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It takes a VERY in-depth alignment procedure to correct this. Take your time, bring a lunch.
 
It takes a VERY in-depth alignment procedure to correct this. Take your time, bring a lunch.
 
Wish I'd bought a Multicam.
 
Wish I'd bought a Multicam.
 +
</pre>
 +
 +
 +
 +
=Smoothieboard config (15-06-2016)=
 +
<pre>
 +
## Robot module configurations : general handling of movement G-codes and slicing into moves
 +
default_feed_rate                            8000            # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for G1/G2/G3 moves
 +
default_seek_rate                            8000            # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for G0 moves
 +
mm_per_arc_segment                          0.5              # Arcs are cut into segments ( lines ), this is the length for
 +
                                                              # these segments.  Smaller values mean more resolution,
 +
                                                              # higher values mean faster computation
 +
 +
# Arm solution configuration : Cartesian robot. Translates mm positions into stepper positions
 +
alpha_steps_per_mm                          158.2            # Steps per mm for alpha stepper
 +
beta_steps_per_mm                            158.2            # Steps per mm for beta stepper
 +
 +
# Planner module configuration : Look-ahead and acceleration configuration
 +
planner_queue_size                          8              # DO NOT CHANGE THIS <- Fuck that. I changed it anyways.  \(^_^)/
 +
acceleration                                300              # Acceleration in mm/second/second.
 +
 +
acceleration_ticks_per_second                1000              # Number of times per second the speed is updated
 +
junction_deviation                          0.05            # Similar to the old "max_jerk", in millimeters,
 +
                                                              # see https://github.com/grbl/grbl/blob/master/planner.c
 +
                                                              # and https://github.com/grbl/grbl/wiki/Configuring-Grbl-v0.8
 +
                                                              # Lower values mean being more careful, higher values means being
 +
                                                              # faster and have more jerk
 +
 +
# Stepper module configuration
 +
microseconds_per_step_pulse                  1                # Duration of step pulses to stepper drivers, in microseconds
 +
base_stepping_frequency                      100000          # Base frequency for stepping
 +
 +
# Cartesian axis speed limits
 +
x_axis_max_speed                            30000            # mm/min
 +
y_axis_max_speed                            30000            # mm/min
 +
 +
# Stepper module pins ( ports, and pin numbers, appending "!" to the number will invert a pin )
 +
alpha_step_pin                              2.8              # Pin for alpha stepper step signal
 +
alpha_dir_pin                                2.13!            # Pin for alpha stepper direction
 +
alpha_en_pin                                4.29            # Pin for alpha enable pin
 +
alpha_current                                1.2              # X stepper motor current
 +
alpha_max_rate                              10000.0          # mm/min
 +
 +
beta_step_pin                                2.3              # Pin for beta stepper step signal
 +
beta_dir_pin                                0.22            # Pin for beta stepper direction
 +
beta_en_pin                                  0.21            # Pin for beta enable
 +
beta_current                                1.2              # Y stepper motor current
 +
beta_max_rate                                10000.0          # mm/min
 +
 +
## System configuration
 +
uart0.baud_rate                              115200          # Baud rate for the default hardware serial port
 +
second_usb_serial_enable                    false            # This enables a second usb serial port (to have both pronterface
 +
                                                              # and a terminal connected)
 +
#leds_disable                                true            # disable using leds after config loaded
 +
#play_led_disable                            true            # disable the play led
 +
 +
pause_led_pin                                1.30
 +
play_led_pin                                0.5
 +
 +
# Kill button (used to be called pause) maybe assigned to a different pin, set to the onboard pin by default
 +
kill_button_enable                          true            # set to true to enable a kill button
 +
kill_button_pin                              1.28^
 +
lid_switch_pin                              1.29^
 +
unkill_button_pin                            4.28^
 +
 +
#msd_disable                                false            # disable the MSD (USB SDCARD) when set to true (needs special binary)
 +
#dfu_enable                                  false            # for linux developers, set to true to enable DFU
 +
#watchdog_timeout                            10              # watchdog timeout in seconds, default is 10, set to 0 to disable the watchdog
 +
 +
# Only needed on a smoothieboard
 +
currentcontrol_module_enable                true
 +
 +
## Extruder module configuration
 +
extruder.hotend.enable                      false
 +
extruder.hotend2.enable                      false
 +
 +
## Laser module configuration
 +
laser_module_enable                          true
 +
laser_module_pin                            1.23! # PWM output
 +
laser_module_ttl_pin                        2.4  # Enable output
 +
laser_module_maximum_power                  1.0
 +
laser_module_minimum_power                  0.3
 +
laser_module_tickle_power                    0.3
 +
laser_module_default_power                  0.2
 +
laser_module_pwm_period                      20
 +
 +
## Temperature control configuration
 +
# First hotend configuration
 +
temperature_control.hotend.enable            false            # Whether to activate this ( "hotend" ) module at all.
 +
temperature_control.hotend2.enable          false            # Whether to activate this ( "hotend" ) module at all.
 +
temperature_control.bed.enable              false            #
 +
 +
## Switch module for fan control
 +
switch.fan.enable                            false            #
