Summary of Contents for Universal Laser Systems X-600
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X-600 / X2-600 SuperSpeed-600 Laser Engraving and Cutting Systems Safety, Installation, Operation, and Basic Maintenance Manual 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.com...
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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.
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Introduction We would like to thank you for your laser system purchase. Universal Laser Systems, Inc. (ULS) is the pioneer, and highest volume manufacturer, of large field, computer controlled laser engraving, marking, and cutting systems. ULS has devoted years of research and development to further the quality of our products that has resulted in a number of remarkable innovations within the laser industry.
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Specifications System Operating Environment Requirements (user provided) Operating Environment Well-ventilated office (recommended) or clean, light-duty manufacturing Operating Temperature 50ºF (10ºC) to 95ºF (35º C) capable 73ºF (22ºC) to 77ºF (25º C) for best performance Storage Temperature 50ºF (10ºC) to 95ºF (35º C) Operating Humidity Non-condensing Electrical Power...
It also complies with CE (European Community) safety regulations. No guarantees of suitability or safety are provided for any use other than those specified by Universal Laser Systems, Inc. Laser Safety The device contains a sealed carbon dioxide (CO2) laser in a Class I enclosure that produces intense invisible and visible laser radiation at a wavelength of 10.6 microns in the infrared spectrum.
SAFETY The intense light that appears during the engraving or cutting process is the product of material combustion or vaporization. DO NOT STARE AT THE BRIGHT LIGHT OR VIEW DIRECTLY WITH OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS. This device may contain a visible Red Dot Pointer (Class IIIa). DO NOT STARE AT THE RED LIGHT OR VIEW DIRECTLY WITH OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS.
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SAFETY WARNING INPUT POWER: TO AVOID RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK 220 VAC; 50/60 Hz; 15 A ALWAYS DISCONNECT POWER CORD BEFORE REMOVING THIS COVER 221-0020-0 221-0021-0 221-0024-0 D A N G E R CAUTION LASER RADIATION LASER RADIATION - AVOID DO NOT STARE INTO BEAM OR VIEW DIRECT EYE EXPOSURE DIRECTLY WITH OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS...
I N C. Product Identification: X-660, X2-660, and SuperSpeed-660 Laser Engraving and Cutting Systems Manufacturer: Universal Laser Systems, Inc. 16008 N. 81 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Phone: (480) 483-1214 Fax: (480) 483-5620 This equipment Is manufactured in conformity with the following directives:...
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.
Section 2 Installation The following operational guidelines are vital to a safe and productive environment. It is your responsibility to provide a proper operating environment. Damage to the laser system due to an inadequate or improper operating environment is considered abuse and WILL NOT be covered under warranty. In no event will ULS be liable for any damages caused, in whole or in part, by customer, or for any economic loss, physical injury, lost revenue, lost profits, lost savings or other indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages incurred by any person, even if ULS...
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INSTALLATION Exhaust System (user supplied) The exhaust system MUST be capable of supplying a minimum of 500 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of airflow while under a load of 6 inches of static pressure (850m3/hr at 1.5kPa). DO NOT install forward incline, backward incline, in-line, or ventilator fans because these types of air handlers are inadequate and inappropriate for this type of installation.
INSTALLATION Raster to Vector Conversion Software (user supplied) Adobe Streamline or CorelTRACE CAD Software (user supplied) AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT for Windows FONTS (user supplied) True Type fonts ONLY. Do not use PostScript or bitmapped fonts. System Assembly If the doorway is not wide enough to allow to you roll the laser system through it, the system MUST be detached from the cart stand, rotated sideways, passed through the doorway, then re-attached to the cart stand.
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INSTALLATION 6. Locate the cavity where the cables reside. Gently pull the cables upwards and rest them on top of the gray-colored plate as the diagram indicates. 7. Close and re-latch the rear cover. 8. Remove any packing materials or accessories from inside the laser system.
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INSTALLATION Laser Cartridge Installation Before connecting and powering on your system, you must install the laser cartridges. Make sure that your power cord IS NOT plugged in at this time. Press on the backside of the two hinges to release the latches.
