C-200 Laser Engraving and Cutting System Operation Manual Manufactured by: Universal Laser Systems, Inc. 16008 North 81st Street Scottsdale, AZ 85260 USA Customer Support Department Phone: 480-609-0297 Fax: 480-609-1203 Web Based Email Support: www.ulsinc.
Notice This publication and its contents are proprietary to Universal Laser Systems, Inc. (ULS), and are intended solely for the contractual use of ULS, Inc. customers. While reasonable efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of this manual, ULS shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damage in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
Introduction Thank you for purchasing the C-200 Laser Engraving and Cutting System. Years of testing and refinements have made this unit the ultimate compact laser engraving and cutting system. With it’s very small footprint design, large engraving area, incredible speed, and awesome power, the C-200 is the compact laser platform of choice only by true professionals. To begin with, we highly recommend that this entire manual be read before attempting to use the laser system.
Table of Contents SECTION 1 – General and Laser Safety Description of Appropriate Use ........................................................................................ 1-1 General Safety ................................................................................................................. 1-1 Laser Safety ..................................................................................................................... 1-2 Safety Labels ...................................................
SECTION 4 – Computerized Controls Installing the Windows 95/98 Printer Driver ..................................................................... 4-1 Printer Driver Controls...................................................................................................... 4-2 Upgrading the Printer Driver .......................................................................................... 4-11 Upgrading the Firmware...................................................................................
Brass - Painted................................................................................................................. 7-9 Corian / Avonite / Fountainhead .................................................................................... 7-10 Cork ................................................................................................................................ 7-11 Delrin (Seal Press) ..................................................................................................
SECTION 1 Safety This section describes hazards that may occur if the laser is installed or used improperly. WARNING: Failure to follow these guidelines can result in injury to yourself, others, or may cause severe damage to the equipment and your facility. Use of the equipment in a manner other than what is described in this manual may increase this risk. Operation and care of the laser must be followed in strict accordance to this manual.
1-2 Safety • Dangerous voltages are present within the electronics and laser enclosures of this system. Although access to these areas is not necessary during normal use, if it becomes necessary to open one of these enclosures for service reasons please remember to disconnect the power cord from your electrical supply. • Care should be taken when moving or lifting this device. Obtain assistance from 1 or 2 additional people when lifting or carrying.
Safety 1-3 SERIAL #: 02500A DATE : MAY 2000 221-0004-0 221-0007-0 221-0012-0 221-0015-0 221-0016-0 221-0013-0 DANGER ! INVISIBLE AND VISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN OPEN AVOID EYE OR SKIN EXPOSURE TO DIRECT OR SCATTERED RADIATION 221-0017-0 221-0020-0 221-0018-0 WARNING TURN THE LASER SYSTEM OFF BEFORE CONNECTING OR DISCONNECTING THE ROTARY FIXTURE 221-0019-0 221-0021-0 CAUTION LASER RADIATION DO NOT STARE INTO BEAM OR VIEW DIRECTLY WITH OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS CLASS 3A LASER PRODUCT LASER DIODE
1-4 Safety INPUT POWER: 110 VAC; 50/60 Hz; 10 A INPUT POWER: 220 VAC; 50/60 Hz; 5 A 221-0022-0 221-0036-0 Safety Label Locations 221-0012-0 221-0018-0 221-0032-0 221-0034-0 221-0013-0 221-0016-0 221-0016-0 221-0020-0 221-0015-0 221-0004-0 221-0022-0 221-0036-0 221-0007-0 221-0031-0 221-0044-0 221-0045-0 221-0046-0 221-0047-0 221-0048-0 221-0049-0 221-0050-0 221-0051-0 221-0016-0 221-0017-0 221-0021-0 221-0018-0
Safety EU Compliance (CE) L A S E R S Y S T E M S I N C. Product Identification: C-200 Laser Engraving and Cutting System Manufacturer: Universal Laser Systems, Inc. 16008 N. 81st St. Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Phone: (480)483-1214 Fax: (480) 483-5620 USA This equipment Is manufactured in conformity with the following directives: 89/336/EEC 73/23/EEC 89/392/EEC (EMC Directive) (Low Voltage Directive) (Machinery Directive) based on the standards listed.
1-6 Safety FCC Compliance This ULS laser system has been tested and found to comply with Federal Communication Commission (FCC) directives regarding Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). In accordance with these directives ULS is required to provide the following information to its customers. FCC Compliance Statement and Warnings This device Complied with FCC Rules Part 15. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and 2.
