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wiki:groups:lasercutter:operation_manual [2026/03/18 23:29] – Overhauled this page to bring it up to date with the current procedures, hardware, and software. ddqwiki:groups:lasercutter:operation_manual [2026/05/25 17:42] (current) – fix wikilinks amber
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 The single most important aspect of safety when it comes to machinery is respecting the machine. This means taking care of it, being careful in your configuration, testing, and usage, ensuring proper maintenance happens, and closely monitoring its operation. Careless behaviour causes tools to deteriorate fast, which is the primary cause of safety issues. The single most important aspect of safety when it comes to machinery is respecting the machine. This means taking care of it, being careful in your configuration, testing, and usage, ensuring proper maintenance happens, and closely monitoring its operation. Careless behaviour causes tools to deteriorate fast, which is the primary cause of safety issues.
  
-==== FIRE ====+===== FIRE =====
  
 Laser cutters work by heating the material to the point of burning or vapourization. Your job can change in seconds with the accumulation of energy (heat) in your material. **Always monitor your lasing job!**. Fires in laser cutters are very common, the operator must be actively watching the laser whenever it is operating and must be ready at all times to extinguish a fire as soon as it occurs. Remember, [[..:..:admin:policies|VHS House Rule #10]] is **"don't burn down the hack space."** Laser cutters work by heating the material to the point of burning or vapourization. Your job can change in seconds with the accumulation of energy (heat) in your material. **Always monitor your lasing job!**. Fires in laser cutters are very common, the operator must be actively watching the laser whenever it is operating and must be ready at all times to extinguish a fire as soon as it occurs. Remember, [[..:..:admin:policies|VHS House Rule #10]] is **"don't burn down the hack space."**
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 **There is a zero-tolerance policy for leaving the laser cutter unattended while in operation. Laser cutter privileges will be revoked immediately.** **There is a zero-tolerance policy for leaving the laser cutter unattended while in operation. Laser cutter privileges will be revoked immediately.**
  
-==== EYE SAFETY ====+===== EYE SAFETY =====
  
 The VHS laser has an output power of about 80W. This is considered a Class 4 laser device - the most dangerous rating possible. It is in fact 160x the minimum rating for a Class 4 device. This is very, very powerful and dangerous. The VHS laser has an output power of about 80W. This is considered a Class 4 laser device - the most dangerous rating possible. It is in fact 160x the minimum rating for a Class 4 device. This is very, very powerful and dangerous.
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 In short, this is a very dangerous device and must be treated with utmost respect and care. It is absolutely the most dangerous tool most people will ever use. In short, this is a very dangerous device and must be treated with utmost respect and care. It is absolutely the most dangerous tool most people will ever use.
  
-=== TOXIC SMOKE, FUMES, AND PARTICULATES ===+===== TOXIC SMOKE, FUMES, AND PARTICULATES =====
  
 Because the laser works by burning away material, it generates toxic smoke, fumes and fine particulates. The VHS laser has an [[..:..:tools:laserfilter|extraction and filtration system]] to remove these pollutants from the work area. However, it has limitations and does not work instantly. Because the laser works by burning away material, it generates toxic smoke, fumes and fine particulates. The VHS laser has an [[..:..:tools:laserfilter|extraction and filtration system]] to remove these pollutants from the work area. However, it has limitations and does not work instantly.
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 If the air quality is degenerating in the main space (whether the air quality sensors show it or not), you **must** pause and wait for smoke and odours to be extracted before continuing to operate the laser. If the air quality is degenerating in the main space (whether the air quality sensors show it or not), you **must** pause and wait for smoke and odours to be extracted before continuing to operate the laser.
  
-==== SAFETY AND EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT ====+===== SAFETY AND EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT =====
  
 === Safety Glasses === === Safety Glasses ===
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 Inkscape is a good choice for creating files for use on the laser cutter, or converting existing files into formats that can be used, due to its wide variety of import and export formats. Inkscape is a good choice for creating files for use on the laser cutter, or converting existing files into formats that can be used, due to its wide variety of import and export formats.
  