INSTALLATION Checking Beam Alignment Open the top door of the laser system. Locate the power cord and plug it into the system and your grounded electrical outlet. International users may need to connect an adapter to the power cord to be able to plug it into their power source. MAKE SURE THAT YOU ATTACH THE ADAPTER CORRECTLY TO THE POWER CORD AND THAT YOUR POWER SOURCE IS PROPERLY GROUNDED (EARTHED) OTHERWISE SERIOUS...
INSTALLATION USB to Parallel Printer Cable Adapter To use this device, you must have one USB port available in your computer or from a USB hub. The laser system does not have a built-in USB port. However, you can use this adapter to connect the USB part of the adapter to your computer (or hub) and the parallel port end to the laser system.
Section 3 System Operation From the control panel menus and buttons to focusing, loading and unloading materials, this section covers the actual laser engraving and cutting process. If you have done so already, power ON your computer and let it boot up completely BEFORE powering ON the laser system otherwise your laser system can “lock up”...
SYSTEM OPERATION UP and DOWN: Moves the cursor up or down in the display. Also used to increase or decrease the value of the number that the cursor is positioned on top of. SELECT and ESCAPE: Depending on which menu you are in at the time, SELECT (left) either enters you into that menu item the cursor is currently on, or it toggles that menu item to display different choices.
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SYSTEM OPERATION MEMORY CONTROL The laser system is equipped with 16 Megabytes standard and is expandable to 32 Megabytes to store downloaded files while the system is powered ON. Eventually the memory will fill up with files that will need to be deleted to free up space for more files. To delete one file at a time, display the desired file by using PREVIOUS FILE or NEXT FILE buttons.
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SYSTEM OPERATION SET FOCUS POSITION Allows you to set the focus position anywhere in the field other than the factory default setting of (1 inch, 1 inch). To change this setting, use the motion control arrow buttons to position the focus carriage in the desired position. Then, bring the cursor down to the YES SAVE POSITION line and press the SELECT.
SYSTEM OPERATION The following menu is only accessible while the cursor is located in either the READY or the FILE DISPLAY menus. It is not accessible if the cursor is in the DOS POWER SETTINGS or the PREFERENCES menus. ORIGIN POSITION Menu (X-Y button) The default origin position is the (0,0) position of the rulers.
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SYSTEM OPERATION Place the focus tool (4) on top of the material (1) and position the focus carriage (3) directly above it. Raise or lower the table so that the flat edge (5) the tool rests against the front side of the focus carriage.
SYSTEM OPERATION AUTOFOCUS Method This option CAN ONLY BE USED WITH QUALIFIED MATERIALS. Qualified materials materials that very flat, non- transparent, non-elevated, and at least 2 inches tall in the Y-axis direction. To activate AUTOFOCUS, go to the "OPTIONS" menu, move the cursor to AUTOFOCUS and press SELECT.
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SYSTEM OPERATION Step 2 - Creating the Graphic Verify that the page size, in your graphic software, matches the ULS printer driver’s maximum page size. We recommend that you always leave the page size set to the maximum for your system and position your graphic accordingly.
SYSTEM OPERATION While the laser system is processing the material, you may stop the process by pressing the PAUSE button and waiting for the system to finish what it was doing and move to the home position (upper right corner). As long as you do not move the material inside the laser system, you can resume processing by pressing the RESUME button.
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SYSTEM OPERATION NOTE: Before describing the complex functionality of the SUPERSPEED, in the following diagram, we demonstrate how a typical single-laser system works. We will then show how the SUPERSPEED builds upon this foundation and utilizes two laser cartridges to operate in a dual laser single mode or dual laser dual beam mode.
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Single/Dual Laser Single Beam Mode In the X-600 model, there is only one laser TOP LASER CARTRIDGE present so the system will always operate in MIRROR Single Laser Single Beam mode.
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SYSTEM OPERATION Dual Laser Dual Beam Mode Only available in the SuperSpeed model, TOP LASER CARTRIDGE in the printer driver, if the “Dual Beam” MIRROR GAS FILLED PLASMA TUBE checkbox IS selected, the system will ELECTRODES separate the two laser beams to produce two separate raster engraving lines and RF ELECTRONICS engrave them at the same time.
Section 4 Basic 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 system, 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.
