Week 16 - Wildcard Week
Published on: June 02, 2025
This week, I used the GS Laser Cutter to create both the top and bottom aluminum plates for my robot. This was a great opportunity to work with industrial equipment and learn how to cut custom metal parts from scratch.
Our tiny metal laser cutter: GS 130130 FL aka Imperator
- Machine type: Fiber laser cutter
- Model: GS 130130 FL
- Laser power: 1.5 kW
- Working area: 1300 × 1300 mm
- Supported materials: Aluminum, stainless steel, mild steel, brass (depending on settings)
- Cutting thickness: Up to 10 mm (material-dependent)
- Positioning accuracy: ±0.03 mm
- Software: Compatible with standard industrial laser CAM software (e.g. CypCut)
- Safety: Enclosed housing, interlock doors, emergency stop system
For full specifications and details, visit the official website: GS 130130 FL – Product Page
Here you can see the safety and power control elements of the GS 130130 FL fiber laser cutter. On the right side, the yellow-red rotary switch is the main power switch, used to turn the machine on and off. Mounted below the door is a red safety interlock system: this is a protective locking mechanism that immediately stops the laser operation if the door is opened during use. This safety feature ensures that the machine cannot operate while the enclosure is open, protecting the user from exposure to the laser beam.
This section shows three essential components of the GS 130130 FL laser cutting system:
On the left, the integrated PC control panel is used to operate the laser cutter. It allows the user to load design files, adjust cutting parameters, and control the overall process.
In the middle, the cutting lens is displayed. This lens focuses the laser beam with high precision. It must be regularly cleaned and checked for condensation or residue after each cutting session to maintain cutting quality and prevent damage.
On the right, the handheld remote control is shown. It enables the operator to move the laser head manually, start or stop the cutting job, and transfer files to the machine. It is especially necessary during setup and positioning tasks.
Workflow
- Export 2D sketch from Fusion 360 as
.dxf - Import into the laser cutting software
- Material selection: Aluminum, 5 mm
- Adjust cutting parameters: speed, power, frequency
- Focus calibration before each cut
- Shutter and Frame
- Reset Machine
- Start cutting and monitor process
Preparing the files
I started by designing the shapes for the top and bottom plates in Fusion 360 and exported the geometry as a DXF file.
Using the Machine
1) Launch CypCut: On the desktop of the laser cutter's control PC, double-click the CypCut icon to start the software.
2) Loading screen: After starting, the CypCut splash screen appears while the software loads. This may take a few seconds.
3) Safety warning: A safety popup appears reminding the user to operate the machine only if trained. Confirm the dialog to proceed.
4) ORG reset: You must set the machine origin ("ORG") before proceeding. Depending on the situation, choose: ORG, then return zero point or ORG, then locate the interruption point if resuming an interrupted job. (If unsure, the first option is usually safest.)
5) Open your file: Go to Datei > Öffnen and select your cutting file, e.g. in .dxf, .plt, or .bds format.
6) File preview: Your design will now appear in the workspace. You can check the imported paths, adjust nesting, and verify that everything looks correct before cutting.
7) Calibration via BCS100: In the CNC tab, access the BCS100 monitor. This is used to calibrate the distance between the cutting head and the material surface. Press Follow or run an auto-calibration.
8–9) Confirm calibration: Once calibration is complete, you'll see a confirmation screen indicating values like "Stability: Excellent" and "Calibrate OK." This means the cutting head is correctly adjusted.
10) Material selection for the cutting layer: Click the folder icon next to the color layer (in this case, the green layer) to open the parameter library. Select the appropriate material preset – for example, Aluminum 4–6 mm. This loads predefined settings for gas type, pressure, speed, pierce time, and frequency curves tailored to the selected material and thickness.
11) Perform a test cut: Before launching the full job, it's strongly recommended to run a short test cut on a scrap piece of the same material. This helps verify that the focus, power, and speed settings produce clean edges and full penetration. Adjust parameters if necessary before starting the final part.
12) Final preparation and shutter activation: Once the laser head is properly aligned on the material and all parameters have been configured, close the laser's safety door. Then, on the handheld remote control, press the "Shutter" button repeatedly until the data is correctly transmitted to the machine. This ensures the system is ready to begin the cutting process.
13) Reset and start the job: Press the Reset button on the machine control panel to initialize the system and confirm readiness. After that, use the handheld remote control to start the cutting process. Make sure to monitor the machine during the initial moments to verify that the cut begins correctly and the material reacts as expected.
14) Cutting process and safety notice: After starting, the laser cutter will process the loaded file and cut the desired shape from the metal sheet. The process can be repeated as needed to produce additional parts. Important: Always wait until the metal has cooled down before handling it. If immediate removal is necessary, wear appropriate heat-resistant gloves to prevent burns.
Post-processing
Since we didn't use any shielding gas like nitrogen during cutting, the aluminum got extremely hot. As a result, it behaved almost like it was being welded – the parts didn't simply fall out as expected. Instead, I was greeted by stubborn connections and fused edges!
So, hammer in hand and a metal file ready, I carefully knocked the parts out of the sheet and ground away the excess material. Bit by bit, I worked my way through each edge until the shapes finally matched my designs. It was loud, a bit messy, and required patience, but I succeeded.
The final aluminum plates are not just shiny – they're also incredibly sturdy and well-suited to carry heavy loads. That makes them ideal for my robot platform, which is designed to transport larger components or equipment. Thanks to the precise laser cutting (and a bit of elbow grease during post-processing), I now have a solid foundation that's both functional and reliable.