SECTION 2 Installation Proper operating conditions are vital to a safe and productive environment. This section describes the ideal environment and setup of the laser system. Failure to operate the laser system within these guidelines can seriously damage the laser system and may cause an unsafe operating environment. Although conforming to these guidelines will greatly reduce the chance of a problem occurring, it does not guarantee it.
2-2 Installation • If electrical power fluctuations, brown outs, or constant power outages are a problem in your area, an electrical line stabilizer, UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), or backup generator might be required. If installing any of these devices, make sure that they meet the electrical requirements of the laser system. • Never remove the ground lead to the electrical cord and plug the system into a nongrounded outlet.
Installation • • The airflow gate is used to control the flow of air for different applications. Some applications, such as deep wood engraving, that produce a large amount of smoke or particulate matter will usually require the gate to be completely open whereas lighter contamination-producing applications, such as paper cutting, may only need small amount of airflow. Also, when the laser system is OFF you can close this gate to prevent the outside environment from entering your laser system.
2-4 Installation Assembling the Laser System • • 5 2 Place the Exhaust Manifold on top of a sturdy table that can easily support 125 lbs. (45 kg). On the underside of the Exhaust Manifold there are four (4) adjustable feet. Adjust these feet, if necessary, so that all four feet contact the table, and tighten the nut that secures the feet from turning. If your table is not level, the feet can also be used to level The Exhaust Manifold.
Installation 2-5 Laser Cartridge Installation • With your finger, press the circular button on the latch and it will pop out. • G ently fold the rear cover up and over the top door. Visually locate the two Mounting Blocks, the Laser Latch, and the Alignment Fork. Locate the small notch in the Alignment Fork. 1) Mounting Blocks 2) Laser Latch 3) Alignment Fork • Observe the “V” groove along the upper and lower part of the Laser Cartridge.
2-6 Installation Slowly rotate the Laser Cartridge making sure that the Alignment Plate is centered in the small gap of the Alignment Fork. Keep rotating the laser until the Laser Latch “clicks” and locks the cartridge into place. Make sure that you do not pinch any wires during this process. It may require some slight force to actuate the latch. • Verify that the cartridge is resting, at a 90-degree angle, and the Alignment Plate is centered within the Alignment Fork. • Plug in the Power Connector.
Installation 2-7 Computer Requirements The following is the MINIMUM required computer configuration. Using a faster computer with more capacity will increase efficiency and throughput. Although using a computer that does not meet our minimum recommendation might be acceptable to you, a faster computer will definitely pay for itself in a short amount of time.
2-8 Installation • Power ON the laser system. After the system finishes initializing, it will “home” itself in the upper right corner of the engraving area. This process takes about 30 seconds. • We will now check if the Laser Cartridge was installed properly. To do this, open the top door and place a small piece of masking tape across the ¾” hole in the focus carriage. Gently rub the tape around the edge of the hole so that you can see the outline of the hole through the tape.
SECTION 3 System Operation This section describes how the laser system functions and will familiarize you with laser system terminology. Think of the laser system as just another output device such as a laser printer, dot matrix printer, or plotter. In fact, the laser system utilizes certain characteristic from each of those output devices.
3-2 System Operation Once a file is sent from the computer, the CPU stores this file in its memory until either a new file is sent (printed) to it, the system gets re-homed which clears it’s memory, or the system is powered OFF. Located on the CPU are standard, computer memory SIMM(s) (30 pin, nonparity, 70 ns) that store the print file as long as the system remains powered ON. Once the laser system receives a print file, that particular file can be repeated as many times as desired.
System Operation 3-3 UP: This button operates the same as the DOWN button except it moves the Z-axis table up. STOP + DOWN: Press and hold the STOP button then press the DOWN button. This button sequence moves the Focus Carriage to the Focus Position whether it is the default (1”,1”) or a new Focus Position that was sent from the Printer Driver. STOP + START: Press and hold the STOP button then press the START button.
3-4 System Operation The CO2 laser beam exits the Laser Cartridge through its output optics, reflects off the #1 Mirror, passes through the Beam Window, reflects off the #2 and #3 Mirrors, to finally pass through the Focus Lens. The #2 and #3 Mirrors and the Focus Lens are all mounted to the Motion System. The width of the laser beam as it exits the tube, called the “Beam Diameter”, is about 4 mm in diameter.
System Operation 3-5 Before you assume that the Laser Cartridge is the source of decreased laser power, consult the Troubleshooting Guide in the back of this manual first to help you determine the exact cause. If, after consulting the Troubleshooting Guide, you cannot resolve the issue or determine the cause of the problem, please contact your dealer or our Customer Support Department directly. 7) Motion System The motion system consists of the mechanically moving parts of the laser system.