BASIC MAINTENANCE Cleaning and Maintenance Supplies Soap solution mixture of 1 tablespoon (2 cl) liquid soap and 1 quart (liter) of water in a spray bottle Paper towels Cotton cloth Denatured alcohol (NOT to be used on any painted surface, plastic, or the Top Window) ...
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BASIC MAINTENANCE #2 Mirror To gain access to the #2 mirror, the mirror cover must be removed. Remove the thumbscrew and slide the cover to the right and then lift the cover straight up. Inspect the #2 mirror and clean it only if there is debris present.
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BASIC MAINTENANCE If your system is equipped with Air Assist, using your fingers, rotate the beam window cover counter-clockwise (B) and then off at a 45- degree angle. If the beam window cover is stuck use a 1/16 Allen wrench to loosen or remove the screw (A) and try again. Set the cover off to the side and clean the optic, if necessary.
BASIC MAINTENANCE Adjustments and Lubrication There are no periodic adjustments normally required. The bearings in the motion system will self adjust to take up any clearances as they begin to wear. The belts are fiber reinforced and will not stretch under normal use so that periodic tension adjustment is not necessary. Optical alignment is not necessary because the laser and the #2 mirror are fixed.
BASIC MAINTENANCE Troubleshooting Guide Engraving Quality Problem Possible Cause Possible Solution “Fuzzy” looking raster engraving or small Dirty laser system Clean all optics, rails, bearings and text appears like a “double image” belts Graphic, graphic software, graphic Check to see what has changed. ...
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BASIC MAINTENANCE Raster engraving appears sharp on both Dirty laser system Clean all optics, rails, bearings, belts ends of the engraving but fuzzy in the Check X-axis bearings, drive gear, middle Something is loose idler pulley, belt, and optics ...
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BASIC MAINTENANCE Wavy lines when vector engraving or Running too fast The highest quality vectors are cutting obtained by running less than 5% speed Dirty laser system Clean all optics, rails, bearings and belts Worn or faulty bearings ...
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BASIC MAINTENANCE Operational Focus carriage looses X-axis position Mechanical interference Check if focus carriage makes and slams into the left or right side of the contact with material or other rail during high speed raster engraving objects Dirty laser system Clean all optics, rails, bearings and ...
Section 5 Material Settings 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.
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MATERIAL SETTINGS GUIDE Laser engraving or cutting materials other than those described in this manual can be a safety hazard and can damage the laser system. Damages to the laser system due to neglect, misuse, or operator error ARE NOT covered under ...
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MATERIAL SETTINGS GUIDE NOTE 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.
MATERIAL SETTINGS GUIDE ACRYLIC - CAST AND EXTRUDED LIGHT RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .002” .002” .002” .002” .002” .002” .002” .002” DEEP RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .010” .010” .010” .010” .010” .010” .010”...
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MATERIAL SETTINGS GUIDE 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.
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MATERIAL SETTINGS GUIDE 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.
MATERIAL SETTINGS GUIDE DELRIN RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” VECTOR CUTTING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .060” .060” .060” .060” .060” .060” .060” .060” COMMENTS The laser system can be used to make dies for seal presses.
MATERIAL SETTINGS GUIDE MARBLE RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .003” .003” .003” .003” .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.
MATERIAL SETTINGS GUIDE RUBBER STAMPS RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .030” .030” .030” .030” .030” .030” .030” .030” PERFORATED VECTOR CUTTING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .040” .040” .040” .040” .040” .040” .040” .040” COMMENTS To create a rubber stamp, use the Rubber Stamp Mode the printer driver. In the above example, only one pass is necessary to achieve a deeply engraved rubber stamp.
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MATERIAL SETTINGS GUIDE SIGN VINYL RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” VECTOR CUTTING (KISS CUT) LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” COMMENTS Sign vinyl comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, thickness, finishes, and reflectivity.
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MATERIAL SETTINGS GUIDE 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.
Section 6 Accessories There are optional accessories, not included with the basic laser system, that are available at additional cost. Instructions on how to use these accessories are included in this section. The user can purchase and install all accessories, except Air Assist, which is a factory installed option ONLY. CAUTION: Before attempting to use any accessory, make sure that you have read the entire manual up to this point.
