Instructions - Revision history

SteveG at 19:03, 8 January 2026

2026-01-08T19:03:36Z

2024-07-04T14:56:29Z

2024-06-21T16:06:55Z

2024-06-20T21:18:56Z

2024-06-20T21:09:35Z

2024-06-20T20:59:53Z

2024-06-20T20:58:36Z

2024-06-20T20:50:06Z

2024-06-11T06:26:16Z

2024-03-28T19:52:40Z

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 <h1>Initialise the laser</h1>
-. First close switches on the wall. The cooler should beep as it powers up. If it does not, check the unit is switched on before proceeding.
+. First close switches on the wall. The cooler should beep as it powers up. If it does not, check the unit is switched on before proceeding.  Also check the temperature displayed on the cooler, it should be higher than (currently) 15 degrees. If not do not use the laser. Also check the temperature in the Hackspace this should (currently) also be greater than 15 degrees.
@@ Line 53: / Line 54: @@
 . open lid
-. using the keypad home the xy and z axis
+. using the keypad home the xy and z axis. Note: if for some reason the laser re-sets then it must be re-homed before continuing with a cut.
     [[File:controlpanel.jpeg]]
@@ Line 153: / Line 154: @@
 It is possible to produce simple designs using RDXWorks, rather than Inkscape or even a CAD program.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:56, 4 July 2024
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−	3. place material on laser bed with spacers to ensure material is square to bed	+	3. place material on laser bed with spacers to ensure material is square to bed. The photo shows the material at the front of the laser, i.e. nearest to the operator. It has recently been found that fume extraction is better if the material is placed at the rear of the bed, i.e. furthest away from the operator.

	4. use key pad to position laser on top of material		4. use key pad to position laser on top of material

@@ Line 127: / Line 127: @@
 <h1> Monitoring Air Quality </h1>
-A fume extraction system is fitted to the laser cutter. At the moment this is not perfect and an air quality monitoring system has been fitted.
+A fume extraction system is fitted to the laser cutter.
-It has a traffic light system, green Ok, yellow monitor the cutter and red stop cutting until the indicator returns to green.
+At the moment this is not perfect and an air quality monitoring system has been fitted.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:18, 20 June 2024
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+
		+	<h1> General Information </h1>
		+
		+	Currently there is no formal induction for the Laser Cutter, instead usage of the Laser is with the assistance of another Authorised member or Pilot.
		+	So you need to book a slot with one of the designated pilots .
		+
		+	Note there is a charge for use of the Laser to contribute to maintenance currently set at £10/hour of contact time (not cut time).
		+	Additionally in most cases the user will have to supply their own laser safe materials to cut.
		+
		+	Whilst some of the contact time is inevitably used for learning, preparation and testing , try to do as much of the file preparation offline as possible.
		+
		+	The software used is RDWorks v8.01.60 (latest) which is free to download from: https://www.rdacs.com/en/download?type=software ,along with the manual.
		+
		+	This can be used to import and prep a design file. In most cases this will be importing an svg or dxf file unless you are a paying user of adobe illustrator or coral draw etc.
		+	Note RDWorks doesn't like to import objects only paths so ensure all of your objects, text, strokes etc are converted to paths.
		+
		+	The installers and manual can also be had from the Hackspace long with our library of starting recommended cut parameters which won't come with the download.
		+

	<h1>Initialise the laser</h1>		<h1>Initialise the laser</h1>

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:09, 20 June 2024
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	Otherwise, a circular object will be visible in Inkscape, but will not appear when imported into RDXworks.		Otherwise, a circular object will be visible in Inkscape, but will not appear when imported into RDXworks.
		+
		+	<h1> Create a Design using RDWorks </h1>
		+
		+	It is possible to produce simple designs using RDXWorks, rather than Inkscape or even a CAD program.

@@ Line 111: / Line 111: @@
 A fume extraction system is fitted to the laser cutter. At the moment this is not perfect and an air quality monitoring system has been fitted.
 It has a traffic light system, green Ok, yellow monitor the cutter and red stop cutting until the indicator returns to green.
-[[File:airQuality.jpg]]
+[[File:airQuality.jpeg]]
 <h1> Creating a Design using Inkscape </h1>

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:50, 20 June 2024
Line 107:		Line 107:

	Pay for use of the laser either by leaving cash in the donations box or via a bank transfer to the Hackspace account, make the reference somthing like "laser"		Pay for use of the laser either by leaving cash in the donations box or via a bank transfer to the Hackspace account, make the reference somthing like "laser"
		+
		+	<h1> Monitoring Air Quality </h1>
		+	A fume extraction system is fitted to the laser cutter. At the moment this is not perfect and an air quality monitoring system has been fitted.
		+	It has a traffic light system, green Ok, yellow monitor the cutter and red stop cutting until the indicator returns to green.
		+	[[File:airQuality.jpg]]

	<h1> Creating a Design using Inkscape </h1>		<h1> Creating a Design using Inkscape </h1>

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:26, 11 June 2024
Line 2:		Line 2:
	<h1>Initialise the laser</h1>		<h1>Initialise the laser</h1>

−	1. First close switches on the wall	+	1. First close switches on the wall. The cooler should beep as it powers up. If it does not, check the unit is switched on before proceeding.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:52, 28 March 2024
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	Pay for use of the laser either by leaving cash in the donations box or via a bank transfer to the Hackspace account, make the reference somthing like "laser"		Pay for use of the laser either by leaving cash in the donations box or via a bank transfer to the Hackspace account, make the reference somthing like "laser"
		+
		+	<h1> Creating a Design using Inkscape </h1>
		+
		+	Create a sketch in Inkscape and save as a ".svg" file.
		+
		+	Use different colours or layers to differentiate between cuts and engraving.
		+
		+	Export as a ".dxf" file for import into RDXworks.
		+
		+	Before exporting ensure that all objects have been converted to a path.
		+
		+	Otherwise, a circular object will be visible in Inkscape, but will not appear when imported into RDXworks.