Computer-Controlled Cutting

Week 03

  • Do your lab's safety training
  • Characterize your lasercutter's focus, power, speed, rate, kerf, joint clearance and types.
  • Document your work to the group work page and reflect on your individual page what you learned.

Safety

Safety is the foundational step before operating any computer-controlled cutting equipment in the lab.

  • Fire Safety
    All students must know the exact locations of the fire extinguishers in the lab before powering on the laser cutters. Machines must never be left unattended while an active job is running, as materials like cardboard, wood, and acrylic pose a significant fire risk. We were told that a fire blanket is also required but ESAN doesn’t have one.

  • Eye Protection
    When operating the laser cutters (specifically the AVR-1400, which does not have a protective layer), wear protective red goggles to prevent eye damage from scattered laser light. If not wearing goggles, avoid looking at the toolpath.

  • Ventilation
    Proper fume extraction must be engaged before starting any cut. We’re working with a lot of MDF, which can produce smoke that not only poses a health hazard but can also cloud the laser lens and reduce focus/cutting power.

  • Vinyl Cutter Safety
    When using the vinyl cutter, caution must be taken when setting the blade and while the machine is in operation. Ensure hair, loose clothing, and jewelry are secured away from the machine's moving carriage and rollers.

Machine Profiles

Machine Type Work Area (Bed Size) Laser Power Optimal Cut Speed Optimal Engrave Speed Measured Kerf Material Constraints & Notes
AVR-1400 CO2 Laser 600mm x 400mm 100W 20–40 mm/s 100–500 mm/s 0.17mm (± 0.02mm) Reliable legacy toolchain. High MDF usage can cloud the lens, requiring frequent focus recalibration.
Bambu Labs H2D Blue Light Laser / 3D Printer 310mm x 250mm 40W 50–100 mm/s 800–1000 mm/s 0.14mm (± 0.02mm) Highly precise with self-calibration. Cannot process transparent materials due to the blue light laser frequency.
Roland CAMM-1 Servo Vinyl Cutter 584mm x Continuous N/A (Blade) Variable (Slower) N/A N/A (Blade cut) Excellent for large roll materials. Lower speed but handles theoretically infinite lengths.