K40 Laser Cutter: Difference between revisions

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Read at least the "General Use" section of the [https://www.scorchworks.com/K40whisperer/k40w_manual.html K40 user manual (link)].
Read at least the "General Use" section of the [https://www.scorchworks.com/K40whisperer/k40w_manual.html K40 user manual (link)].
When following the example speeds and power levels given below, use Power (mA) over Power (%) when possible.


== General Advice and Precautions ==
== General Advice and Precautions ==
Line 28: Line 30:
⚠ Always operate with lid closed.
⚠ Always operate with lid closed.


⚠ Do not let machine "run dry."
⚠ Do not let machine run without water cooling.


⚠ Do not place hand along laser path.
⚠ Do not place hand along laser path.
Line 58: Line 60:
|-
|-
| PVC || Combustion byproducts are literally hydrochloric gas.  Do not cut.
| PVC || Combustion byproducts are literally hydrochloric gas.  Do not cut.
|}
== Feeds & Speeds ==
This section contains a sample of feeds and speeds gathered from various projects over the lifetime of the machine.  Beware that different factors will affect cutting performance including but not limited to:
machine age, air temperature, water temperature, and cutting location.
=== [[User:Blu|Brandon]]'s 1/8" (3.2mm) Edge-Lit Acrylic ===
Feeds and Speeds:
{| class="wikitable"
! Path Category !! Feed !! Power !! № Passes
|-
| Raster Engrave || 100mm/s || 8% || 1
|-
| <span style="color: blue">Vector Engrave</span> || 28mm/s || 7% || 1
|-
| <span style="color: red">Vector Cut</span> || 8mm/s || 18% || 1
|}
Raster Settings
{| class="wikitable"
! Setting !! Value
|-
| Line Width || 0.008 in
|-
| Engrave Bottom Up || ✅
|-
| Halftone || ✅
|-
| ... || ...
|}
Acrylic orientation should be such that the raster engraving is vertical when the sign is placed on the LED base.  The light reflects better inside the acrylic and provides more consistent lighting of the design in this manner.  The axis of the acrylic that is facing up should be parallel to the raster lines to look the best.
=== [[User:Blu|Brandon]]'s 3/16" (4.6mm) Edge-Lit Acrylic ===
The parameters for 3/16" acrylic are mostly the same as the 1/4" acrylic with the exception of the final vector cut from the mother sheet.
Additionally, current change compensation can be applied to this process because the laser current is now being recorded.
{| class="wikitable"
! Path Category !! Feed !! Power (%) !! Power (mA) !! № Passes
|-
| <span style="color: red">Vector Cut</span> || 5.9mm/s || 18% || 14 to 13.5mA || 1
|}
=== [[User:Blu|Brandon]]'s Name Tag on 1/4" (6.4mm) MDF  ===
The following section is written for cutting a name tag on 1/4" MDF.  The whole name tag should be covered in blue tape to prevent the char from the laser from bleeding over the white paint.
Feeds and Speeds:
{| class="wikitable"
! Path Category !! Feed !! Power (%) !! Power (mA) !! № Passes
|-
| Raster Engrave || 100mm/s || 8% || N/M || 1
|-
| <span style="color: red">Vector Cut</span> || 4.4mm/s || 42% || 17.9mA || 2
|}
Raster Settings
{| class="wikitable"
! Setting !! Value
|-
| Line Width || 0.003 in
|-
| Engrave Bottom Up || ✅
|-
| Halftone || ✅
|-
| ... || ...
|}
=== [[User:Blu|Brandon]]'s Cork Coaster ===
The following section is written for cutting 90mm (diameter) x 5mm (thickness) coasters.  Note that the coaster is not cut to size because it is precut into the final dimensions.
Feeds and Speeds:
{| class="wikitable"
! Path Category !! Feed !! Power (%) !! Power (mA) !! № Passes
|-
| Raster Engrave || 100mm/s || 7% || N/M || 1
|}
Raster Settings
{| class="wikitable"
! Setting !! Value
|-
| Line Width || 0.003 in
|-
| Engrave Bottom Up || ✅
|-
| Halftone || ✅
|-
| ... || ...
|}
|}


