Blog 1: Laser Cutting Documentation Blog Entry👩‍🏭👩‍🔧

Yo sup everyone! 🤟 I am back with another blog for CPDD woohoo!🥳 So today I will be sharing my journey in laser cutting with you. So let's kick off with the laser cutting experience and I hope yall will learn something from it woohoo! 😉

On this page, I will describe:

• The 4 important hazards associated with the operation of laser cutting machines and their respective safety control measures (administrative/engineering control).

• The materials that can be cut and can’t be cut using a laser cutting machine.

• The steps include pictures of the operation of the UNIVERSAL laser cutter, that consist of the:

• Starting the compressor, turning on the laser cutter machine and fume extractor.

• Importing a .DXF file to CorelDraw and modifying the lines/fill for cutting and engraving.

• Sending the CorelDraw drawing to laser cutter software and setting the laser cutter power, speed, and PPI in the software.

• Starting the job on the laser cutter machine.

• DOs and DONTs when there’s flame/fire on the material being cut.

• My Learning reflection on the laser cutter activities.

1. These are the 4 important hazards and the respective safety control measures on the operation of laser cutting machines:

Hazards⚠️	​Safety control measures👷‍♀️	Pictures to support the explanation📷
Physical Hazard⚠️ ​Exposure to laser beam can cause severe eye damage or skin burns.	Do not stare into the beam while cutting, glancing it once a while is fine
2. Fire Hazard🔥 A buildup of cutting and engraving residue and debris is dangerous and can create a fire hazard.	Used a vacuum cleaner to remove any small pieces that have gotten stuck to the wire mesh.
3. Health Hazard⛑ Inhaling the toxic smell and particles	​Do not lift the lid immediately, let the extractor remove the toxic smell & particles first.
4. Physical Hazard⚠️ Sharp edges could result in lacerations, and puncture wounds.	​Wear PPE like working gloves and covered shoes when working with sharp objects

2. Below are the materials that can be cut/engraved using a laser cutting machine in FabLab.✔️

• Note: the allowed material thickness for the cut is a maximum of 5mm ❗❗

​Material📜	Photo of material📷
Paper/ White Card
2. Cardboard
3. Balsa wood
4. Acrylic
5. Plywood

Below are the materials that can’t be cut/engraved using a laser cutting machine in Fablab.❌

​Material📜	Photo of material📷
1. PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride)
2. Metal
3. Foam
​4. Rubber

3. Below are the steps for the operation of the UNIVERSAL laser cutter machine in FabLab:

a. Starting the compressor, turning on the laser cutting machine and fume extractor.

For T1442📍:

Before you start switch on the power for

​Steps and description📝	Photos to support the description📷
​1) The Power for the laser cutter, Air Assist and Extractor🔌 2) Light Switch💡

For Makerspace📍:

Before you start switch on the power for

​​Steps and description📝	​Photos to support the description📷
1) The Power for the laser cutter, Air assist and Extractor🔌
​2) Switches for the fume extractor🔌

b. Importing a .DXF file📥 to CorelDraw and modify ✒️the lines/fill for cutting and engraving.

​Steps and description📝	​Photos to support the description📷
​1. Importing from Fusion to Corel Draw Select File📁 > Import📥 > Select your .DXF file📁 and press import📥
2. Press OK 👌 (if you have did the editing in the fusion properly)
3. If want to engrave a name or picture, drag your mouse from the outer side to the other outer side and double-click the fill box button.⬛ (Tools can be found on the bottom right-hand corner of Corel Draw)
4. Click on Color and under Color Model change to RGB while 🔴R:0, 🟢G:255, and 🔵B:0. Click OK👌 once all the changes is done.
​5. Under Width change the style to Hairline Click OK👌 once all the changes is done.
​6. For Vector Cutting, just click the outer line and double-click the fill box button.⬛ (Tools can be found on the bottom right-hand corner of Corel Draw)
​7. Click on Color and under Color Model change to RGB while 🔴R:255, 🟢G:0, and 🔵B:0. Click OK👌 once all the changes are done.
​8. Under Width change the style to Hairline Click OK 👌once all the changes is done.

c. Sending the CorelDraw drawing 🖊to laser cutter software and setting the laser cutter power💪, speed🏎, PPI in the software👩‍💻.