-===== OPERATING THE LASER =====+==== Operating the Laser ====
 ==== TRAINING ==== ==== TRAINING ====
-To use the Laser Cutter, you must be a [[http://vanhack.ca/membership/|member]] of Vancouver Hack Space and complete the [[wiki:tools:laser_cutter:training|VHS Laser Cutter Training]].+To use the Laser Cutter, you must be a [[http://vanhack.ca/membership/|member]] of Vancouver Hack Space and complete the [[wiki:groups:lasercutter:training|VHS Laser Cutter Training]].
  
 ==== AUTHENTICATION ==== ==== AUTHENTICATION ====
-The laser can only be operated by authorized users. Upon successful completion of the training, your membership account on [[NOMOS|https://membership.vanhack.ca]] will be granted Laser Access. +The laser can only be operated by authorized users. Upon successful completion of the training, your membership account on [[https://membership.vanhack.ca|Nomos]] will be granted Laser Access. 
  
 ==== OPERATING THE LASER CUTTER ==== ==== OPERATING THE LASER CUTTER ====
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   - If using a personal computer, connect to the VHS WiFi. You will not be able to access the laser login system if you're not on the local WiFi or Ethernet.   - If using a personal computer, connect to the VHS WiFi. You will not be able to access the laser login system if you're not on the local WiFi or Ethernet.
   - Visit [[https://laser.vanhack.ca|laser.vanhack.ca]]   - Visit [[https://laser.vanhack.ca|laser.vanhack.ca]]
-  - Sign in using your membership.vanhack.ca (nomos) credentials.+  - Sign in using your membership.vanhack.ca (Nomos) credentials.
   - Click the big red "Unlock" button to enable the laser's ON switch   - Click the big red "Unlock" button to enable the laser's ON switch
  
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 The default settings for each operation almost always need to be changed. To change the settings of an operation, double click the layer in the top right layer list. Generally, there are just two setting that need to be selected: power and speed. The default settings for each operation almost always need to be changed. To change the settings of an operation, double click the layer in the top right layer list. Generally, there are just two setting that need to be selected: power and speed.
  
-Some experimentation is often required to get the desired results. Refer to the [[wiki:tools:laser_cutter:settings|Materials and Settings Chart]] for reasonable starting points. It is recommended to bring scrap material that has identical properties (type, thickness, colour, etc.) to what you want to finally lase. Use this scrap to test and verify that the laser cutter, your material, and your design are behaving as you expect.+Some experimentation is often required to get the desired results. Refer to the [[wiki:groups:lasercutter:settings|Materials and Settings Chart]] for reasonable starting points. It is recommended to bring scrap material that has identical properties (type, thickness, colour, etc.) to what you want to finally lase. Use this scrap to test and verify that the laser cutter, your material, and your design are behaving as you expect.
  
 === Power === === Power ===
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   * [[wiki:tools:redsail_cm1080_laser_cutter|Redsail CM1080 Laser Cutter]]   * [[wiki:tools:redsail_cm1080_laser_cutter|Redsail CM1080 Laser Cutter]]
-  * [[wiki:tools:laser_cutter:settings|Laser Cutter Awesomeness Ingredients!]] +  * [[wiki:groups:lasercutter:settings|Laser Cutter Awesomeness Ingredients!]] 
-  * [[wiki:tools:laser_cutter:workflow_tips|General Workflow Tips]]+  * [[wiki:groups:lasercutter:workflow_tips|General Workflow Tips]]
  
 Questions may be directed to the Laser Cutter Committee. Questions may be directed to the Laser Cutter Committee.
  
-  * [[http://wiki.acemonstertoys.org/Laser_Cutter]] +====== REFERENCES ====== 
-  * [[http://www.kwartzlab.ca/wiki/Laser_Cutter]] +  * [[https://learn.adafruit.com/all-about-laser-cutters|Adafruit: All About Laser Cutters]] 
-  * [[http://www.atxhackerspace.org/wiki/Laser_Cutter_Materials]] +  * [[https://wiki.acemakerspace.org/laser-cutting/|ACE Makerspace Laser]] 
-  * [[http://www.ladyada.net/library/laser/maintain.html]]+  * [[https://wiki.kwartzlab.ca/tools/g-weike|Kwartzlab Makerspace Laser]]