 +
switch.fan.input_on_command                  M106            #
 +
switch.fan.input_off_command                M107            #
 +
switch.fan.output_pin                        nc              #
 +
switch.fan.output_type                      pwm              # pwm output settable with S parameter in the input_on_comand
 +
#switch.fan.max_pwm                          255            # set max pwm for the pin default is 255
 +
 +
#switch.misc.enable                          false          #
 +
#switch.misc.input_on_command                M42            #
 +
#switch.misc.input_off_command                M43            #
 +
#switch.misc.output_pin                      nc              #
 +
#switch.misc.output_type                      digital        # just an on or off pin
 +
 +
# Switch module for spindle control
 +
switch.spindle.enable                        false            #
 +
 +
 +
## Endstops
 +
endstops_enable                              true            # the endstop module is enabled by default and can be disabled here
 +
alpha_min_endstop                            1.24^            # add a ! to invert if endstop is NO connected to ground
 +
alpha_max_endstop                            nc              # NOTE set to nc if this is not installed
 +
alpha_homing_direction                      home_to_min      # or set to home_to_max and set alpha_max
 +
alpha_min                                    -3                # this gets loaded after homing when home_to_min is set
 +
alpha_max                                    420              # this gets loaded after homing when home_to_max is set
 +
alpha_soft_max                              420              # Tkkrlab firmware only: software endstop
 +
beta_min_endstop                            1.25^            #
 +
beta_max_endstop                            nc              #
 +
beta_homing_direction                        home_to_min      #
 +
beta_min                                    -3                #
 +
beta_max                                    300              #
 +
beta_soft_max                                300              # Tkkrlab firmware only: software endstop
 +
 +
# optional order in which axis will home, default is they all home at the same time,
 +
# if this is set it will force each axis to home one at a time in the specified order
 +
#homing_order                                XYZ              # x axis followed by y then z last
 +
#move_to_origin_after_home                  false            # move XY to 0,0 after homing
 +
 +
# optional enable limit switches, actions will stop if any enabled limit switch is triggered
 +
alpha_limit_enable                          true            # set to true to enable X min and max limit switches
 +
beta_limit_enable                            true            # set to true to enable Y min and max limit switches
 +
 +
alpha_fast_homing_rate_mm_s                  50              # feedrates in mm/second
 +
beta_fast_homing_rate_mm_s                  50              # "
 +
gamma_fast_homing_rate_mm_s                  4                # "
 +
alpha_slow_homing_rate_mm_s                  25              # "
 +
beta_slow_homing_rate_mm_s                  25              # "
 +
gamma_slow_homing_rate_mm_s                  2                # "
 +
 +
alpha_homing_retract_mm                      3                # distance in mm
 +
beta_homing_retract_mm                      3                # "
 +
gamma_homing_retract_mm                      1                # "
 +
 +
#endstop_debounce_count                      100              # uncomment if you get noise on your endstops, default is 100
 +
 +
## Z-probe
 +
zprobe.enable                                false
 +
 +
## Panel
 +
panel.enable                                true
 +
panel.lcd                                    tkkrlab
 +
panel.spi_channel                            0
 +
panel.spi_cs_pin                            0.16
 +
panel.buzz_pin                              1.31
 +
panel.click_button_pin                      3.26!^
 +
panel.back_button_pin                        1.27!^
 +
panel.up_button_pin                          0.8!^
 +
panel.down_button_pin                        3.25!^
 +
panel.test_button_pin                        1.22!^
 +
panel.blue_button_pin                        2.12!^
 +
panel.yellow_button_pin                      4.28!^
 +
 +
panel.menu_offset                            0                # some panels will need 1 here
 +
 +
panel.alpha_jog_feedrate                    6000              # x jogging feedrate in mm/min
 +
panel.beta_jog_feedrate                      6000              # y jogging feedrate in mm/min
 +
panel.gamma_jog_feedrate                    200              # z jogging feedrate in mm/min
 +
 +
panel.hotend_temperature                    185              # temp to set hotend when preheat is selected
 +
panel.bed_temperature                        60                # temp to set bed when preheat is selected
 +
 +
## Custom menus : Example of a custom menu entry, which will show up in the Custom entry.
 +
# NOTE _ gets converted to space in the menu and commands, | is used to separate multiple commands
 +
#custom_menu.power_on.enable                true              #
 +
#custom_menu.power_on.name                  Power_on          #
 +
#custom_menu.power_on.command              M80              #
 +
 +
#custom_menu.power_off.enable              true              #
 +
#custom_menu.power_off.name                Power_off        #
 +
#custom_menu.power_off.command              M81              #
 +
 +
## Network settings
 +
network.enable                              true            # enable the ethernet network services
 +
network.webserver.enable                    true          # enable the webserver
 +
network.telnet.enable                        true            # enable the telnet server
 +
network.ip_address                          auto            # use dhcp to get ip address
 +
# uncomment the 3 below to manually setup ip address
 +
#network.ip_address                          192.168.3.222    # the IP address
 +
#network.ip_mask                              255.255.255.0    # the ip mask
 +
#network.ip_gateway                          192.168.3.1      # the gateway address
 +
#network.mac_override                        xx.xx.xx.xx.xx.xx  # override the mac address, only do this if you have a conflict
 
