Editing Laser Cut Gainesville Hackerspace Keychains

Keychains are a great gift to give guests visiting the Hackerspace, and it is a great project to learn how to use the laser cutter. The GCode has already been created for a few different sizes of acrylic, so if you want to skip straight to cutting you can start with [[#Premade Gcode Files|Premade Gcode Files]].

Created by [[User:choffman|Christopher Hoffman]] in January 2017.
[[File:HackerspaceKeychains.jpg|border|right|400px|4 Keychains with Acrylic Paint]]
[[File:KeychainsInHolder.jpg|border|right|350px|Keychains in Holder]]


==Creating Toolpaths in CamBam==
<Coming Soon>


==Premade Gcode Files==
GCode files have already been created for the following sizes of acrylic. Simply cut a piece of acrylic to one of the sizes (a bandsaw works great for that), and use the files listed.

=== 196mm x 156mm, 0.008" thickness. 15 count, 1h 20m cut time===
Creates 15 keychains with Rulers. Uses the (-3,-3)mm jig.
File locations: 
* /machinekit/Desktop/Hackerspace Keychains/Ruler_15count_196x156mm_0pt008in_Engrave.nc
* /machinekit/Desktop/Hackerspace Keychains/Ruler_15count_196x156mm_0pt008in_Cut.nc


==How to cut using the Laser Cutter==
For more detailed steps, see [[K40_Laser_Cutter]].

====Setting up the machine:====
# Turn on power strips connected to the laser cutter
# Ensure water is flowing through pump below the cutter
# Turn on main motor power with the main red rocker switch on the cutter
# *Check that laser is off* by making sure the laser button is up
====Insert Acrylic into Laser Cutter====
# Insert the (-3,-3)mm Jig into the laser cutter
# Remove any film from both sides of the acrylic to be cut
# Insert the acrylic into the laser cutter, making sure to press the corner tight against the (-3,-3) jig.
====Loading Gcode for Engrave Step====
# Connect to the laser cutter by using VNC on a desktop (or laptop), and connecting to the IP Address of the laser (should be 192.168.1.16).
# Start linux CNC by clicking on the LinuxCNC icon on the desktop, and select *execute*
# Click the '''folder''' icon, and find the *_Engrave.nc file for your acrylic size
# Enable machine power in Linux CNC by clicking the yellow '''Machine Power''' icon in the top toolbar
# Home Laser Cutter by clicking the '''Home All''' button.
====Starting Engrave Step====
# Set the laser's power level to ~2.5mA, which is about 9 o'clock on the power knob. Adjust slightly if needed.
# Press laser engage button down to enable the laser. '''Make sure you are wearing polycarbonate safety glasses from this point on.'''
# Click the '''Run''' button in LinuxCNC to start engraving.
====Loading Gcode for Cut Step====
# Once engraving is finished, load the cut step by clicking the '''folder''' icon, and find the *_Cut.nc file for your acrylic size
# Set laser power 10mA, which is just before midnight on the power knob
# Click the '''Run''' button in LinuxCNC to start cutting.
====Final Steps====
# Turn off laser by making sure the laser button is up
# Remove keychains and cut acrylic from the laser
# Close LinuxCNC, close VNC viewer.
# Turn off power strip for the laser

[[Category:Projects]]
[[Category:Laser Cutter]]
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 GCode files have already been created for the following sizes of acrylic. Simply cut a piece of acrylic to one of the sizes (a bandsaw works great for that), and use the files listed.
-All files can be found on the Laser Cutter, in the following directory:
+=== 196mm x 156mm, 0.008" thickness. 15 count, 1h 20m cut time===
-* /home/machinekit/Desktop/Hackerspace Projects/Hackerspace Keychains/GCode/
-=== 132mm x 132mm, 0.08" thickness. 8 count, 40m cut time===
 Creates 15 keychains with Rulers. Uses the (-3,-3)mm jig.
 File locations:
-* Ruler_8count_132x132mm_0pt08in_Engrave.nc
+* /machinekit/Desktop/Hackerspace Keychains/Ruler_15count_196x156mm_0pt008in_Engrave.nc
-* Ruler_8count_132x132mm_0pt08in_Cut.nc
+* /machinekit/Desktop/Hackerspace Keychains/Ruler_15count_196x156mm_0pt008in_Cut.nc
-=== 196mm x 104mm, 0.08" thickness. 9 count, 50m cut time===
-Creates 15 keychains with Rulers. Uses the (-3,-3)mm jig.
-File locations:
-* Ruler_9count_196x104mm_0pt08in_Engrave.nc
-* Ruler_9count_196x104mm_0pt08in_Cut.nc
-=== 196mm x 130mm, 0.08" thickness. 12 count, 1h 5m cut time===
-Creates 15 keychains with Rulers. Uses the (-3,-3)mm jig.
-File locations:
-* Ruler_12count_196x130mm_0pt08in_Engrave.nc
-* Ruler_12count_196x130mm_0pt08in_Cut.nc
-=== 196mm x 156mm, 0.08" thickness. 15 count, 1h 20m cut time===
-Creates 15 keychains with Rulers. Uses the (-3,-3)mm jig.
-File locations:
-* Ruler_15count_196x156mm_0pt08in_Engrave.nc
-* Ruler_15count_196x156mm_0pt08in_Cut.nc