✂ Laser Cutting ✎ ✂

✂ Laser Cutting ✎ ✂

In this post, I will be covering the process of laser cutting and what I learned throughout the process.

Firstly, we were introduced to laser cutting. We were taught how the CO2 laser worked, what are the hazards and safety measures introduced with the operation of the laser. We also learned about the materials used for laser cutting in the SP Fablab and what is Kerf in laser cutting.

Next, we produced our Improved Standard operating procedure for the laser cutting machine:

Start Up Procedure:

Operation of laser cutter including the basic use of CorelDraw:

Shutdown procedure:

Practical Session (5/11/21) 

In this session, we are tested on how to operate the laser cutting machine properly as well as our Fusion 360 skills to design a parametric construction kit that can be assembled.

Firstly, we all had to undergo a certification quiz online as well as a physical competency test to determine if we were ready to use the laser cutting machine.

In the competency test, we were instructed to make a laser cut piece by ourselves to demonstrate to our tester Mr Ting that we are ready to use the laser cutter and here is the piece that i made!

Next, we had to design our very own parametric construction set using Fusion 360.

For my group, our construction set is made up of 3 different parametric sets.

The first being a triangle:

Second being a Circular parametric:

Lastly, a rectangular parametric:

With these 3 parametric ready, we started our Operation of laser cutting.

Laser Cutting Operation   

1. Start up compressor, fume extractor and laser cutting machine.
2. Launch Corel Draw on the computer.
3. Import fusion 360 file as DXF into Coreldraw
4. Select the design for vector and engraving respectively.
5. Use Red for Vector and Green for engraving.
6. Duplicate the design to the amount you need respectively.
7. Press Ctrl + P and wait for the window to popup.
8. Turn on air assist and auto-focus.
9. Specify the type of material that you are using into the software.
10. Specify the thickness of the material as well into the program. (Use a Vernier caliper to measure)
11. Click print to send the file to the laser cutter.
12. Press the Go button on the laser cutter to begin cutting.
13. After the laser cutting process has finished, allow the material to rest for 30s before removing the pieces.

Laser Cutting Process 

After around half an hour, here is our finished products!

Triangle parametric:

Circular parametric:

Rectangular parametric:

Using the 3 parametric, we manage to form a couple of cool designs!

Reflection 

After doing this laser cutter practical, I feel like i gained a new skillset and had a lot of fun during the practical since we were allowed to do whatever we wanted as long as it was related to laser cutting and did not impede any safety hazards.

During this practical some mistakes were made as it is in human nature to make mistakes. Some of the more notable mistake that were made was when making the press fit design where forgot to kerf. This resulted in the press fit not fitting each other when trying to combine each other. Additionally, we measured the thickness of the material wrongly which resulted in the press fit not fitting each other. Additionally, my team forgot to bring a thumb drive for the experiment to transfer our design from Fusion 360 to Corel Draw.