Basic cutting with the Glowforge - Amazon Web …...Basic cutting with the Glowforge This tutorial will teach you how to cut a design out on the Glowforge laser cutter. Written By:

Basic cutting with the GlowforgeThis tutorial will teach you how to cut a design out on the Glowforge laser cutter.

Written By: Matt P. Lamparter

Basic cutting with the Glowforge Release: Fume Extraction Update [minor] 2019-04-04Guide ID: 46 -

This document was generated on 2019-10-02 11:42:53 AM (MST).

© 2019 bucknellmakers.dozuki.com/ Page 1 of 20

INTRODUCTION

The Glowforge laser cutter is different from most other equipment in the Maker-E in that you can useit from any computer in the space, ideally from ones that aren't already attached to other machines.If a computer is open, you can log in and start working on designs without even going intoFabrication.

The purpose of this tutorial is to teach you how to take a photo or drawing of yours and transfer it(via engraving) onto a different material, like wood, acryllic, cardboard or other things that you maywant engraved.

NOTE: Do not attempt to cut or etch metal, PVC and/or anything you cannot identify yourself. Do notrun the laser cutter while the ventilation system is off.

You MUST remain in the makerE while using the glowforge. The glowforge is a fire hazardand must watched while in use. If you must leave, you need to pause your cut, or have atechnician, Matt, or another user watch the machine in your absence. This person must notleave until the cut is finished or you return.

Published by Matt P. Lamparter with contributions from Jack W. Lukens and Owen Meng.




Step 1 — Fire Extinguisher

In case if the laser cutter is caughton fire, there is a fire extinguisher onthe wall.

Due to the fire risk, the glowforgeMUST NOT BE LEFTUNATTENDED!! Leaving theglowforge unattended is a violationof the makerE user agreement




Step 2 — Turn on the laser cutter

The on/off switch for the Glowforge laser cutter is located on the back of the cutter next to the plugon the right side.

Flip this switch and wait for the laser cutter to turn on. The lights inside the cutter should all lightup.

Upon turning on the cutter, the laser cutting head will move towards the center of the cutting board,to the left, and then back up. It is a good idea not to lift the lid while this is happening, or while thelaser head is moving in general.




Step 3 — Turn on the ventilation system

To turn on the ventilation system, gently turn the black knob located behind the reflow ovenclockwise

Don't turn the knob too much. The fan is on the hightest setting right after you feel the click. If youover turned it too much, please turn it back gently.

Step 4 — Log in to Glowforge

The link to log in is here:https://glowforge.com/login




https://glowforge.com/login

Step 5 — Prepare your cut

Whatever you're engraving, makesure that it is dark and clear.

Make sure that there is a crisp, clearoutline of where you want to cut theengraving out. This is important.

It is a good idea to open a photo-editing software and make theimage black and white and turn upthe contrast. (For example, inpaint.net, select the "Adjustments"drop-down list and select "Black andWhite" and then"Brightness/Contrast" and slide the"Contrast" scale all the way to 100)It's useful for later steps.

For this tutorial, Angry_Bison.pnghas been prepared. Link here:https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folde...

To generate your personal file, referto the Inkscape tutorial: Generatinglaser cut files with Inkscape




https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1B-x9RWmt4mGpyf2TefPPakLL3j8qzvE7

https://bucknellmakers.dozuki.com/Guide/Generating+laser+cut+files+with+Inkscape/65

Step 6 — Print your image

Print whatever you are try to make with the laser cutter out onto a white sheet of paper as centeredas you can make it without cropping parts of the image off.

Try not to make the image too big. If you do, it will wrinkle and complicate further steps. Do notworry about resolution too much, especially if you increased contrast.

For Angry_Bison.png, print it out in wallet orientation (9 copies on one page) in order to place theimage in the center of the page at a size that it won't wrinkle. (You can also accomplish this byplacing only 5 copies)




Step 7 — Place printout

Open the lid of the laser cutter and place your image on the board.

It is a good idea to not open the lid of the cutter if the laser head is moving.

It's also a good idea to secure your image to the bed of the laser cutter with the blue tape from thePCB Mill. You can find it in the drawer just underneath the Mill.

Close the lid after you have done this.




Step 8 — Locating your photo

Once you have logged in, you should be at https://app.glowforge.com/. Click "Trace" at the top-leftof the webpage, next to "New Design".

You should see camera feed of the laser cutter board with your image on it.

The image you see in the camera feed is overexposed compared to natural light. This is why it isrecommended that you turn up the contrast of your image.




https://app.glowforge.com/

Step 9 — Selecting your image

Glowforge will ask you to drag a square around the artwork that you want to trace.

Click and hold the left mouse button at one of the corners of your image (or further out) and dragthe cursor until whatever you wish to cut out is fully selected.

Next, Glowforge will ask for you to set the boundaries of the image. Click the outline of where youwant the image to be cut out and whatever white space outside the outline you do not want toinclude.

If you did not add in a clear outline for where the image would be cut, then you will have to go backand do that. Otherwise your image will not be cut out properly.

Once you've set up the trace to be cut, hit "Place Artwork" in the upper right corner of thewebpage.




Step 10 — Preparing non-Proofgrade Baltic Birch

If you are cutting a non-Proofgrade Baltic Birch (plywood that doesn't have a QR code), you maywant to add a protective layer to prevent burnt marks on your design

You may use the tape next to the pile of woods to do so. Simply apply it over your wood, and cutthe edges with a scissor

Scissors can be found near the Vinyl Cutter

Step 11 — Adding the material

Once the design has beenregistered and shows up as coloredlines, open the lid of the cutter(granted the cutting head isn'tmoving) and remove your image.