3-6 System Operation 9) Exhaust System The operator must provide an extraction system to exhaust smoke, particulate matter, and fumes from the laser system that are produced during processing, to the outside environment. This might require pre-filtering according to city, state, and/or country environmental laws. It is the operator’s responsibility to abide by these laws.
SECTION 4 Computerized Controls This section is dedicated to the computer interface. From installing the Printer Driver to configuring your graphics software, this section will step you through the entire process. Installing the Windows 95/98 Printer Driver The Printer Driver for Windows 95/98 will allow your software program to interface with your laser system. This driver is installed the same way as most other Windows 95/98 printer drivers.
4-2 Computerized Controls Printer Driver Controls The Printer Driver for Windows 95/98 has the appearance of other Windows 95/98 Printer Drivers. A thorough understanding of how Windows 95/98 operates is essential to operating the Printer Driver’s controls. Please refer to your Windows 95/98 manual or online help screen on how to install, operate, and troubleshoot Windows 95/98.
Computerized Controls 4-3 Power / Speed Enter your settings for the Power, Speed, and PPI for each color that you have drawn in your graphic by typing in the numbers. For advice on what settings to start with, please refer to the Material Applications Guide. Color In your graphics software, you can draw your graphic by using up to eight (8) colors so that you can assign a different Power, Speed, and PPI setting for each of those colors that you have drawn.
4-4 Computerized Controls When in Raster mode, it is advisable to use a PPI setting of 500 or higher. If using less, the image resolution of the engraving is reduced. In some rare cases, using less than 500 PPI may produce better results. In Vector mode, any setting up to 1000 PPI may be used. Keep in mind that using less than 150 PPI may result in the pulses being spread so far apart that they may or may not touch one another and give an effect such as perforated paper.
Computerized Controls 4-5 Instead of clicking on a position, you can type in the coordinate into the X and Y position boxes for more precise control. Once you have entered the coordinate, click on Send and it will transmit to the laser system. If you do not want to send a new Focus Position, click Quit or Cancel Resolution This setting is the graphic image resolution of the engraving represented in DPI (dots per inch). There are six DPI settings to choose from 1000, 500, 333, 250, 200 and DRAFT.
4-6 Computerized Controls Add Shoulder When you click this selection, you will notice that the “R” at the top of the Printer Driver Screen will change in appearance, giving you a visual idea of what this selection will do. Choose from the four choices in the drop-down list of Rubber Stamp types, “Normal Rubber Stamp”, “Thick Rubber Stamp”, “Preink Stamp”, and “Super Thick Shoulder” (experiment with each type of shoulder and note the results).
Computerized Controls 4-7 Graphics The selections in this tab are used when printing grayscale images such as JPG, TIF, BMP, and GIF formatted images. DO NOT print color bitmapped images to the laser system. First convert the color image to grayscale in your bitmap editing software. Some color images are very complex and can be very large in file size.
4-8 Computerized Controls Halftone (coarse) This is the same as Halftone (fine) except that the black and white bitmap that is produced has a lower numbered lines per inch screen. Lower numbers will produce less black dots and the size of the black dots will be larger. This is in comparison with the higher numbered lines per inch screen pattern of the Halftone (fine) selection.
Computerized Controls 4-9 After you have become a proficient user of the laser system, you should tune your system. From then on, tune only when necessary. Since different materials may require different tuning settings, you may customize up to three settings based on the type of materials that you process most often. Raster Engraving Tuning (Steps 1-4) A symptom of a system that needs "Tuning" is when you get a slight double imaging when printing small text or characters that appear “fuzzy”.
4-10 Computerized Controls Once you have “Tuned” your machine, you must understand how to use it properly. As an example, let us say that the three customized settings that you “Tuned” your laser system to were “Plastic”, “Wood”, and “Anodized Aluminum”. If you were getting ready to run some wood, simply open or create your drawing and when you go to adjust the laser’s printer driver settings, make sure that you go to the “Tuning” tab and choose “Wood”.
Computerized Controls 4-11 View Tab When using programs such as CorelDRAW and/or AutoCAD, there is usually a “Print Preview” feature that is part of the graphics program itself. Refer to your software program’s manual on how to use “Print Preview”. “Print Preview” can be a very useful tool that can help you determine if you have set up your graphic properly BEFORE trying to print to the laser system.
4-12 Computerized Controls Software Suggestions The following is a list of recommended software programs. We do not endorse any particular software program neither do we guarantee its full compatibility with the laser system. This list is intended to give you an example of the type of software that most of our customers are using.
