Equipment
100 Watt MOPA Fiber Laser |
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Class Slides
Intro Class- Version at 2024-09-17
Recommended Videos
Book your fiber laser time | https://makersmiths.org/LaserReservations |
Some fiber laser settings | https://www.omglaser.com/laser-settings/ |
Metal blanks purchasing | https://www.jpplus.com/engraving/blanks/shapes/metal Etsy Amazon |
LightBurn for Galvo Crash Course: | https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoBR3k35202Yjc1yMfPZsY8EDh_pmcaa2&si=ALTo-ycuzaUfLfva |
Laser MOPA Color | |
Personalized Coins (with some good settings) |
Default Settings
Illustrator Default Preferences - 2024-09-21.lbprefs
Inkscape Default Preferences - 2024-09-21.lbprefs
Laser Calendar
Book by logging into Makersmiths.org and selecting Members Only Content and then Laser Calendar Reservations. If you have any issues just email us at lasercutter@makersmiths.org
NEVER CUT THESE MATERIALS
WARNING: Because many plastics are dangerous to cut, it is important to know what kind you are planning to use. Make has a How-To for identifying unknown plastics with a simple process.
PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride)/vinyl/pleather/artificial leather | Emits pure chlorine gas when cut! | Don't ever cut this material as it will ruin the optics, cause the metal of the machine to corrode, and ruin the motion control system. |
Thick ( >1mm ) Polycarbonate/Lexan | Cut very poorly, discolor, catch fire | Polycarbonate is often found as flat, sheet material. The window of the laser cutter is made of Polycarbonate because polycarbonate strongly absorbs infrared radiation! This is the frequency of light the laser cutter uses to cut materials, so it is very ineffective at cutting polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a poor choice for laser cutting. |
ABS | Emits cyanide gas and tends to melt | ABS does not cut well in a laser cutter. It tends to melt rather than vaporize and has a higher chance of catching on fire and leaving behind melted gooey deposits on the vector cutting grid. It also does not engrave well (again, tends to melt). |
HDPE/milk bottle plastic | Catches fire and melts | It melts. It gets gooey. Don't use it. |
PolyStyrene Foam | Catches fire | It catches fire, it melts, and only thin pieces cut. This is the #1 material that causes laser fires!!! |
Polypropylene Foam | Catches fire | Like PolyStyrene, it melts, catches fire, and the melted drops continue to burn and turn into rock-hard drips and pebbles. |
Fiberglass | Emits fumes | It's a mix of two materials that cant' be cut. Glass (etch, no cut) and epoxy resin (fumes) |
Coated Carbon Fiber | Emits noxious fumes | A mix of two materials. Thin carbon fiber mat can be cut, with some fraying - but not when coated. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question | Response |
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What are the main differences between the fiber and CO2 lasers? | Technically, the main difference is the type of laser, the wavelength of the laser, and the power intensity of the laser. The practical differences are:
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What safety equipment should I get to use the fiber laser? | You should purchase and wear a set of 1064nm, OD6+ glasses for your safety when using the fiber laser. These are readily available on Amazon and from other online retail sources. |
Does getting certified on the CO2 mean I am certified on the fiber laser and vice versa? | NO. Certification for the fiber laser is a separate class from the CO2 lasers. Getting certified/red tool trained on the CO2 Thunder Laser in one location allows you to use the CO2 Thunder Laser in the other location, but not the fiber laser. |