</pre>
 
</pre>

Revision as of 17:10, 15 June 2016

TkkrLab Laser Cutter CW3040.jpeg

Usage

Don't use the following materials :

  • MDF,
  • PVC plastic of other material containing chlorine,
  • Teflon or other materials containing fluorine,
  • Rubber,
  • Not recommended Polycarbonate (also known as Lexan, it produces a ugly edge and smokes like crazy).

If you are not sure you can use this diagram to identify the material

ALWAYS keep an eye on your job when the laser is working. Don't leave it unattended.

After each use clean the laser (lens and mirror) with a cotton swab and aceton, do not exert pressure on the lens while cleaning.

Preparation

  • Download Visicut, in version 1.7.9-51 or later you can download under menu 'Options --> Download recommended settings : Select "Netherlands, Enschede: TkkrLab"'
  • For older versions of visicut, download setting for TkkrLab
  • Start visicut and use menu 'Extra --> Install Inkscape Extension'


Steps

Turn on the laser

Switch on the wall & emergency button on the laser.

Put in the material

The table have to be on the right height, on the right there is a red line, the top of the material should align to this red line.

Check settings

Find the right settings of the material you want to use.

CHECK table with settings (power and speed)

Visicut

In Inkscape make something you want to cut. If you have your design done use men 'Extensions --> Lasercut path --> Open in Visicut'

For instructions of visicut check FabLab Berlijn

Select the right material and use the settings table for the right power/speed.

Use EXECUTE to start the laser cutter job.

Visicut settings
Material Speed Power Number of times
Poplars plywood (populieren triplex) 3.5mm 10 100 1
Birch plywood 6mm 4 100 1x?
Acrylic, black 2mm 10 100 1
Acrylic,transparent 2mm 20 100 1
Acrylic, transparent 3mm 10 100 1
Acrylic, transparent 4mm 10 100 2

Burn

Clean the lens and mirror after each job or at least once a day. Use cotton stick with aceton and lightly brush the surface of the mirror/lens.