== History ==
== History ==
The K40 is a complex machine with a history of previous activity.  Delve into the mysteries of this delightful machine here.
The K40 is a complex machine with a history of previous activity.  This section is where the laser cutter upgrade history is documented.
=== Gallery ===
=== Gallery ===
<gallery>
<gallery>
Line 89: Line 187:
=== Air Assist Upgrades ===
=== Air Assist Upgrades ===
[[File:K40DragChainBracket.stl]]
[[File:K40DragChainBracket.stl]]
[[:File:K40DragChainBracket.stl]]


[[User:BLu]] added a drag chain for the air assist on 2021-01-24.
[[User:BLu]] added a drag chain for the air assist on 2021-01-24.
Line 102: Line 203:
=== Laser Guidance ===
=== Laser Guidance ===
2023-12 Two visible lasers are installed to denote the cutting location of the CO2 laser.  The two lasers form a crosshair that marks the location where the CO2 laser beam should hit.
2023-12 Two visible lasers are installed to denote the cutting location of the CO2 laser.  The two lasers form a crosshair that marks the location where the CO2 laser beam should hit.
The files for the laser bracket with laser guidance can be found at https://github.com/blu006/blu_BOB_and_MISC/tree/main/2023/laser_bracket
The only vitamins are the existing M3 mounting screws that came with the k40, a square screw, and an M3 internal hex socket head bolt.


== Future Upgrades ==
== Future Upgrades ==

Latest revision as of 04:03, 22 May 2024

Chinesium K40 Laser Cutter
K40 LaserCutter.jpg

Location: Electronics Room
Ownership: Mag Laboratory
Status: Fully Working / Upgrades Pending
Usage Restrictions: Laser Cutter Qualification

Laser Cutter

Brand: Chinesium
Model: K40
Quality: Prosumer/Professional
Cutting Area: 315 x 225 mm
Materials: TODO

Getting Started

Welcome on your laser cutter journey. We at MAG Laboratory are proud to host the venerable and storied K40 laser cutter machine. As we should all know, each K40 machine is a unique snowflake upon this world not only because each factory K40 is manufactured differently but also because each K40 owner will apply different modifications to their machine.

Read at least the "General Use" section of the K40 user manual (link).

When following the example speeds and power levels given below, use Power (mA) over Power (%) when possible.

General Advice and Precautions

⚠ Always use the air assist.

⚠ Always operate with lid closed.

⚠ Do not let machine run without water cooling.

⚠ Do not place hand along laser path.

⚠ Ensure laser cooling water temperature is acceptable.

Software Support

The preferred file format is .svg. Inkscape (link) can be used to create and edit svg files it is under active development, so be sure to update your inkscape.

Materials

Recommended Materials

Material Comment
Acrylic Cuts well. Turns into combustion byproducts immediately!
MDF Mostly turns into smoke. Ash may be an issue. Use air assist to clear the ash.
Laser Rubber Ash may be an issue. Use air assist to clear as much ash as possible.
Acetal Plastic Apparently works if the plastic has additives.
Leather Cuts / Engraves.

Banned Materials

Material Comment
PVC Combustion byproducts are literally hydrochloric gas. Do not cut.

Feeds & Speeds

This section contains a sample of feeds and speeds gathered from various projects over the lifetime of the machine. Beware that different factors will affect cutting performance including but not limited to: machine age, air temperature, water temperature, and cutting location.

Brandon's 1/8" (3.2mm) Edge-Lit Acrylic

Feeds and Speeds:

Path Category Feed Power № Passes
Raster Engrave 100mm/s 8% 1
Vector Engrave 28mm/s 7% 1
Vector Cut 8mm/s 18% 1

Raster Settings

Setting Value
Line Width 0.008 in
Engrave Bottom Up ✅
Halftone ✅
... ...

