Lasercutting

LASERCUTTING

Using laser cutting, any 2D shapes can be cut from various materials in a matter of seconds.

If you want to build a Prototype which includes electronic Parts it can be convenient to get yourself a case

that components will be protected from outer impacts

could improve the aesthetic of your prototype
if you want to show it in an exhibition or put it inside your portfolio.

In the Prototyping Lab we can do Lasercutting for you!

Where to find inspiration and how to set up the files necessary for us to cut your stuff you will find below.

PREPARATION

Material

Important for the Material:

• The material size must not exceed the value 70cm x 120cm

MDF 3mm
Our Standartmaterial Its super light and thin. Perfect for BOXES or FACINGS of Prototyps. Anywhere you would use cardboard to cover a prototype. MDF is super sturdy and makes your prototype look more premium.
Where can I get those Materials?
Mahler Göggingen Gögginger Str. 13A 86159 Augsburg

For other Materials send us an Email or visit us in the Prototyping Lab.

Vector File

Lasercutting works with a cutting-Map containing all the shapes to be cut or engraved. .
This Map is a vector file (.svg).

This means that CUTTING MAPS can be created in any vector-based graphic software.

• e.g. Illustrator, Inkscape, ...

What is important when you set up your Vector File?

1 Filesize
First of all its important to set the right filesize. The surface of the laser-cutter is limited to 70cm x 120cm in Illustrator you can set the filesiz when you open a new document. to be on the right scale pick the millimeter option in the dropdown on the right.

2 Colormode
Colormode to RGB
The Documents Colormode must be set to RGB-Color. In Adobe Illustrator there are two ways to set up the Colormode of your file. Directly when creating a new document by: Preset Details >Advanced Options >Color Mode >RGB Color Or in a already existing document by: File > Document Color Mode > RGB Color

3 Stroke-Settings
Colorvalues		Strokeweight
You can engrave or cut lines. You can specify that by choosing the right color for a path in your vector-file. Double Click on the Rectangle-Stroke Sign in Adobe Illustrator to call up the color settings. To Cut Lines: Lines that are to be cut must be created in pure RGB-Red. Color-Code = #ff0000 To Engrave Lines: Lines that are to be engraved must be created in pure RGB-Blue. Color-Code = #0000ff		The stroke-weight must be set to 0.001 pt. Tip: The lines with stroke thickness set to 0.001 pt are difficult to recognize. Therefore its advisable to set the line width as the very last step of editing.

4 CLOSE PATHS
Closing Paths		Avoid Duplicates
The paths must be closed. To Close Paths in Adobe Illustrator: Choose Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the anchor points to be merged. CMD + J To join these points.		Take care that shapes don't overlap and also that no duplicates are stacked on top of each other. This often happens when you work a lot by copying & pasting.

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For more detailed information and exact proceeding in Adobe Illustrator, watch the Video below:

Lasercut.Tutorial_1.mp4

Assets from the Web

Essential for laser cutting is a vector file in which the cutting edges are drawn.

Boxes.py is an internet application that provides you with exactly these vector files for a wide range of standard boxes.
The box dimensions, such as height, width and depth are customizable.

The Open-Source box generator is written in Python. It features both finished parametrized generators as well as a Python API for writing your own.

It's super easy!

There are many shapes of different Boxes already available probably including the box you are looking for.

Choose your Box	Set the Parameters
There are many different styles of Boxes available. Just scroll through the List of already programmed Boxes and choose one or simply create your own template. By Clicking on one of the Boxes you will get to the page in which you can customize the boxes parameters	Set the Parameters how you need them to be for your Project. Afterwards click on the Download button and you will find a .svg file in your download folder. Important: set the burn-correction = 0

Cutted inside Pro-Lab

LASERCUTTING TUTORIAL

1 Preparing the Cutter

Coolingsystem
STEP 1.1	STEP 1.2
Switch on Coolingsystem	Wait until the Columns in the display reach the green Area.

Compressor
STEP 2.1	STEP 2.2	STEP 2.3
Switch on compressor	Turn all ventiles in to horizontal position.	Operate the Lever behind the coolingsystem

Exhaust air management
STEP 3.1	STEP 3.2
Hang the exhaust air hose out of the window.	Open and fix the door to generate a Draught

Lasercutter
STEP 4.1	STEP 4.2
Get the keys to turn on the lasercutter.	On the bottom right corner of the screen select “connect”. Both Green lights must be lit.

Material
STEP 5.1	STEP 5.2	STEP 5.3
Place your preffered Material inside the lasercutter.	Activate the suction by pressing the fan button.	Cover the leftover space with some poster material.

Z-Axis Calibration
STEP 6.1	STEP 6.2
To calibrate the z axis, we use a small metal needle which you can find at the contol panel. Place the needle with the little screw on the small metal part standing out on the laser head.	After placing the needle, move up the table CAREFULLY until the Needle falls down. To do so, use the corresponding buttons in the controll panel (Step 5.2 buttons in the middle).

2 Software

Software settings
STEP 7.0	STEP 7.1	STEP 7.2
Open the file. Switch to the vector-view by pressing “strg+I”	On the vectorspace press the right mouse button and choose “Vektorsortierung” to sort the vectors.	In the Drop-Down-Menu go to “HS-Augsburg” Next to it choose your preferred Material.
STEP 7.3	STEP 7.4	STEP 7.5
Move the laserhead in to the upper left corner by using the arrow contol in the user panel (Step 7.4) Take care that the laser point is just on the inside of the cutting material.	Move the laserhead across the diagonal to the lower right corner.	Inside Job-Control check whether all vector shapes are in between these corners. The cross inside the software symbolizes the laserhead's position.
STEP 7.6	STEP 7.7
The pressure display in the user panel must be at 2 bar.	Start laser cutting

3 While Cutting

Precautions
PART 1	PART 2	PART 3
During the cutting process you need to stay at the machine!	Don't look into the Laser to prevent damage to the Eyes!	If you need to open the laser-cutter by any reason. Make sure you keep the cover shut until the beep sound is occuring. This time will be needed to suck out all the toxic fumes.
PART 4	PART 5
Make sure that no offcuts are set up and block the laser head. If this happens Anyway: Make sure you keep the cover shut until the beep sound is occuring. Remove offcut and continue the cutting.	Initiate measures in case of fire!

4 After Cutting

Cleaning Up
STEP 9.1	STEP 9.2	STEP 9.3
Move the laser aside by using the arrows in the Panel.	Don't open the cover before the "beep-sound". This time is needed to exhaust the toxic fumes generated during the cutting process.	Remove cut elements. Clean up templates.
STEP 9.4	STEP 9.5
Wait until the ventilation switches off. Afterwards close its valve.	Close the right outter valve of the compressor. Afterwards, switch off the compressor
STEP 9.6	STEP 9.7	STEP 9.8
Switch of the cooling system.	Turn off the lasercutter by pulling out the keys Stow the keys in the safe.	Pull in the air hose and close the window.