Specifications

  • New brains Smoothie board
  • Software compatible : Visicut, Inkscape
  • Port : IP
  • Item Code: CW3040
  • Working Table Size: 300 *400mm
  • Laser Tube : CO2 glass Tube
  • Laser Power : 40W
  • Cutting Speed : 0-2000 mm/min
  • Engraving Speed : 0-3000mm/min
  • Resolution : ±0.05mm /1000DPI
  • Motor : Stepper
  • Power Voltage : AC 110-220V±10%,50-60Hz
  • Working Environment : 0-45? 5-95% (humidity)
  • Power consumption : 300W (Total)
  • Table type : Aluminum (Optional upon needs)
  • Coolingmode : Water-cooled system
  • Cutting thickness : 3-4mm (upon materials type)
  • Rotary device : optional
  • Packing Size : 123*79*60cm
  • Gross Weight : 77/kg

No longer valid

  • Software compatible : CorelDraw,AutoCAD,Photoshop
  • Software : CorelDraw (Direct Output)
  • Support Fils : BMP,HPGL,PLT,DST and AI
  • Port : USB 2.0 Plug and play

Controller board

No longer in use we replaced this with a Smoothie clone board.

External Links

If you want to improve the laser check the following links

Box makers

Inkscape boxmaker settings

Kerf 0.600 mm
Clearance 0.450 mm

Maintenance

Clean the lens and mirror after each job or at least once a day. Use cotton stick with aceton and lightly brush the surface of the mirror/lens.

Keep the rods oiled (no WD-40)

I (Duality) Quote:

Never use wd-40 as a lubricant. The primary ingredients in wd-40 are kerosene and mineral spirits, which can be corrosive and are otherwise not suitable for mechanical lubrication.

Also you don´t want a (wd-40) sprayed mirror ;).

focusing: link

how to maintain a laser cutter: maintenance

Water Cooling

If you need to replace the water in the water cooling replace it with Demi water with 10% antivries (in case the room can get < 0c).

Air Filter

  • Transport keep it upright (or let it rest 96 hours).

Replacement parts

  • Laser tube around € 500 (should last between 4000 hours (if you use always full power) - 10000 hours (if you only use engraving).
  • Replacement Air filter : cost € 85 for active carbon, € 200 for the rest (285 of the whole filter)). Expected life 2 years
  • Mirror € 80,=
  • Lens 38 mm € 250,=

Visicut

leg je matteriaal in de lasercutter. Zorg ervoor dat het rode streepje aan de zijkant op dezelfde hoogte is als de bovenkant van je object
Doe de klep nu dicht!
stel het vermogen in op de lasercutter (zie materialenlijst)
druk op start in de engraving manager
De lasercutter gaat nu cutten
Wacht totdat hij klaar is. Let er op dat het materiaal niet gaat vlammen.
Stel het vermogen in op 0%, nu mag de klep open

Inkscape

There is no direct support to use this laser with inkscape, but there is a workaround. You can save to windows .emf file (on mac and windows), this format can be read with LaserDRW. HOWEVER:

  • Using a line width of < 0.13 mm in your designs will result in some of your cutting lines dashed. Using a line width > 0.13 will make the cutter cut all your lines twice. Pick your poison.

Notes:

  • all the paths made in the inkscape file will be followed, so even if you used masks or other things, it is NOT WISIWIG!
  • you can only save to .emf in inkscape in windows. (for linux, you can use the .wmf format, tested)
  • works great what to do to make it work, get the latest version from the inkscape websited, the one in the repo's is way to old and doesn't support saving as .emf
  • if installed open inkscape make your design save it as .emf, be sure to tick the boxs saying: Convert dashed/dotted lines to single lines.
  • make sure that your design has the stroke set to 0.001 mm or else it will do double cute edges.
  • and your good to go!


Dubliner,
I had the same problem on my Vytek.
It's all in the alignment and the point where the beam passes through the nozzle below the focus lens.
The beam (on mine) was grazing the nozzle and reflecting off.
It takes a VERY in-depth alignment procedure to correct this. Take your time, bring a lunch.
Wish I'd bought a Multicam.