Computerized Controls 4-13 Page Setup To properly generate and position artwork, most graphics programs will permit the customization of the page size and orientation. Set the page orientation, in your graphics software to Landscape, and the page size to a width of 16 inches (406.4mm) and a height of 12 inches (304.8mm). The page size may also be reduced to match the size of the engraving material, but you must then adjust the page size in the Printer Driver to EXACTLY the same size.
4-14 Computerized Controls If your graphic contains colors other than the ones in the Printer Driver, the driver will attempt to match (map) each color to a color in the driver that it most closely resembles. The driver will then use the mapped color’s power setting, and apply a halftone pattern to represent the graphic color’s shade.
Computerized Controls 4-15 Image Processing Order When cutting or engraving a graphic image, the laser system will perform all engraving first, then proceed to cutting. Engraving will proceed in the exact order of the colors listed in the driver. For example, all black filled objects will engrave first, then all red filled objects, then all green filled objects and so on. When all engraved objects have been completed, the laser system will proceed to cut any outlines present in the artwork.
4-16 Computerized Controls Speed Optimizing It is advantageous to engrave an object in its longest direction because total engraving time will be reduced when the motion system has to make fewer stops and starts. If the engraving object is longer than it is tall, a greater engraving speed can be achieved by rotating the graphic 90 degrees and placing the material in the laser system sideways. Be aware that some graphics programs do not allow the rotation of bitmaps.
Computerized Controls 4-17 Font Requirements True Type We recommend using True Type fonts ONLY. TrueType fonts are the most versatile and should be used whenever possible. They provide the best print quality and will print well at any size. PostScript We do not recommend using PostScript fonts. The laser system is NOT a PostScript printer and therefore has no capability of printing PostScript fonts. Sometimes a PostScript font will print if you are running Adobe Type Manager (ATM).
4-18 Computerized Controls CorelDRAW 8 • Load CorelDRAW into your computer system. • Using Windows Explorer, locate the C:\Corel\Graphics8\Custom\Palettes folder. Place the ULS Printer Driver Disk into your floppy disk drive. Access the floppy drive and find a file called "ULS.CPL" copy this file over to the "Palettes" folder. • While still in Explorer, locate a file called "corelapp.ini" located in the C:\Corel\Graphics8\Config folder. Double-click on the file it will open up in Notepad.
Computerized Controls 4-19 • Draw something or type some text onto the page (we are not going to print it). At the top of the screen, click on "File", then "Print Preview". When the print preview screen appears, click on "Settings", at the top of the screen, then "Driver Compatibility". The only "Settings specific for this driver" that should be selected is "Send bands to driver". All other boxed should be unchecked. Click on "Close" and then "Close" the print preview screen.
4-20 Computerized Controls • While still in the "Options" dialog box, double-click on "Global" to expand the list. Then click on "Color Management" and deselect (no check mark) "Calibrate colors for display". There should be NO check marks at all for this option. Underneath "Color Management", doubleclick on "Printing" to expand the list. Make sure that the laser system's name is displayed in the "Printer" drop-down list.
Computerized Controls 4-21 Pen Colors It is recommended that line and text color be set to any of seven colors within the ULS Printer Driver (black, red, green, yellow, blue, cyan, and magenta). These colors correspond to the AutoCAD standard colors assigned to pens 1 through 7. Colors can easily be changed or checked using the DDMODIFY command. AutoCAD White color corresponds to ULS Black color. Any other colors may cause errors during engraving/cutting.
4-22 Computerized Controls Likely, the print window coordinates will be well outside of the desired X0,Y0 – X16,Y12 coordinates. If this occurs, the file will need to be printed by picking the window rather than typing in the desired window coordinates. Drawing a box on another layer which is set to be “unprintable” and selecting the lower left and upper right endpoints during the Pick Window routine is commonly done to properly place graphics on the laser cutting/engraving area.
SECTION 5 Using the Laser System Step-by-Step In this section we will cover how to completely use the laser system to create a product from start to finish. From powering on everything to removing the finished product from the system, we will cover the entire process step by step. As an example, let’s engrave and cut out a key chain from a 2 by 4 inch, 1/8 inch thick piece of hardwood. WARNING: Before continuing, please ensure that you have completely read and understood the entire manual up to this point.
5-2 Using the Laser System Step-by-Step Material Loading and Positioning The next step is to load and position the wood on top of the engraving table, inside the laser system. Open the top door and position the piece of wood into the upper left corner of the table, against the rulers, as the diagram indicates. Make sure that the position of the wood matches the position of your graphic on your computer screen. Focusing Place you material onto the engraving table.