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ACCESSORIES Making the Connections Standard Air Assist style In the left rear part of the system you will find the pressure gauge (1), flow adjustment valve (2), quick release coupling (3), and release lever (4). Push in the release lever and pull down on the quick release coupling to remove it from the machine.
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ACCESSORIES Locate the locking ever (1) attached to both fittings. Push in the lever until it clicks. Attach the larger quick release coupling (3) (1/4 NPT threads) to your compressed air supply line (4). Use Teflon tape on the threads to prevent leaks.
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ACCESSORIES NOTE: Air will always be flowing through the system as long as the compressed air source is turned ON. We recommend installing a shut off valve in between your compressed air supply and the laser system. Before you run your material, we suggest that you adjust your air and/or gas flow. To do this, you must first turn on your compressed air source so that there is flow through the system.
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ACCESSORIES When you press the “Start” button on the laser system, the Air Assist control box will send out a +5 VDC signal through the AUX OUT control wire, which can be used to turn ON the Air Compressor (optional) and will keep the Air Compressor ON until the file completes. This type of control saves electricity, reduces the running time of the compressor, and reduces ambient noise when the laser system is not running.
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ACCESSORIES Once you have set your flow rates for each pathway that you will be using, reset the laser systems control panel so that the “AIR ASSIST” option displays “AUTO”. This will allow your selections in the printer driver to activate the correct solenoid valve choices. Programming the PC Printer Driver The Air Assist option provides printer driver controlled activation and deactivation of solenoid valves that direct the flow through one of three paths with its final destination being the cone.
ACCESSORIES Cone Alignment Check and Adjust (both styles) Power the laser system ON. Open the top door. Position the focus carriage in the middle of the field. Turn ON the red diode laser pointer. Place a piece of paper (1) underneath the cone and observe the position of the red beam (2) in relation to the center of the bottom of the Cone (3) and be sure to check it from the front and side.
ACCESSORIES Removal, Cleaning, and Replacement of the Filter Turn the Air Compressor OFF and unplug it. Unscrew the cover by turning it 1/8 turn counterclockwise like you were unscrewing a jar, and pull down. The clear plastic container might still remain attached to the top. Gently pull this part straight down.
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ACCESSORIES How it Works With the Dual Head installed, the special “Beam Splitter” optic inside of the Dual Head splits the laser beam in half. It reflects one half of the laser beam’s energy down through the focus lens inside the Dual Head and passes the other half of the laser beams power through the beam splitter.
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ACCESSORIES If there is a button head screw located on the top of the Dual Head and or the single head, Beam Tube DUAL HEAD remove it. Pick up the Dual Head tube and note the “L” (Left) and “R” (Right) markings. Install the tube ...
ACCESSORIES Operation NOTE: In the following example, we will assume that your laser engraving system is a “V Platform” that has a maximum engraving area of 24” x 18” Landscape mode. Turn ON your computer (if it is not ON already). Start your graphics program, create a new ...
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ACCESSORIES Open the front door of the laser system and carefully slide the cutting table into the laser system so that its body is ADJUSTABLE MANIFOLD squarely pushed up against the engraving table rulers on the top and the side of the table.
ACCESSORIES Focus Lens Kits There are three optional Focus Lens Kits available other than the standard 2.0”, they are the 1.5”, 2.5”, and the 4.0” kits. Included in these kits are the focus lens, #3 mirror, front plate, thumbscrews, and a focus tool. Different lenses produce different spot sizes and have different focal ranges.
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ACCESSORIES Place the bracket on the table (1). Insert the thumbscrews and washers (2) into the screw holes but do not tighten down completely. Leave the thumbscrews loose enough so that the bracket can slide. 23 24 Place the Rotary Fixture on a flat surface. Using an Allen wrench, attach the two socket head ...
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ACCESSORIES You must now focus on the glass. Power ON the laser system and wait for the display to show “READY”. Press the “Z” button on the control panel and notice that the motion system will align to the centerline of the Rotary Fixture automatically. You will also notice that the left and right arrow buttons will cause the focus carriage to move left and right respectively.
ACCESSORIES In this example our upper limit is about 20500X and the lower limit is 19000X. This translates to 20.5 inches and 19.0 inches respectively because the coordinates are in 1/1000 inch units. We have now set up the glass to be engraved. Close all doors of the laser system, go to your computer, and open your graphics software.