​​Steps and description📝	​Photos to support the description📷
​1. Click on File 📁> Print🖨
​2. Click on the Cogwheel⚙️ for settings
​3. Universal’s Material setting will appear. Click on LOAD📤 for more material settings.
​4. Select the presets that matches your material type and thickness and select OPEN. (choose the appropriate material)
​5. Click OK 👌and PRINT🖨

d. Starting the job on the laser cutter machine.✅

​​​Steps and description📝	​​Photos to support the description📷
1. Click on the UCP (Universal Control Panel) icon (at the Taskbar)👇
​2. Place the material example like acrylic/plywood at the top left⬅️.
3. ​On the UCP, CLICK ON THE POWER BUTTON🔴 to activate the laser cutter on the top right of the control panel. IF YOU SEE THE PLAY BUTTON IS GREEN BEFORE YOU ACTIVATE THE UCP. PLEASE DEACTIVATE AND REACTIVATE IT AGAIN
​4. Click on the Focus Tool🧐, to show where the laser will start to print🖨 and check the sides whether will obstruct the printing.
​​5. Click on the Moving Tool🔧, to move the object to the empty space of the plywood/acrylic. (After clicking the moving tool the line from the focus tool will be gone but don't panic just click "To Pointer📍" and your object moving directly there.)
​6. Click on Estimate Time Button⌚ and press the START button to check for the timing. Note, this does not start the Laser cut, do not confuse it with the PLAY Button▶️!
​7. If all is good, 1) Shut the lid gently🖨 2) Press either the PLAY button on UCP▶️ or the Physical button on the Laser cutter
​8. It is a good practice to Monitor the cut by glancing at it👀
9. Once done, DO NOT LIFT ❌the lid immediately, let the extractor remove the toxic smell & particles first. For your own safety, wait for around 1 Minute⌚ before lifting up the lid!
10. Once extraction is done. Gently lift up the lid. Tap on the cut material 👆to see if it is free from its main material. If it didn’t cut through, try one more time to reprint if it still cannot inform the staff in charge as the laser cutter lens might be dirty
12. Once done, Remove any unwanted materials and dispose of them DEACTIVATE 🅾️the Laser cutter Switch off🔌 the necessary switches You need not Shut down the PC

e. DOs✅ and DONTs❌ when there’s flame/fire on the material being cut.

​DOs ✅	​​Photos to support the description📷
Immediately hit the Open up emergency button /switch off the power.🆘
​2. Open up the cover to cut off the laser.🆙
​3. Attempt to blow off the flame. (Only if the fire is small)🌬
​4. Attempt to put out the fire by stepping on it like your bf/gf betray you (If the fire is not small)🔥
​4. Notify staff on duty immediately.👩‍💼
​5. If the fire is severe and uncontrollable, use a Fire Extinguisher.🧯

​DONTs❌	​​​Photos to support the description📷
Do not touch the fire using your bare hands✋ as your chance of getting burnt is high🔥
Do not pour water when there is fire as it may cause a short circuit🌊
Do not run away 🏃‍♀️and leave the fire🔥 there as you may cause danger to others

4. Below is my Learning Reflection💁‍♀️ on the laser cutter activities.

From the online quiz for laser cutting to the competency test, it is a different experience as you have to be really hands-on👐to really know how laser cutting works but in online e packages it is kinda tough😢. Mr. Louis taught me the shortcut to know whether my object is within cutting range✂️ during the competency test. This laser cutting takes practice🤔 to master the whole laser cutting software and how to utilize it. I feel nervous😟 and sleepy😴 at the same time during the competency test. I thought that I will be the last one to go in for the test and it will be difficult😓 even if I go through the video. Therefore I stop reading my SOP during the test itself and when it was my turn I went in without my SOP but I was confident😃 enough to finish it without any help given🙅‍♀️. I was able to print out my work out and I was proud of myself 😇that I did well within 2 minutes🤩. For my next laser cutting, I will try to master🤫 what I can before the actual class and be able to perform better. One thing about myself🧐, I tend to stress myself😱🤯 a lot so this time I will go with the flow instead of stressing myself out🙂. Nevertheless, I have fun🤪 with the laser cutting competency test. Below is the final product of my competency test🤭:

Thanks for reading my second blog in CPDD!😎Hope you all will like, share and subscribe to my blog for more amazing content from this CPDD module and with my team!🤩Stay tuned for my weekly blog!!!🤗