Using the Laser System Step-by-Step 5-3 Slowly raise the table until you observe the tool either tilting or sliding away from the focus carriage. This will occur when the bottom edge of the focus carriage meets with the top of the beveled edge of the focus tool. The objective is to stop the table at the point where the tool just starts to move or tilt. WARNING: To avoid damage to the Focus Lens, avoid positioning the Focus Tool underneath the Focus Carriage.
5-4 Using the Laser System Step-by-Step A status screen may now appear showing a percentage of completion. Once this status screen disappears, it does not mean that the file is totally in the laser systems memory. If you have the Windows 95/98 print spooler turned on, it can take several seconds to even minutes, depending on your file size and the speed of your computer, before the entire file loads into the laser systems memory.
Using the Laser System Step-by-Step 5-5 When you open the Top Door you will notice that a red dot will appear on the engraving table. If there is a file in the memory and your press the Start button while the Top Door remains open, the Motion System will begin moving as if it is engraving or cutting a file. This feature may be useful to you if you would like to see where the laser will be engraving or cutting before you actually process the material.
SECTION 6 Maintenance Keeping the laser system clean will ensure the highest quality engraving. The frequency of cleaning will depend entirely on the type of material being engraved, the performance of your exhaust blower, the operating environment, and the amount of laser system usage over a given period of time. Dirt or debris that is allowed to build up on the motion system components will cause uneven or rough engraving, or loss of engraving position as well as premature component failure.
6-2 Maintenance NOTE: #2 Mirror Cover and X-axis Motor Cover Plates have been removed for visibility.
Maintenance 6-3 System Cleaning • Turn off and unplug the laser system. • Open the Top Door and thoroughly remove all loose dirt and debris from inside the machine with a vacuum cleaner. • Clean the Engraving Table surface with either a soap solution, alcohol, or acetone, and paper towels. NEVER pour or spray any solution directly into the laser system.
6-4 Maintenance #2 Mirror To gain access to the #2 Mirror, the mirror cover must be removed. Loosen the thumbscrew (it remains attached to the cover) and lift the cover straight up. Inspect the #2 Mirror and clean it only if there is debris present. To clean the #2 Mirror with a cotton swab, moisten the cotton swab with the Lens Cleaning solution supplied with the laser system. DO NOT use other types of cleaners or solutions. Gently roll the cotton swab across the mirror once.
Maintenance 6-5 Tilt the front cover at enough angle so that you can apply the Lens Cleaning solution directly to the #3 Mirror and to the Focus Lens. Flood the surfaces with the solution. If heavy debris is present, let the solution soak in for a minute. Roll a fresh cotton swab across the #3 Mirror to dry it off. Remember that it is okay if a small amount of lint from the cotton swab remains on the mirror. Repeat this procedure for the Focus lens and always use a fresh swab.
6-6 Maintenance Exhaust Plenum Cleaning • Power system OFF. • Remove the Z-axis table. • Remove the two thumbscrews. • Lift the Plenum straight up, off of the hooks, and out of the system. • Clean the Plenum and inside the Laser System. • Installation is opposite of removal. Make sure that the Plenum rests on the hooks. Adjustments and Lubrication There are no periodic adjustments required. The bearings in the motion system will self adjust to take up any clearances as they begin to wear.
Maintenance 6-7 Battery Replacement WARNING: There is a danger of explosion if the battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the battery manufacturer. Using an incorrect battery, recharging or disassembling the battery may present a danger due to fire or explosion. Dispose of used batteries promptly according to the local regulations. Cooling Fan Filters This air-cooled laser system will require periodic cleaning of the cooling fan filters.
6-8 Maintenance Maintenance Schedule Since the maintenance requirements of the laser system is dependent on the type of material being run, the quantity of material being removed, the hours of operation, and the quality of the exhaust blower, it must be user defined.
SECTION 7 Material Applications Guide This section provides sample driver settings and helpful hints to get started engraving and/or cutting the materials listed. Safety • NEVER LEAVE THE LASER SYSTEM RUNNING UNATTENDED FOR ANY REASON. Exposure to the laser beam can cause ignition of combustible materials. All laser cutting and engraving should be constantly supervised. • NEVER OPERATE THE LASER SYSTEM WITHOUT A PROPERLY INSTALLED AND OPERATING EXHAUST SYSTEM.
7-2 Sample Materials • Laser engraving or cutting materials other than those described in this manual can be a safety hazard and can damage the laser system. • The laser system operator is liable for any damages caused, in whole or in part, for any economic loss, physical injury, lost revenue, lost profits, lost savings or other indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages incurred. • Damages to the laser system due to neglect, misuse, or operator error WILL NOT be covered under warranty.
