Fiber Laser
General Information
The Purpose of this page is to give a more in-depth look at the Fiber Laser.
If you have any issues with Clean Room equipment, the slack channels associated with this space include: #general, ##general, #shop-3d-printing, and #shop-laser.
Orientation
Note: Much of our orientation for the fiber laser is based off a base level of understanding gathered while taking our CO2 Laser orientation - we recommend you check out that page as well!
Laser Overview
Laser Control Box
"Red Light" Button: Toggle Button that activates and deactivates the red dot pointer and framing from the laser head. This should always stay on.
Power Switch: Vertical is power off and should be turned off after use to conserve the laser. Turn the key to the right to turn the unit on. Do not remove the key; if key is removed, then it is out of service and a sign will be placed at the station.
E-Stop / Emergency Button: Immediately removes power to the laser head. Push in to activate and turn counterclockwise and pull out to deactivate.
Cooling Fans: Keeps controller cool during operation, you should hear these fans when you start and run the machine.
Fiber Optic and Communications Cable: Large cable at the bottom, this cable houses the fiber optics and communication from the controller to the laser head. DO NOT bend, pinch or damage this cable in any way!
Rotary Port: Cable from rotary to controller is plugged into this port.
Foot Switch Port: Cable from foot switch to controller is plugged into this port.
Laser Head Assembly
Laser Head Slide (1): Electrically driven slide that raises and lowers the laser head for focusing. Controlled by the handheld or foot switch controllers.
Laser Head Assembly (2): Moves vertically up and down to focus the laser head via the handheld or foot switch input devices.
Fiber Optic and Communication Cable (3): This cable houses the fiber optics and communication from the controller to the laser head. DO NOT bend, pinch or damage this cable in any way!
Enclosure (4): Protects operator from reflected or scattered beam.
Base Plate (5): Support for machine and platform for your product to be lasered.
Focus Controller
Slide Up: Moves the laser head up and away from the base plate.
Slide Down: Moves the laser head down and closer to the base plate.
Enclosure Interior
Fixturing Plate: used for fixturing and aligning your material. Hardware available inside the enclosure - try designing your own for something specific!
Laser Head / Focusing Lens: Laser comes through this lens and is focused onto your material. Height controlled by handheld focusing controller and set by operator.
Red Dot: Shows where and what will be applied to your product when used with the framing tool in Lightburn.
Exhaust Port: Pulls dust and fume from the enclosure (and the clean room). Please turn on before running the laser!
Focusing the Laser
- Manually hold the scale on the top of the material for focusing, ensuring you do not damage your material
- Refer to the Focusing Line labeled on the head of the laser. The bottom of this tag is the point you use on the scale for focusing purposes
- Focus Lengths:
- 100mm Lens - 285mm focus distance
- 200mm Lens - 436.5mm focus distance
- Make sure to choose your appropriate fixture method before focusing, as it may increase the height of the material from the laser bed!
Focusing Lens: The lenses can be removed to go to a different lens, or for periodic cleaning. Be careful, lens is heavy!
Lefty loosens, righty tightens
Lightburn Notes
There are some important differences when using Lightburn with a fiber laser, when compared to use it with our CO2 Laser:
Origin (1): The fiber laser uses universal coordinates. Origin is in the center. Where you place is it where it will be on the plate.
Material Library (2): Crucial for setting your material settings correctly. Contains good starting points for supported material. Material safety notes from CO2 Laser also apply.
Frame (3): Essential for checking where the engrave will occur. Engraving can be started from this dialog as well.
Device (4): Set to “Makerspace MOPA Laser”
Frequency: How many times per second the laser pulses the material.
Q-Pulse Width: How long each pulse lasts
Material Test Generator
Laser Tools > Material Test
- We can use in the built in test generator for determining correct feeds and speeds for new materials.
- This can also be used to test different Frequencies and Q-Pulse, essential for adjusting the color of your mark in Stainless Steel and Aluminum
Beginner Project
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Intermediate Projects
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Advanced Projects
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