Coherent Laser

Group members

Preparing the Machine

Turn on the fume extractor

Fume extraction unit
Figure 1: Fume extraction unit

Open the nitrogen tank valve

Opening the nitrogen valve
Figure 2: Opening the nitrogen valve
Nitrogen valve at working pressure (~15 bar)
Figure 3: Nitrogen valve at working pressure (~15 bar)

Turn on the water cooling unit

Water cooling unit
Figure 4: Water cooling unit

Release the emergency stop button and turn on the laser

Emergency stop button
Figure 5: Emergency stop button

Turn on the laser PC

You need to wait for the laser to fully turn on before turning the PC on. Recommended time is 20 s. Turning on the laser PC

Preparing the G-Code from a DXF File

Laser PC desktop
Figure 7: Laser PC desktop
Laser Link interface
Figure 8: Laser Link interface

Import the DXF file

From the top menu select File >> Import >> DXF/DWG...

Importing a file
Figure 9: Importing a file
File after successful import
Figure 10: File after successful import

Move the design to the bottom-left corner of the design area

To move an object:

  • Press the Move button.
  • Draw a selection area around the object, or left-click the lines you want to move.
  • Confirm the selection by pressing the right mouse button.
  • Left-click the starting point, then click the destination.

Adjust cutting paths

After import, all vector lines default to Cut with the cut position set outside the line. In this step, set whether to cut Inside, Outside, or On the line.

Tool paths tool
Figure 11: Tool paths tool
Selected path set to Inside
Figure 12: Selected path set to Inside
Letters and circle set to Inside; outer oval set to Outside
Figure 13: Letters and circle set to Inside; outer oval set to Outside

To remove paths that should not be cut, use the Erase tool:

  • Activate the tool.
  • Draw a selection area or left-click to select paths.
  • Confirm with right-click.
Erase tool
Figure 14: Erase tool

Set the cutting order

The order of cuts matters — inner features should be cut before outer contours so parts do not shift.

To set the cutting order:

  • Go to Tools >> Set/Optimize >> User Set.
  • Click paths in the desired cutting order (first clicked = first cut).
  • Confirm with right-click.
Set cutting order
Figure 15: Set cutting order

Set the process table

Select the Process Table tool.

Select Process Table tool
Figure 16: Select Process Table tool

Double-click the layer containing your design.

Process Table layer view
Figure 17: Process Table layer view

We were cutting 1 mm stainless steel. Select the closest matching material preset — in this case SS_304_0.9mm_cut.

Process table values
Figure 18: Process table values

Press Ok to save the settings, then press the Process button in the Process Table window. Save the generated .LMC file to a known location (e.g. ~\Desktop\Ateesti\).

Saving the LMC file
Figure 19: Saving the LMC file

Laser Cutting

Open Beam Control Panel and bring the laser head to the front

Beam Control Panel
Figure 20: Beam Control Panel

Place the material and ensure it is flat

Use metal stock pieces to hold the material down and keep it flat.

Material placed in the laser
Figure 21: Material placed in the laser

Bring the laser head over a flat, hole-free section of the material and set a temporary home

Position the head near (but not over) the cutting area. There is a red pointer to help with placement.

Set Focus — step 1
Figure 22: Set Focus — step 1

Enter the focus offset value

Using the on-screen buttons (not the physical keyboard), enter the same focus height value used in the Process Table. Auno recommended 1.27 for 1 mm stainless steel.

Set Focus — step 2
Figure 23: Set Focus — step 2

Click Set Value

The laser will eject the probe and automatically measure the material surface, then move roughly 1.5" above it.

Set the physical focus height with the spacing block

Take the 1.5" spacing block and place it under the laser head. Adjust the laser height using the red ring until the spacing block fits snugly between the laser head and the material.

1.5" spacing block
Figure 24: 1.5

Calibrate the lens (beam centering)

This must be done before every cutting operation. The laser head is held by magnets and can shift when the laser is powered off.

Laser head detached, showing magnet mount
Figure 25: Laser head detached, showing magnet mount

To calibrate the lens:

  1. Place a small patch of tape over the laser nozzle tip.
  2. Open drill_anywhere.LMC.
  3. First run: disable Auto Focus and run the job once. This releases pressure from the gas-assist line — running with tape on this first pass will blow the tape off.
  4. Place a fresh piece of Scotch tape on the nozzle tip.
  5. Second run: run the job again. Wait for the Exhaust indicator to turn off, then open the laser and inspect the tape.
  6. The tip of the nozzle will leave a circular impression on the tape. The hole burned by the laser should be exactly centered within that circle. If it is off-center, use the 3 adjustment screws on the laser head to shift the beam and repeat until centered.
Select drill_anywhere.LMC
Figure 26: Select drill_anywhere.LMC
drill_anywhere process settings
Figure 27: drill_anywhere process settings
Tape under magnifying glass — beam hole should be centered
Figure 28: Tape under magnifying glass — beam hole should be centered in the nozzle impression

Set the origin

Position the origin at the bottom-left corner of your design on the material. Leave enough margin on all sides so the laser head does not collide with the metal stock used to hold the material down.

Select your file and verify settings

Always use the on-screen buttons to set values — do not use the physical keyboard buttons. To confirm that values are applied, switch between tabs and check that the values persist.

File selected in Laser Link
Figure 29: File selected in Laser Link
Process settings
Figure 30: Process settings

Press Start

Monitor the cut. Wait for the process to finish and collect your part only after the Exhaust light turns off.

Retrieve parts that fell through the grid

If parts fall through the metal grid to the bottom of the laser, go to Setup >> Clear-out Height >> Clear. This lowers the laser table and releases the bottom drawer.

Clear-out Height option
Figure 31: Clear-out Height option

Bottom drawer release

Push the drawer all the way back until it falls over the small ledge at the end of the track. If the drawer is left ajar, the laser will report an error that it is open.

Shutdown

Turn off the following in order:

  1. Press Park button to move the laser head to the back of the laser
  2. Cooling unit
  3. Fume exhaust
  4. Close the nitrogen valve (the pressure will slowly go down)
  5. Laser computer
  6. Laser
  7. Press the emergency stop button