Sample Materials 7-3 When engraving very small objects, top speed cannot be achieved because acceleration and deceleration of the motion system requires time and distance. The laser system will automatically adjust itself to a maximum engraving speed that it can achieve due to the size and position of the graphic. This is why you might notice that there might be no difference in engraving time on certain graphics whether you choose 100% speed or less.
7-4 Sample Materials ACRYLIC - CAST AND EXTRUDED LIGHT RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 70 50 40 35 SPEED 80 80 80 80 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .001” .001” .001” .001” DEEP RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 100 100 100 SPEED 20 27 33 40 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .010” .010” .010” .010” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 10 8 6 5 SPEED 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 PPI 1000 1000 1000 1000 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .010” .010” .010” .
Sample Materials 7-5 COMMENTS There are two types of acrylic available, cast and extruded. Cast turns white or frosted and extruded remains clear when engraved. Use extruded acrylic for paint filled engraving and cast for regular engraving. Cast engraves better without masking. Lightly engrave the surface to frost it with a low power setting such as the first setting listed above.
7-6 Sample Materials ACRYLIC - MIRRORED LIGHT RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 75 55 45 40 SPEED 80 80 80 80 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .003” 003” 003” 003” DEEP RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 100 100 100 SPEED 20 27 33 40 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .010” .010” .010” .010” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 12 10 8 7 SPEED 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 PPI 1000 1000 1000 1000 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .010” .010” .010” .
Sample Materials 7-7 COMMENTS Engraving mirrored acrylic is similar to engraving regular acrylic. The idea is to engrave through the mirrored backing enough to begin to penetrate into the acrylic. Engraving deeply will cause a crusty residue to form just like with non-mirrored acrylic. A double image will appear if engraving on the front side of the mirror. It is not necessary to mask the backside when engraving because the mirrored backing shields the acrylic from smoke damage.
7-8 Sample Materials ANODIZED ALUMINUM RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 90 68 54 45 SPEED 80 80 80 80 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .001” .001” .001” .001” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 20 15 12 10 SPEED 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 PPI 1000 1000 1000 1000 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .001” .001” .001” .001” COMMENTS There is a process called Laser Color Marking which enables the color filling of anodized aluminum.
Sample Materials 7-9 BRASS - PAINTED RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 90 68 54 45 SPEED 80 80 80 80 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .001” .001” .001” .001” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 20 15 12 10 SPEED 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 PPI 1000 1000 1000 1000 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .001” .001” .001” .001” COMMENTS The manufacturing processes for coated brass varies from one vendor to another. Some manufacturers do not polish the brass before coating it.
7-10 Sample Materials CORIAN / AVONITE / FOUNTAINHEAD RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 100 100 100 SPEED 20 27 33 40 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .005” .005” .005” .005” DEEP RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 100 100 100 SPEED 10 13 17 20 PPI 1000 1000 1000 1000 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .015” .015” .015” .015” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 75 60 50 SPEED 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 PPI 1000 1000 1000 1000 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .010” .
Sample Materials 7-11 CORK RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 80 80 80 80 SPEED 30 40 50 60 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .010” .010” .010” .010” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 20 15 12 10 SPEED 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .010” .010” .010” .010” VECTOR CUTTING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 75 60 50 SPEED 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 PPI 100 100 100 100 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .060” .060” .060” .
7-12 Sample Materials DELRIN (SEAL PRESS) RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 100 100 100 SPEED 18 23 29 35 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .015” .015” .015” .015” VECTOR CUTTING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 75 75 75 75 SPEED 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 PPI 200 200 200 200 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .060” .060” .060” .060” COMMENTS The laser system can be used to make dies for seal presses. It can engrave and cut out a typical Notary Seal in less than 5 minutes.
Sample Materials 7-13 GLASS / CRYSTAL RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 COMMENTS: Engrave at 333 DPI VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 100 100 100 SPEED 10 13 17 20 PPI 300 300 300 300 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .001 .001 .001 .001 POWER 10 10 10 10 SPEED 2.0 2.7 3.3 4.0 PPI 300 300 300 300 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .001 .001 .001 .001 COMMENTS Glass engraving is different from other types of engraving. A CO2 laser cannot engrave into the glass nor can it cut glass.
7-14 Sample Materials LEATHER RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 56 42 34 28 SPEED 80 80 80 80 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .001” .001” .001” .001” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 10 8 6 5 SPEED 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .001” .001” .001” .001” VECTOR CUTTING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 50 50 50 50 SPEED 1.0 1.3 1.7 2.0 PPI 200 200 200 200 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .1” .1” .1” .
