LaserCutter

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Attention Attention: Dangerous machine ahead Attention
Use only at your own risk, and after proper instruction!
Attention Attention: Maintenance Attention
Machine is currently not working (ETA unknown)
   
LaserCutter

Status: broken [box doku]

Lasercutter01.jpg
Description A Laser to cut stuff
Owner  MuMaLab

Before starting, please read the Safety Guidelines

Current Status

  • Undergoing major maintenance and upgrades
  • Lens: 50mm

Features

  • Big build area (Table Size: 1240 x 1000 mm / max Cutting Size: 1140 x 800 mm)
  • Pilot laser for dry run and positioning
  • 90W CO2, wavelength ≈ 10 microns

Components / Parts

  • Trocen AWC7824 Controller Laser Engraving Cutting Controller
  • Reci 90W CO2 Laser Tube
  • DY13 100W Laser PSU
  • OpenLaserSafety v1.0
  • Exhaust System including filters


Technical Details

LaserCutter/Technical Details


Calibration

Safety warning: For calibration it is necessary to deactivate the sensors of the hatch. Therefore, wearing safety glasses is absolutely mandatory. Do not calibrate the laser with persons without safety glasses in the space.

Calibration works well using sticky notes attached to the mirror mounts. Laser output is to be set to 20%. The laser is then fired manually (1-3 seconds) until a burn pattern becomes visible on the sticky note. There were always two burn marks when we were calibrating (Why?). The first calibration was done starting with the mirror next to the laser tube, then working the way toward the cutting area.

  • The laser spot is not circular: Most probable cause is the mirror directly above the lens.


Links:

ToDo

  • wire up electronics and HAL sensor <done>
  • Review power circuitry <done>
  • Install FlowSensor in Chiller (was already installed)
  • Learn serial protocol of Chiller (Adrian) There is no serial :/
  • Complete outer case (to avoid escaping beam)
  • Complete inner case (to avoid escaping exhaust gases) (Ricardo)
  • Build exhaust venting system
  • Install gas cylinders to prop up hood (see [4] for choosing correct cylinders) (Eymen) <done>
  • insert optical components
  • calibrate optical components [6]
  • connecting laser tube
  • inside illumination (white leds)
  • write manual and documentation (Eymen)
  • Control and safety panel
  • RFID-Access-System (Jorgen) <in progress>

Safety System panel

Code on github

The Safety System runs on an Arduino, checks for

  • Water flow (Right before the laser tube, arduino counting pulses)
  • Chiller temp (measured before and after laser tube)
  • Exhaust system (differetial pressure; digital)
  • water leak under the chiller and in connection pipe on both sides (digital) (--> Heiko)
  • lid closed (reed contacts, directly connected to the controller --> Peter)

--> Adrian, Heiko (Code review by Peter?)

Maybe later:

  • Compressor running
  • power consumption (???)
  • ...

Sensors

Waterleak

Wassersensor.png

Schematic

Consumables

Our laser tube:

  • Reci W3 80W Long life CO2

Mirrors:

  • use copper-backed or molybdenum-backed mirrors. Do not use silicone backed mirrors.

Finance

When we have this thing running, we maybe need to think how we can get the costs back in. A 100W laser tube costs around 1200€ and has a lifetime of 6000-10000h.

As discussed on the 20150315 Plenum (and again in 20161009 Plenum), we will start with the following structure:

  • 2€ per 10min for members, 3€ for HuS, 4€ for non-members, 5+€ for "commercial" use

Logging

We installed a data logger to keep track of the usage hours. The logger tracks the time the air assist is on, which is just about the runtime the laser controller displays for a job. We want to use this to track the working hours of the laser tube, but if you want to check how long your laser cutting jobs took, feel free to checkt that here as well:


Inspiration

Some connectors: - https://www.flickr.com/photos/satiredun/15868308421/sizes/o/ 'PCB' out of steel: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtZQoIheYcc

Additional Parts

  • Gas spring, Price 24€, Manufacturer Shockex, Part number 1181202100, Amazon [5], Force: 320 N, Outer diameter 1: 18 mm, outer diameter 2: 8 mm, Stroke length: 187 mm, Lenght: 468 mm

Sources

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