you want to export and click Export (found in the parts list on the lower left of your Parts screen)
2. Name your file and export it as a Solidworks file
3. Send your Exported SOLIDWORKS file (often can be found in your downloads folder) into the #qpmt-laser-cutter channel in Slack
4. Open Slack on the Laser Cutter computer and open the #qpmt-laser-cutter channel and download your part (will go to downloads folder)
3. Open SOLIDWORKS on the laser cutting PC in the lab, and open your part as a Part File and hit Save to update the file type.
3a. Now, follow instructions below...
Cutting from Solidworks
Cutting from Solidworks
0. If you are importing a part from Slack, first open that part in SOLIDWORKS and hit the save button to fully update that part.
1. With your desired part file opened, go to File> Make Drawing From Part.
2. Make sure your Drawings setting is NOT set to automatically scale new drawing views. (For system options, click the gear at the top)
3. Choose a sheet size that will fit your part in the page without needing to scale. (the page size for the default options can be seen on the bottom of the Open Drawing window)
To be safe, you can create a custom page size with the dimensions of Width: 30" x Height: 18"
5. Check the Scale Ratio:
Drag the Front view of your part onto the template. Once your part is on the template, scroll down in the “Drawing View” toolbar on the left (if you clicked someplace else, you will need to double click the part).
Go to the Scale section and, if the part isn’t at 1:1, select the button “Use Custom Scale” and select 1:1 ratio. Be sure you click the green check.
6. Line Thickness
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP
The final step before saving the document (with the same name as your part), is to make sure the line thickness is correct. Follow the path:
Tools>Options
Click on the second tab for “Document Properties”
Scroll down to “Line Thickness” and set the Normal line to 0.002 in.
This next step (step 7) assumes you want to make CUT LINES. Below are the different types of lines and the colors you need to accomplish that type of operation.
CUT LINES (Red): This type of line is meant to cut all the way through the material you choose (this is used the most often).
RGB = <255,0,0>
Engrave Lines/Areas (Black): Engrave markings can be either lines or complete areas that can be shaded. This feature will discolor and slightly indent into your desired material (this is used the second most often).
RGB = <0,0,0>
To engrave a full area, you will need to go into Illustrator and learn how to color in areas with specific colors.
NOTE: Any line or image that is not the correct thickness above will be assumed as a shade of gray, making it an etched region.
ETCH LINES (Blue): This type of line is meant to create a thin (laser thickness) that will create a separation between two areas of your work. This cuts a little deeper into your material than Engraving, but does not cut all the way through like a cut tool (this is used the least often).
RGB = <0,0,255>
7. Make Outline Red
Step 1: insert the part into the center of the draw sheet
Step 2: Open the System Options menu (marked by a gear icon)
Step 3: Open the "Colors" submenu
Step 4: Scroll through "Color scheme settings" and select "Drawings, Visible Model Edges"
Step 5: Click the "Edit..." button and select the color in (0, 1), bright red. (RGB = <255, 0, 0> values given if needed)
Step 6: Click "OK" until all the menus close
If you want to save this drawing because you want to use this multiple times, do this following step. 8. Save your drawing file as a “Detached Drawing” under the File menu, Save As…
Cutting & Engraving From Adobe Illustrator
Cutting & Engraving From Adobe Illustrator
Create image you want printed or ingraved using illustrator tools.
If you want to engrave, fill the area black. For lines you want cut, make swatch red (RGB 255,00.
Set line thickness to 0.002 in.
Click Print and ensure that the printer selected is the VLS6.60 laser cutter and skip to Step 2 below.
Using the ULS Laser Cutter
Using the ULS Laser Cutter
Step 1: Open your file, double check the settings are set to those listed above, and then select Print and then make sure the VLS6.60 is selected as the print location.
Step 2: Open the UCP application and select your drawing in the drop-down menu in the top left corner.
Step 3: Click "Settings". Click "Materials Database". Choose your material from there (Cast Acrylic, Birch Plywood, MDF, or Construction Paper). Make sure you select the correct thickness for whatever material. Check the thickness of your material by using calipers to ensure you are right. Increase the thickness by about 0.3mm from the actual thickness of the material to ensure the laser cutter will cut all the way through. (For our standard Acrylic or Birch Plywood, the thickness of 5.4mm has been a good setting recently)
Step 4: Still in the settings menu, click the boxes labeled "Skip" under the black and blue pens if you are not using those features. This will skip the engraving and etching processes. Don't skip the if you are engraving something.
Step 5: Use the arrows in the ULS program to position the laser where you want your cut to occur. Leave the top of the utter open so you can see the laser as it disappears after the top is closed.
Step 6: Under "Relocate View", find the "To Pointer" button. Clicking this moves the selected relocation node (blue square on drawing) to wherever the laser is. NEVER CUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF A NEW PIECE OF MATERIAL. THAT IS WASTEFUL AND MAKES THAT MATERIAL USELESS FOR OTHER JOBS IN THE FUTURE.
Step 7: Use the arrows in the UCP program to position the laser to where you want your cut to occur. Make sure your material piece is big enough for your print. Leave the top of the cutter open so you can see the laser as it disappears after the top is closed.
Step 8: Using the Z-tool and the Z-axis arrows either on the laser cutter or on the computer program, place the Z-tool on your material under the laser. Using the Z-axis arrows manually set the Z-axis for the material. The Z-tool should be snug and tight under the laser cutter, if it is too loose it is too low, but if the tool pops out of place it is too high. Once in good position, remove the tool and close the hood of cutter. Below is an example of how it should look. The Z-tool's first groove should line up in an exact fit under the laser cutter!!!
**We now have a 3D printed one**
Step 9: CHECK THE AIR FILTER TO MAKE SURE IT IS TURNED ON!!!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL
Step 10: Close the top and hit the big green arrow button on the top right of the screen. Also keep in mind, after pausing a cut in progress, hitting the play button again will automatically restart the entire cutting process. You need to press the "Resume" button to continue on a cut from where you had left off.
*the laser moves back and forth for a while to scan the bottom, then starts cutting afterwards (once the full sketch reappears on the screen)
Step 11: TURN THE CUTTER AND AIR FILTER OFF
What to do if you see fire
What to do if you see fire
During any normal laser cut, you will see fire appear and be blown out by the air filter.
If it doesn't blow out:
Stop the cut IMMEDIATELY
If your material is on fire, use fireproof gloves or rags to pat out flames.
Don't blow on the fire if it is larger than a candle's flame, it will make the fire worse.
If the fire is in the grate below your material, pour sand into the grate.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS: Use the fire extinguisher found by the door as a last resort.
Find the teachers immediately!!
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