Smoothieboard config (15-06-2016)

## Robot module configurations : general handling of movement G-codes and slicing into moves
default_feed_rate                            8000             # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for G1/G2/G3 moves
default_seek_rate                            8000             # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for G0 moves
mm_per_arc_segment                           0.5              # Arcs are cut into segments ( lines ), this is the length for
                                                              # these segments.  Smaller values mean more resolution,
                                                              # higher values mean faster computation

# Arm solution configuration : Cartesian robot. Translates mm positions into stepper positions
alpha_steps_per_mm                           158.2            # Steps per mm for alpha stepper
beta_steps_per_mm                            158.2            # Steps per mm for beta stepper

# Planner module configuration : Look-ahead and acceleration configuration
planner_queue_size                           8               # DO NOT CHANGE THIS <- Fuck that. I changed it anyways.  \(^_^)/
acceleration                                 300              # Acceleration in mm/second/second.

acceleration_ticks_per_second                1000              # Number of times per second the speed is updated
junction_deviation                           0.05             # Similar to the old "max_jerk", in millimeters,
                                                              # see https://github.com/grbl/grbl/blob/master/planner.c
                                                              # and https://github.com/grbl/grbl/wiki/Configuring-Grbl-v0.8
                                                              # Lower values mean being more careful, higher values means being
                                                              # faster and have more jerk

# Stepper module configuration
microseconds_per_step_pulse                  1                # Duration of step pulses to stepper drivers, in microseconds
base_stepping_frequency                      100000           # Base frequency for stepping

# Cartesian axis speed limits
x_axis_max_speed                             30000            # mm/min
y_axis_max_speed                             30000            # mm/min

# Stepper module pins ( ports, and pin numbers, appending "!" to the number will invert a pin )
alpha_step_pin                               2.8              # Pin for alpha stepper step signal
alpha_dir_pin                                2.13!            # Pin for alpha stepper direction
alpha_en_pin                                 4.29             # Pin for alpha enable pin
alpha_current                                1.2              # X stepper motor current
alpha_max_rate                               10000.0          # mm/min

beta_step_pin                                2.3              # Pin for beta stepper step signal
beta_dir_pin                                 0.22             # Pin for beta stepper direction
beta_en_pin                                  0.21             # Pin for beta enable
beta_current                                 1.2              # Y stepper motor current
beta_max_rate                                10000.0          # mm/min

## System configuration
uart0.baud_rate                              115200           # Baud rate for the default hardware serial port
second_usb_serial_enable                     false            # This enables a second usb serial port (to have both pronterface
                                                              # and a terminal connected)
#leds_disable                                true             # disable using leds after config loaded
#play_led_disable                            true             # disable the play led

pause_led_pin                                1.30
play_led_pin                                 0.5

# Kill button (used to be called pause) maybe assigned to a different pin, set to the onboard pin by default
kill_button_enable                           true            # set to true to enable a kill button
kill_button_pin                              1.28^
lid_switch_pin                               1.29^
unkill_button_pin                            4.28^

#msd_disable                                 false            # disable the MSD (USB SDCARD) when set to true (needs special binary)
#dfu_enable                                  false            # for linux developers, set to true to enable DFU
#watchdog_timeout                            10               # watchdog timeout in seconds, default is 10, set to 0 to disable the watchdog

# Only needed on a smoothieboard
currentcontrol_module_enable                 true

## Extruder module configuration
extruder.hotend.enable                       false
extruder.hotend2.enable                      false

## Laser module configuration
laser_module_enable                          true
laser_module_pin                             1.23! # PWM output
laser_module_ttl_pin                         2.4  # Enable output
laser_module_maximum_power                   1.0
laser_module_minimum_power                   0.3
laser_module_tickle_power                    0.3
laser_module_default_power                   0.2
laser_module_pwm_period                      20

## Temperature control configuration
# First hotend configuration
temperature_control.hotend.enable            false            # Whether to activate this ( "hotend" ) module at all.
temperature_control.hotend2.enable           false            # Whether to activate this ( "hotend" ) module at all.
temperature_control.bed.enable               false            #

## Switch module for fan control
switch.fan.enable                            false            #
switch.fan.input_on_command                  M106             #
switch.fan.input_off_command                 M107             #
switch.fan.output_pin                        nc               #
switch.fan.output_type                       pwm              # pwm output settable with S parameter in the input_on_comand
#switch.fan.max_pwm                           255             # set max pwm for the pin default is 255