Find the material you wish toengrave/cut your design into (eitheron the big yellow DeWalt cabinet orwith you) and place it on the cuttingboard. Close the lid of the cutter.




Glowforge and the laser cutter scanthe QR code (the square symbolprinted on the material) to determinewhat material it is. This willautomatically set the settings for thecutter regardingcutting/engraving/etc. There is noneed to do anything manuallyunless you are using a material thatis not marked with a QR code.

There is a chance that Glowforgewill not recognize your materialdespite the QR code being visible inthe camera. Make sure that thecode is clean and legible. It maytake some moving the materialaround in order for it to register thecode. A good practice is moving thematerial away from the back of thecutter.

Make sure the material is completelylevel before you print the design.




Step 12 — Adjusting your image

Granted that the material has beenregistered, move the design aroundon the board and fit it to the material,or whatever size you wish(whichever is smaller).

It is good practice to conserve spaceon the material that you are cuttingfrom. If you're using a brand newpiece of material, for instance, don'tcut out your design from smack dabin the middle of the board. If there isa corner of the material that you cancut it from, cut it from there.

Be wary of placing your designridiculously close to the edge of thematerial. If you do so, there's a goodchance of flare-ups. You do notneed to worry about this if younormally place your material acouple millimeters away from theedge.




Step 13 — Turn on the Fume Extractor

Before you print, turn on the fume extractor to pull away smoke and gasses from the cuttingprocess.

Flip the switch on the blue panel to the left of the machine labeled Glowforge Fume Extractor ,and make sure you hear a loud fan noise.

You must turn the extractor on in before every cut. If you are doing multiple jobs, you can turn it offbetween jobs, but you must turn it back on before pressing the print button.




Step 14 — Confirming the print

Once you have laid out your design where you want it on the board, look to make sure in the upperright hand corner of the webpage that it says "Ready"

Before hitting print, verify that the fume extractor is on. Check that the switch to the left of themachine labeled Glowforge Fume Extractor is on.

If it doesn't say this, that means that it doesn't recognize the material. Move the material arounduntil it does.

Before you hit "Print", check to make sure that what you want to be engraved is set to be engravedand what you want cut out is set to be cut out. You can confirm this by looking at the left side of thepage, where it lists the various parts of the design with photos and their assignments ("cut","engrave", etc.). Make sure everything matches up.

Once everything checks out and you are ready to print your design, click "Print" in the upper righthand corner of the page.

After doing this, it will scan your design, generate a path, and give an estimate of when it will bedone.




Step 15 — Cutting the design

When everything has checked out and you are satisfied with the print time and the pathing, headover to the laser cutter.

Make sure that the ventilation system hooked up to the cutter is working and the lid is closedbefore you start printing. This is very important.

Press the big glowing button on the top of the printer when you are ready to print. It will start cuttingfrom there.

It is recommended that you stay with the laser cutter for the duration of the cut. If you need to leavefor a prolonged period of time, then don't start until you get back.




Step 16 — Removing the design when finished

After the cut is finished, the laser cutter will move back to the upper left side of the bed. Thisindicates that your print is done.

Do not lift the lid of the laser cutter until the ventilation system stops ventilating, AKA when it stopsbeing loud. Do not shut off the ventilation system prematurely.

Lift the lid and remove the design, making sure to be aware of the cutting head and the fact thatyour design is no longer attached to the larger piece of material.

Now that you are not cutting, you can turn off the fume extractor by flipping the switch on the bluepanel that you used to turn on the fume extractor. If you do another cut, turn the extractor back onbefore pressing the print button

If you are having trouble removing the material, you can open the bottom lip attaching to the lid atthe front of the cutter and slide the material out.

If you are working with wood, there is a good chance that as you move the design/material, you willsee smoke. Do not worry too much about this.




Step 17 — Cleaning up

When you have removed your design and the excess material, make sure to place the excessback where all the laser cutter material is unless you are using your own custom material.

Clean the bed of the cutter for other people to use in the future.

Do not worry too much if a bit of material has fallen through the grating of the laser cutter bed. Ifyou want to remove it regardless, you can take out the bed by opening the bottom lip at the frontand lifting the bed out using the tab in the front.

Close the lid of the cutter and turn it off when you are done cleaning up.

Also, turn off the ventilation by turning the knob counterclockwise.




Step 18 — Polishing your design

The material used to cut out yourdesign is covered in both the frontand the back by a covering thatprotects the material and, whenpeeled away, makes cut-outsappear cleaner. Peeling this layeraway is optional, but if you want todo it anyways it would be the finalstep.

A good practice for removing thecovering would be to use either yourfingernail or an X-ACTO knife.

If you are using an X-ACTO knife,be careful not to damage the designand more importantly make sure youdon't cut yourself in the process.

If your design was cut out in maplewood, you may want to wash yourhands after removing the covering.The laser cutter leaves the coveringfor the wood sticky at some points,leaving your fingers sticky andorange after removing the covering.




Step 19 — Complete

Congratulations! You have just cutout your first design on theGlowforge laser cutter.




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Basic cutting with the Glowforge - Amazon Web …...Basic cutting with the Glowforge This tutorial will teach you how to cut a design out on the Glowforge laser cutter. Written By: