Laser Cutting Induction

MakerBay
Version: 2020/07/24
Prepared by Chicky Bhavnani & Cesar Jung-Harada & Maria Li & Jason | contact@makerbay.org
Laser Cutting
Induction

How to use this document
Contents
● What will you do in this induction?
● What will you learn?
● What do you need?
● Step-by-step Guide
○ Introduction to laser cutting
■ Basic operation
■ Health and safety
■ What can you make?
■ What material to use?
○ Software
■ Supported Software and Format
■ Software - Inkscape
■ Software - Triumph
○ Operating the laser cutter
■ How to operate the machine?
■ Troubleshoot
Points to note
● This google slides is designed for the induction class, but it is also a
reference document for users. Instructors can teach the induction class by going
through this document using an example - make something simple like a key chain.
● Duration: 2hr
● ‘Speaker notes’ contains some notes for teachers

What will you do in this induction?
Vector drawing
using inkscape
Use the TriumphLaser
software
Operate the
laser cutter
Short introduction
and safety briefing
You own name tag

What will you learn?
What will you learn?
Laser cutter is very useful for quick prototyping. With careful design and
manufacturing, they can also produce high-quality products. However, there are health
and safety issues that have to be addressed before one is qualified to operate the
machine.
The basic operations of the laser
cutter (at MakerBay)
Health and safety
Testing with power and speed
using different materials with
different thicknesses
Vector graphics drawing and
layering using inkscape
Designs achievable with laser
cutting

Basic Operations
Specs
● Triumph
● CO2 laser, water cooling, 80W
● Working area: 850X600mm
How does a laser cutter work?

Health and safety
Before starting
❏ Extraction fan in the room is on
❏ Air compressor is on
❏ Extraction is on
❏ Water pump is on
❏ Origin + Test is carried out
❏ Maximum laser power is 75%
❏ Material is suitable (Don’t cut metal and PVC! Check documentation if unsure)
❏ Work piece is securely placed
❏ Focus (platform height) is correct
❏ Cover closed
❏ You know what to do in the case of fire
While the machine is running
❏ Stay by machine - never leave the machine unsupervised.
After the job has finished
❏ Wait for the fumes to be extract (some materials release slightly toxic fumes)
❏ Laser turned off

What can you make?
Simple cutting and engraving
Living hinge
Rotary joint
Finger joint
Special effects
No-offcut design
Jigs

What material to use?
Detailed
documentation
Suitable for cutting:
● 3-9mm plywood/ MDF
● 3-9mm Acrylic sheet
● Leather
● Fabric
● Cardboard
Do not cut:
● Metal
● Mirror
● PVC/ vinyl/ pleather/ artificial leather
● Polystyrene Foam/ PolyPropylene Foam
● Fiberglass/ Coated Carbon Fiber
● ABS
● More than 1m thick Polycarbonate (Lexan)
Suitable for engraving:
● All materials that are suitable for cutting
● Glass
● Ceramics
● Stainless steel

Supported Software and Format
Inkscape
SketchUp
AutoCAD
Adobe illustrator
Triumph supported format:
● Vector engrave - DXF, AI, PWJ, EMF,
PLT
● Raster engrave - JPG, PNG, BMP……
Softwares that produce vector graphic
● Inkscape
● SketchUp
● Rhinoceros
● RDWorks
● AutoCAD
● Adobe illustrator

Software - Inkscape
Vector engrave -
edge detection
Raster engrave -
Brightness cutoff
Raster engrave -
Grays
Img that shows the product
Img that shows the
product

Tool>Simulate (F5)
to perform a
simulation
Software - Triumph
Set power and speed
depending on material
thickness (max. Power 75%)
Set a correct cutting sequence
Engraving -> inner cuts -> outer
cuts
(top layers are cut first)
Power and
speed
reference

How to operate the machine?
Cover the fire with a fire blanket
or an acrylic sheet
Warn the
people in the
room
Use the fire
extinguisher
If there is a
small fire...
If the fire cannot be
extinguished even
with help...

Turn on main
switch
Download file
from Triumph
Download file
from Triumph
Download
file to the
laser cutter
Connect the
laser cutter to
the computer

Put the
material in
place
Place material
Hold the material in place using
magnets or masking tapes
Tap to ensure
no movements

Press ‘Origin’
Use arrows to
locate origin
Press ‘Test’
Locate origin
(The red square
in TriumphLaser
software)

Use “Focus
gauge” to
check height
Press ‘Z/U’ for
platform height
adjust
Use left and
right to adjust
height
Make the head
just touching
the gauge
‘Esc’ to finish
height adjust
Set focus

Turn on air
compressor &
exhaustion
Turn on the
room
extraction fan
Turn on
extraction and
compressor

Turn on
LASER
SWITCH
Finished - turn
off LASER
SWITCH
START
Check that the
material is cut
throughLaser
cutting
Remove the
material and
magnets
Turn off MAIN
SWITCH
Turn off
everything
START to cut
again if not
through

Press Pause
Press Start to
resume
If you want
to stop the
job
If you want to
pause the job
and resume
from the where
you pause
Press Stop

Troubleshoot
Laser cut
kerf is too
wide
Material cannot be cut
through even with
appropriate speed and
power
Have you
checked
focus?
No laser
beam
Have you
turned on the
laser?
Have you set the
power?

Come back to this document if
you have any problem!
Ask a staff if you are still
unsure!

What is next? Beginner classes!
Puppet Key chain Box LIght box Chessboard
2.1
Convert a bitmap graphic into a vector graphic ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Vector drawing and layering ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Choose the correct power and speed for different materials
with different thicknesses
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
2.2
Troubleshooting machine problems - not cutting through ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Improve product quality - cutting sequence ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Finger joints ✓
Box construction ✓
2.3 Engraved acrylic combined with light effects ✓
2.4
Understand laser kerf ✓
No-offcut design ✓ ✓
Utilise offcuts as jigs ✓
2.5
Parametric computer-aided design ✓
The design of a living hinge ✓ ✓
The design of a pivot ✓ ✓

Laser Cutting Induction

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