Sample Materials 7-15 MARBLE RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 100 100 100 SPEED 28 37 46 55 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .003” .003” .003” .003” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 40 30 24 20 SPEED 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .003” .003” .003” .003” COMMENTS Most marble and polished stones will turn white when engraved. Masking is not necessary and light engraving works out better than heavy and deep engraving.
7-16 Sample Materials MAT BOARD RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 90 68 54 45 SPEED 80 80 80 80 PPI 250 250 250 250 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .005” .005” .005” .005” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 40 30 24 20 SPEED 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 PPI 250 250 250 250 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .005” .005” .005” .005” VECTOR CUTTING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 75 60 50 SPEED 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 PPI 200 200 200 200 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .050” .050” .050” .
Sample Materials 7-17 MELAMINE - STANDARD ENGRAVING LIGHT RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 100 100 100 SPEED 20 27 33 40 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .015” .015” .015” .015” DEEP RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 100 100 100 SPEED 14 19 23 28 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .020” .020” .020” .020” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 40 30 24 20 SPEED 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .010” .010” .
7-18 Sample Materials MELAMINE - PHOTO/CLIPART ENGRAVING RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PPI 15 80 30 500 20 80 40 500 25 80 50 500 30 80 60 500 COMMENTS: Engrave unmasked. Use a resolution of 500 DPI. PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .008” .008” .008” .008” RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PPI 15 80 15 500 20 80 20 500 25 80 25 500 30 80 30 500 COMMENTS: Engrave unmasked. Use a resolution of 250 DPI. PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .008” .008” .008” .
Sample Materials 7-19 PLASTIC - ENGRAVERS MICROSURFACED RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 70 50 40 35 SPEED 80 80 80 80 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .003” .003” .003” .003” VECTOR CUTTING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 75 60 50 SPEED 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 PPI 150 150 150 150 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .060” .060” .060” .060” COMMENTS Laser engraveable plastic comes in many different colors, thickness, coatings, and surface textures.
7-20 Sample Materials RUBBER STAMPS RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 (Not recommended) 20 (Not recommended) 25 30 POWER N/A N/A 100 100 SPEED N/A N/A 13 16 PPI N/A N/A 500 500 PASS N/A N/A 1 1 DEPTH N/A N/A .030” .030” PERFORATED VECTOR CUTTING LASER WATTAGE 15 (Not recommended) 20 (Not recommended) 25 30 POWER N/A N/A 60 60 SPEED N/A N/A 1.3 1.6 PPI N/A N/A 90 90 PASS N/A N/A 1 1 DEPTH N/A N/A .040” .
Sample Materials 7-21 SIGN VINYL RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 100 100 100 SPEED 15 20 25 30 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .015” .015” .015” .015” VECTOR CUTTING (KISS CUT) LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 5 5 5 5 SPEED 2.0 2.7 3.3 4.0 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .003” .003” .003” .003” COMMENTS Sign vinyl comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, thickness, finishes, and reflectivity.
7-22 Sample Materials WOOD RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 100 100 100 100 SPEED 20 27 33 40 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .020” .020” .020” .020” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 80 80 80 80 SPEED 2.5 3.3 4.2 5.0 PPI 500 500 500 500 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .030” .030” .030” .030” VECTOR CUTTING LASER WATTAGE 15 20 25 30 POWER 50 50 50 50 SPEED 0.8 1.1 1.3 1.6 PPI 250 250 250 250 PASS 1 1 1 1 DEPTH .125” .125” .125” .
Sample Materials 7-23 Not all wood finishes are created equal. When ordering wood from a supplier, be sure to specify that it is being used for laser engraving. Some finishes cannot handle the heat from the laser and will bubble, blister, and possibly turn white. For engraving softer woods such as pine or balsa, reduce the power settings to acquire the best depth. Engraving too deep on soft woods will reduce quality. Every type of wood will engrave differently.
SECTION 8 Special Applications Guide Rubber Stamps There are two methods used to create a rubber stamp, the single stamp method and the full sheet method. In the following examples will show you the step by step method of creating both a single rubber stamp and a full sheet of stamps. Single Stamp Method WHITE FILLED TEXT WHITE FILLED GRAPHIC To create the artwork and engrave only one or a MIRRORED IMAGE few stamps, set the page size in the graphics program to something smaller than the full field.
8-2 Special Applications Guide Place the stamp (on screen) where you want it to engrave in laser system. Avoid areas where you have already engraved and cut out other stamps.
Special Applications Guide 8-3 Create more stamps to fill the entire page. They can be the same stamp or different ones. If desired, output the page to a paper printer for proofreading. Printing out a positive image to a printer is easier to read and uses less toner or ink than a negative print. In the laser systems printer driver, use the same settings as the previous example but with only minor modifications.
