Laser Cutter

The first mission group, and the first amazing teamwork.

We divided ourselves into 3 groups:

1. group to search and obtain test files.
2. group for implementation.
3. group to create the website and documents.

Materials used:

• 3mm Plywood
• 3mm Acrylic

Set the machine origin.

A) To characterize the cutter’s focus:

We tried to assign the distance that provides the optimum focus.

1. We designed a test panel for dots and lines on illustrator.
2. Imported the design file to RD Works.
3. Connected the P.C to the laser cutter.
4. Tested the frame of our design whether it fits into our material border. (Go scale).
5. Adjusted the focus distance and pressed start for each X.

B) To characterize the cutter’s power vs. speed:

I) For Cutting:

1. We designed a test grid of squares on illustrator.
2. Imported the design file to RD Works.
3. Assigned a different layer with different power and speed characteristics to each square.
4. Connected the P.C. to the laser cutter.
5. Tested the frame of our design whether it fits into our material border. (Go scale).
6. Pressed start
7. The outcome result was a very good indicator of the characteristics we want to test.

II) For Engraving / Scanning:

1. We designed a test grid of squares on illustrator.
2. Imported the design file to RD Works.
3. Assigned a different layer with different power and speed characteristics to each square.
4. Connected the P.C. to the laser cutter.
5. Tested the frame of our design whether it fits into our material border. (Go scale).
6. Pressed start
7. The outcome result was a very good indicator of the characteristics we want to test.

C) To characterize the cutter’s kerf:

1. We designed a grid of 10 squares inside a rectangular border on illustrator.
2. Imported the design file to RD Works.
3. Connected the P.C. to the laser cutter.
4. Tested the frame of our design whether it fits into our material border. (Go scale).
5. Pressed start
6. We measured the accumulated kerf and divided it by the number of cut sides between the ten squares. Which was 10.:D

The measurement was 2.1 mm.

The kerf = 2.1 / 10 = 0.21 mm.kerf

As we can see in the following image, square (40-120) was totally gone, and that is illogical given that there were traces of square (60-120).We found out that the wood we used had a slight bending upwards, that’s why test results weren’t accurate.