Acrylic orientation should be such that the raster engraving is vertical when the sign is placed on the LED base. The light reflects better inside the acrylic and provides more consistent lighting of the design in this manner. The axis of the acrylic that is facing up should be parallel to the raster lines to look the best.

Brandon's 3/16" (4.6mm) Edge-Lit Acrylic

The parameters for 3/16" acrylic are mostly the same as the 1/4" acrylic with the exception of the final vector cut from the mother sheet.

Additionally, current change compensation can be applied to this process because the laser current is now being recorded.

Path Category Feed Power (%) Power (mA) № Passes
Vector Cut 5.9mm/s 18% 14 to 13.5mA 1

Brandon's Name Tag on 1/4" (6.4mm) MDF

The following section is written for cutting a name tag on 1/4" MDF. The whole name tag should be covered in blue tape to prevent the char from the laser from bleeding over the white paint.

Feeds and Speeds:

Path Category Feed Power (%) Power (mA) № Passes
Raster Engrave 100mm/s 8% N/M 1
Vector Cut 4.4mm/s 42% 17.9mA 2

Raster Settings

Setting Value
Line Width 0.003 in
Engrave Bottom Up ✅
Halftone ✅
... ...

Brandon's Cork Coaster

The following section is written for cutting 90mm (diameter) x 5mm (thickness) coasters. Note that the coaster is not cut to size because it is precut into the final dimensions.

Feeds and Speeds:

Path Category Feed Power (%) Power (mA) № Passes
Raster Engrave 100mm/s 7% N/M 1

Raster Settings

Setting Value
Line Width 0.003 in
Engrave Bottom Up ✅
Halftone ✅
... ...

History

The K40 is a complex machine with a history of previous activity. This section is where the laser cutter upgrade history is documented.

Gallery

  • Lid On

    Lid On

  • Interior (pre-air-assist)

    Interior (pre-air-assist)

  • Cutting Neoprene

    Cutting Neoprene

  • Interior (with air-assist)

    Interior (with air-assist)

  • Cutting Assembly in the K40

    Cutting Assembly in the K40

  • CO2 Laser Tube

    CO2 Laser Tube

  • Laser Power Supply

    Laser Power Supply

  • Laser Cutter Control Boards

    Laser Cutter Control Boards

  • Laser Cutter Open

    Laser Cutter Open

  • Interior (air assist)

    Interior (air assist)

  • Air Assist Pump

    Air Assist Pump

  • Water Temperature Thermometer

    Water Temperature Thermometer

Aluminum Air Assist

2021-05-03 "Cloudray" aluminum air assist nozzle installed

Laser Tube

The laser tube was replaced after being broken from a loss of cooling incident on 2021-03-17.

Laser Path

The focusing mirror was broken on 2021-01-26 and subsequently replaced on 2021-02-01.

Air Assist Upgrades

https://www.maglaboratory.org/w/images/9/98/K40DragChainBracket.stl

File:K40DragChainBracket.stl


User:BLu added a drag chain for the air assist on 2021-01-24.

The air assist pump and PLA nozzle were installed on 2021-01-31.

Alignment

User:BLu first aligned the laser on 2020-12-24.

Acquisition

The K40 laser cutter was purchased by User:BLu on 2020-12-03 and arrived at MAG Laboratory on 2020-12-07.

Laser Guidance

2023-12 Two visible lasers are installed to denote the cutting location of the CO2 laser. The two lasers form a crosshair that marks the location where the CO2 laser beam should hit.

The files for the laser bracket with laser guidance can be found at https://github.com/blu006/blu_BOB_and_MISC/tree/main/2023/laser_bracket

The only vitamins are the existing M3 mounting screws that came with the k40, a square screw, and an M3 internal hex socket head bolt.

Future Upgrades

The K40 is due for many future upgrades including but not limited to:

  • height adjustable table
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