8-4 Special Applications Guide The laser system can print all three types of bitmaps providing that either the driver or the bitmap image-processing program converts the grayscale and/or color bitmaps into a monochrome bitmap. Essentially, the laser system is a monochromatic printer, either it fires the beam to burn a dot or it does not fire the beam to leave an empty dot on the material. There are several different, bitmap storage formats available: TIF, BMP, PCX, and others.
Special Applications Guide 8-5 Color Bitmaps The driver handles color bitmaps the same as grayscale bitmaps. Since color bitmaps use more memory, they are unnecessary and are therefore NOT recommended. Many software programs have a difficult time interpreting large color bitmaps. They sometimes can crash your computer or send scrambled images to the laser system. It is much better to avoid using color bitmaps altogether.
8-6 Special Applications Guide In the first diagram, the numbers represent the variable text that will be merged into the document during the print merge process. Other information can be added around the numbers. After the Corel file has been set up, the text file to be merged must be created EXACTLY in the following format.
Special Applications Guide 8-7 Now the file can be printed to the laser using the Print Merge command. In CorelDRAW, click FILE then PRINT MERGE. A window will appear asking for you to select the text file to be merged. In this example, the file name created was called test.txt. Click OPEN, at which time the print window will appear so that you can select the correct printer, modify the laser parameters for your file and print the file to the laser system.
8-8 Special Applications Guide Different lenses produce different spot sizes and have different focal ranges. For example, the 1.5” lens produces a spot size of .003” and has an effective focal range of +/- .075”. This lens can engrave very fine detail but can only be used on very flat materials. On the opposite end, the 4.0” lens has a spot size of .013” but has an effective focal range of +/- .2”.
APPENDIX
Appendix A - Limited Warranty Please refer to the Warranty Registration Form included with your shipment.
Appendix B - Specifications Model Number C-200 Resolution 1000 x 1000 DPI, 500 x 500 DPI, 333 x 333 DPI, 250 x 250 DPI 200 x 200 DPI, Draft Computer Interface Windows 95 or 98 Work Area 16” x 12” (406.4mm x 304.8mm) Table Size 16.7” x 13” (424.2mm x 330.2 mm) Maximum Part Size 16.7” (424.2mm) wide x 13” (330.2mm) deep x 4” (101.6mm) tall Laser Source 15, 20, 25, 30, Quick Change Laser Cartridge Lenses Available Focal Length / Spot Size / (Standard or Optional) 1.5” (38.1mm) / 0.003 inches (.
Appendix C – Troubleshooting Guide Engraving Quality Problem “Fuzzy” looking raster engraving or small text appears like a “double image” Fine detail is missing such as the serif’s of characters or thin lines of script fonts when raster engraving Vertical or diagonal background pattern present when raster engraving large areas and/or large amounts of material • • Possible Cause Dirty laser system Graphic, graphic software, graphic software setup, color palette, monitor display colors, or driver setting
Engraving disappears, becomes “lighter”, or appears “choppy” when raster engraving within ½ inch of Yaxis ruler Raster engraving appears sharp on both ends of the engraving but fuzzy in the middle Engraving does not appear as deep as it normally does • • • • • Dirty laser system Something is loose • • • System needs tuning • • Worn X-axis belt and/or drive gear • • • • Tickle setting too low Faulty laser tube Graphic, graphic software, graphic software setup, color palette, monitor display col
Engraving appears “halftoned” and not solidly filled when using colors other than black • Graphic, graphic software, graphic software setup, color palette, monitor display colors, or driver settings have changed • Wavy lines when vector engraving or cutting • Running too fast • • • Dirty laser system Worn or faulty bearings • • • Arm is out of square • • Firmware needs to be updated • • Angled cuts are a normal condition if they are equal on all sides of the object.
Operational When printing to the laser system, the computer gives an error message “Printer out of paper” or “Printer offline and not responding” • • • Laser not powered on Laser System is running a file The print file is too large for memory installed in laser system • The Laser System has errors in the stored print file Parallel port cable not connected or not connected properly Bad parallel port in computer system • Focus carriage looses X-axis position and slams into the left or right side of the
Appendix D - How To Get Help Step 1: Determine exactly what the problem is. Refer to the Troubleshooting Guide for a possible solution. Step 2: Try to recreate the problem and write down the circumstances in which the problem occurred. Be prepared to describe all pertinent information about the computer being used with the laser cutting and engraving system such as software, operating system and computer type. Have the serial number of the laser system available.