#switch.misc.enable                           false           #
#switch.misc.input_on_command                 M42             #
#switch.misc.input_off_command                M43             #
#switch.misc.output_pin                       nc              #
#switch.misc.output_type                      digital         # just an on or off pin

# Switch module for spindle control
switch.spindle.enable                        false            #


## Endstops
endstops_enable                              true             # the endstop module is enabled by default and can be disabled here
alpha_min_endstop                            1.24^            # add a ! to invert if endstop is NO connected to ground
alpha_max_endstop                            nc               # NOTE set to nc if this is not installed
alpha_homing_direction                       home_to_min      # or set to home_to_max and set alpha_max
alpha_min                                    -3                # this gets loaded after homing when home_to_min is set
alpha_max                                    420              # this gets loaded after homing when home_to_max is set
alpha_soft_max                               420              # Tkkrlab firmware only: software endstop
beta_min_endstop                             1.25^            #
beta_max_endstop                             nc               #
beta_homing_direction                        home_to_min      #
beta_min                                     -3                #
beta_max                                     300              #
beta_soft_max                                300              # Tkkrlab firmware only: software endstop

# optional order in which axis will home, default is they all home at the same time,
# if this is set it will force each axis to home one at a time in the specified order
#homing_order                                XYZ              # x axis followed by y then z last
#move_to_origin_after_home                   false            # move XY to 0,0 after homing

# optional enable limit switches, actions will stop if any enabled limit switch is triggered
alpha_limit_enable                           true             # set to true to enable X min and max limit switches
beta_limit_enable                            true             # set to true to enable Y min and max limit switches

alpha_fast_homing_rate_mm_s                  50               # feedrates in mm/second
beta_fast_homing_rate_mm_s                   50               # "
gamma_fast_homing_rate_mm_s                  4                # "
alpha_slow_homing_rate_mm_s                  25               # "
beta_slow_homing_rate_mm_s                   25               # "
gamma_slow_homing_rate_mm_s                  2                # "

alpha_homing_retract_mm                      3                # distance in mm
beta_homing_retract_mm                       3                # "
gamma_homing_retract_mm                      1                # "

#endstop_debounce_count                      100              # uncomment if you get noise on your endstops, default is 100

## Z-probe
zprobe.enable                                false

## Panel
panel.enable                                 true
panel.lcd                                    tkkrlab
panel.spi_channel                            0
panel.spi_cs_pin                             0.16
panel.buzz_pin                               1.31
panel.click_button_pin                       3.26!^
panel.back_button_pin                        1.27!^
panel.up_button_pin                          0.8!^
panel.down_button_pin                        3.25!^
panel.test_button_pin                        1.22!^
panel.blue_button_pin                        2.12!^
panel.yellow_button_pin                      4.28!^

panel.menu_offset                            0                 # some panels will need 1 here

panel.alpha_jog_feedrate                     6000              # x jogging feedrate in mm/min
panel.beta_jog_feedrate                      6000              # y jogging feedrate in mm/min
panel.gamma_jog_feedrate                     200               # z jogging feedrate in mm/min

panel.hotend_temperature                     185               # temp to set hotend when preheat is selected
panel.bed_temperature                        60                # temp to set bed when preheat is selected

## Custom menus : Example of a custom menu entry, which will show up in the Custom entry.
# NOTE _ gets converted to space in the menu and commands, | is used to separate multiple commands
#custom_menu.power_on.enable                true              #
#custom_menu.power_on.name                  Power_on          #
#custom_menu.power_on.command               M80               #

#custom_menu.power_off.enable               true              #
#custom_menu.power_off.name                 Power_off         #
#custom_menu.power_off.command              M81               #

## Network settings
network.enable                               true            # enable the ethernet network services
network.webserver.enable                     true           # enable the webserver
network.telnet.enable                        true             # enable the telnet server
network.ip_address                           auto             # use dhcp to get ip address
# uncomment the 3 below to manually setup ip address
#network.ip_address                           192.168.3.222    # the IP address
#network.ip_mask                              255.255.255.0    # the ip mask
#network.ip_gateway                           192.168.3.1      # the gateway address
#network.mac_override                         xx.xx.xx.xx.xx.xx  # override the mac address, only do this if you have a conflict