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Merged
tcmal merged 1 commit into from
Jul 10, 2025
Merged

Reorder laser cutter training #121

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72 changes: 41 additions & 31 deletions syllabuses/G2/Big Laser Cutter/syllabus.md
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -4,13 +4,13 @@

### Materials

* Can catch fire
* Can catch fire (laser cutter must not be left unattended)
* Can produce toxic fumes

### Laser

* High-power laser can cause burns or severe eye damage
* Laser compartment must remain closed
* High-power laser can cause burns, severe eye damage or blindness
* Laser compartment must remain closed, and the lid-sensor must not be bypassed

### Electricity

Expand All @@ -31,6 +31,15 @@

## Usage

### Hazards

* The laser can cause burns, severe eye damage and blindness
* The laser compartment must remain closed, and the lid-sensor must not be bypassed
* The laser cutter contains high voltages (2kV, 240V) and users must keep clear
of the wiring in the laser compartment and control panel
* There is a risk of fire with **any** material and the laser cutter must not be
left unattended, even for a minute (there is pause button and an emergency stop)

### Starting of the machine

* Check there are no obstacles for when the laser cutter moves to the home position
Expand All @@ -40,23 +49,7 @@
* Power on the machine (green button)
* Ensure the internal air assist is running (unless cutting paper)
* Ensure the chiller is running
* If it is not, alarm will continue sounding for more than a second and machine should not be used.

### Stopping of the machine

* Return the laser to the home position ("Datum" button)
* Power off the machine (red button/key switch)
* The E-stop should be pressed in an emergency, this will cut power to the laser
* Remember to log out if leaving the machine unattended for any period of time

### Hazards

* The laser can cause burns and blindness
* The laser compartment must remain closed, and the lid-sensor must not be bypassed
* The laser cutter contains high voltages (2kV, 240V) and users must keep clear
of the wiring in the laser compartment and control panel
* There is a risk of fire with **any** material and the laser cutter must not be
left unattended, even for a minute (there is pause button and an emergency stop)
* If it is not, alarm will continue sounding for more than a second and machine should not be used

### General

Expand All @@ -72,10 +65,16 @@
* Using the cutter's control panel to move the head/carriage (don't move it
outside the allowed area because there is no protection against this)
* Positioning the workpiece and setting Z (vertical) alignment
* The optimal position for the bed depends on the material but is usually
about 1cm above the height of the metal frame enclosure around the bed
* Don't leave it too high because the laser head/carriage may hit it
* Don't use the bed height for focusing, raise the laser head so that it won't
hit the material
* Focusing the laser
* Place the 12mm focusing cylinder on the material under the laser and loosen
the ring on the laser head/carriage to drop it onto the material so that the
air flow stops, then tighten the ring and remove the focusing cylinder
(clockwise) the top ring on the laser head/carriage to drop it onto the
material so that the air flow stops, then tighten the ring (counter-clockwise)
and remove the focusing cylinder
* Using the test button before cutting (the red light indicates the outer
boundary of the cutting/engraving area)

Expand All @@ -94,34 +93,45 @@
* Consult the complete list of materials on the wiki page
* Ask a maintainer if you are unsure of suitability

### Stopping of the machine

* The E-stop should be pressed in an emergency, this will cut power to the laser
* Return the laser to the home position ("Datum" button)
* Power off the machine (red button/key switch)
* Remember to log out if leaving the machine unattended for any period of time

### Post Cutting/Engraving

* Once you have finished your work, turn off the laser cutter, log out of the access control, and clean up the bed
* Leave the machine in the state you would expect to find it

## Maintenance

### Basic
### Basic (mandatory)

#### Removing dirt and debris

* Remove large debris by hand
* Use vacuum cleaner to remove small debris

### Intermediate (optional)

* Cleaning mirrors and lens
* Checking alignment of laser
* Minor corrections of alignment (mirrors 2 and 3 only)

#### Checking alignment of visible guide laser

Don't do this unless the guide laser is obviously wrong because it will wear
out the screw holding the guide laser in the aligned position.

1. Put scrap material in the laser cutter and focus
2. Close the lid
3. Briefly press and release the "Laser" button to fire the laser
4. Open the lid and align the guide laser with the mark on the material

### Intermediate

* Cleaning mirrors and lens
* Checking alignment of laser
* Minor corrections of alignment (mirrors 2 and 3 only)
4. Open the lid
5. Align the guide laser with the mark on the material

### Advanced
### Advanced (optional)

* Removal of bed for extended cleaning
* Full alignment
Expand Down
60 changes: 32 additions & 28 deletions syllabuses/G2/Small Laser Cutter/syllabus.md
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -4,13 +4,13 @@

### Materials

* Can catch fire
* Can catch fire (laser cutter must not be left unattended)
* Can produce toxic fumes

### Laser

* High-power laser can cause burns or severe eye damage
* Laser compartment must remain closed
* High-power laser can cause burns, severe eye damage or blindness
* Laser compartment must remain closed, and the lid-sensor must not be bypassed

### Electricity

Expand All @@ -30,22 +30,6 @@

## Usage

### Starting of the machine

* Check there are no obstacles for when the laser cutter moves to the home position
* Tap your tag on the access control
* Ensure the external extractor fan is running
* Release the E-Stop
* Power on the machine (key switch)
* Ensure the internal air pump is running (unless cutting paper)

### Stopping of the machine

* Return the laser to the home position ("Datum" button)
* Power off the machine (red button/key switch)
* The E-stop should be pressed in an emergency, this will cut power to the laser
* Remember to log out if leaving the machine unattended for any period of time

### Hazards

* The laser can cause burns and blindness
Expand All @@ -55,6 +39,15 @@
* There is a risk of fire with **any** material and the laser cutter must not be
left unattended, even for a minute (there is pause button and an emergency stop)

### Starting of the machine

* Check there are no obstacles for when the laser cutter moves to the home position
* Tap your tag on the access control
* Ensure the external extractor fan is running
* Release the E-Stop
* Power on the machine (key switch)
* Ensure the internal air pump is running (unless cutting paper)

### General

* Know how to power-up the cutter and check that the extraction, water
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -88,34 +81,45 @@
* Consult the complete list of materials on the wiki page
* Ask a maintainer if you are unsure of suitability

### Stopping of the machine

* The E-stop should be pressed in an emergency, this will cut power to the laser
* Return the laser to the home position ("Datum" button)
* Power off the machine (red button/key switch)
* Remember to log out if leaving the machine unattended for any period of time

### Post Cutting/Engraving

* Once you have finished your work, turn off the laser cutter, log out of the access control, and clean up the bed
* Leave the machine in the state you would expect to find it

## Maintenance

### Basic
### Basic (mandatory)

#### Removing dirt and debris

* Remove large debris by hand
* Use vacuum cleaner to remove small debris

### Intermediate (optional)

* Cleaning mirrors and lens
* Checking alignment of laser
* Minor corrections of alignment (mirrors 2 and 3 only)

#### Checking alignment of visible guide laser

Don't do this unless the guide laser is obviously wrong because it will wear
out the screw holding the guide laser in the aligned position.

1. Put scrap material in the laser cutter and focus
2. Close the lid
3. Briefly press and release the "Laser" button to fire the laser
4. Open the lid and align the guide laser with the mark on the material

### Intermediate

* Cleaning mirrors and lens
* Checking alignment of laser
* Minor corrections of alignment (mirrors 2 and 3 only)
4. Open the lid
5. Align the guide laser with the mark on the material

### Advanced
### Advanced (optional)

* Removal of bed for extended cleaning
* Full alignment
Expand Down