Laser Operation Class: Difference between revisions

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===Description===
===Description===
In order to use the laser cutter, you must first take the Laser Operation Class from one of the ATX members that have been designated as an instructor to teach the course.  The course takes an hour, and has a lab material fee.  Once you have taken the course, you can schedule time on and operate the laser cutter.
In order to use the laser cutter, you must first take the Laser Operation Class from one of the Knox Maker's member that have been designated as an instructor to teach the course.  The course takes an hour, and has a lab material fee.  Once you have taken the course, you can schedule time on and operate the laser cutter.


You will learn:
You will learn:


* How to safely start up and shut down the Laser Cutter
* How to safely operate the Laser Cutter hardware.
* How to load and unload material
* Installation, design, and exporting gcode using Inkscape and the KMLaser bundle.
* Theory of how the laser cutter works, and what materials you can/can't use
* Importing your gcode to the Laser Cutter.
* Setting up, importing, and drawing files in Inkscape
* Controlling the laser with LinuxCNC.
* Learning how to deal with different materials:
* Recommended settings to cut and engrave various materials.
** Mat board
* How to raster engrave images.
** Corrugated Cardboard
** Foam core
** Acrylic
** Glass
* Setting up Inkscape to vector cut / vector engrave / raster
* Download laserable objects from Thingiverse


===Cost===
===Cost===

Revision as of 23:43, 25 September 2014

Instructors

The following people have been designated by our laser cutting SME as having appropriate knowledge about the safe operation of our laser cutter to provide training to others.

  • Jondale Stratton
  • Andy Lautner
  • Brian Manifold
  • Doug Laney
  • Issac Merkle


Description

In order to use the laser cutter, you must first take the Laser Operation Class from one of the Knox Maker's member that have been designated as an instructor to teach the course. The course takes an hour, and has a lab material fee. Once you have taken the course, you can schedule time on and operate the laser cutter.

You will learn:

  • How to safely operate the Laser Cutter hardware.
  • Installation, design, and exporting gcode using Inkscape and the KMLaser bundle.
  • Importing your gcode to the Laser Cutter.
  • Controlling the laser with LinuxCNC.
  • Recommended settings to cut and engrave various materials.
  • How to raster engrave images.

Cost

$15 per student.

Duration

One day, one hour course

Class Size

Number of students depends on classroom space, possibly 10-20 students.

Prerequisites

Basic electronic theory will be helpful, although there will be a review.

Further Information

See the Laser Cutter Materials page for general information.

The basic class provides an overview of the machine itself, what materials you can and can't use, and basics of operation.

You will be provided 3 6x6" (roughly) pieces of material: poster paper, plywood, and acrylic. The poster paper and acrylic are utilized in two exercises during class time, and the wood is left for you to experiment with on your own.