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InkSmith Mako User Manual

Co2 laser cutter
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CO2 LASER
LASER CUTTER USER MANUAL

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  • Page 1 CO2 LASER LASER CUTTER USER MANUAL...
  • Page 2 InkSmith cannot be held responsible for any direct or indirect damages, which result from using or working with the products electrical circuits or software described herein. The apparatus must be used only by trained and skilled personnel. This Operation Manual must be read and followed prior to operating the laser machine.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 MACHINE OVERVIEW 1.1 General Acknowledgments......................4 1.2 Technical Specifications......................5 1.3 Machine Info..........................6 2.0 SAFETY 2.1 General Safety..........................7 2.2 Laser Safety Precautions......................8 2.3 Operational Safety........................10 2.4 Approved/Not Approved Materials...................11 3.0 INITIAL SETUP 3.1 What’s Included........................12 3.2 Location Considerations......................13 3.3 Electrical Requirements......................13 3.4 Exhaust Requirements......................13 3.5 Machine Diagram........................14...

  • Page 4: Machine Overview

    1.0 MACHINE OVERVIEW 1.1 GENERAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Please read and follow this Operation Manual carefully before installation and operation of the laser cutting machine. Damage to persons and/or material can result from not following the Operation Manual. Operation of the machine is only permitted with consumables listed in the Approved Materials lists.

  • Page 5: Technical Specifications

    1.0 MACHINE OVERVIEW 1.2 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS...

  • Page 6: Machine Info

    The Mako Laser Cutters are a series of high precision laser cutting machines capable of delivering professional results quickly and efficiently. The Mako Laser Cutters are able to cut and engrave on a variety of materials including wood, cardboard, fabric, leather, and acrylic.

  • Page 7: Safety

    2.0 SAFETY 2.1 GENERAL SAFETY All persons involved in the installation, set-up, operation, maintenance of the machine, must have read and understood the Operation Manual and specifically the “Safety” section. It is recommended that organizations generate a internal qualification process for operating the laser cutting machine. Personnel who complete laser safety training should be recognized with written proof of qualification (see section 6.2).

  • Page 8: Laser Safety Precautions

    To assess the potential dangers laser systems pose, they are classified into 5 safety classes: 1, 2, 3a, 3b and 4. The InkSmith Mako Laser Cutter is a device of class 2 (USA: Class II). This is guaranteed by the protective housing and the safety installations. Please note that improper operation of the device can override the status of safety class 2 and can cause the emission of harmful radiation.
  • Page 9 • If you detect such effects on the protection cover, immediately turn off the laser machine and contact InkSmith to get a new protection cover.

  • Page 10: Operational Safety

    2.0 SAFETY 2.3 OPERATIONAL SAFETY As the machine fully encloses the beam and ventilation protects the user from smoke and vapours created during operation of the machine, no special personal protective equipment is required to operate the Laser Cutter. However, it is mandatory to have a fire extinguisher nearby at all times during operations, and that all operations are performed under the direct supervision of a person trained in Fire Safety and the use of fire extinguishers.

  • Page 11: Approved/Not Approved Materials

    2.0 SAFETY 2.4 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED MATERIALS Never use the laser cutter on materials that are not on the approved list for cutting/etching/engraving. Toxic fumes and/or risk of fire may result. Approved Materials: NOT Approved Materials: • Acrylic • - Cast–good for engraving •...

  • Page 12: Initial Setup

    3.0 INITIAL SETUP 3.1 WHAT’S INCLUDED 1. Mako Laser Cutter 2. CO2 Tube 3. Water Cooling Unit 4. Air Pump 5. Exhaust Hose 6. Hose Clamps 7. USB Cable 8. Ethernet Cable 9. Heavy Duty Electrical Tape 10. Flexible Water Tubing 11.

  • Page 13: Location Considerations

    3.0 INITIAL SETUP 3.2 LOCATION CONSIDERATIONS Before you install the laser cutting machine, it is important to select an appropriate location. Follow the guidelines listed below: • Avoid locations where the machine may be exposed to high temperatures, dust and high humidity (The humidity must not exceed 70% and the temperature must not be close to the dew point).

  • Page 14: Machine Diagram

    3.0 INITIAL SETUP 3.5 MACHINE DIAGRAM Power ON/OFF Button Protective Cover Emergency Stop Control System Side Access Panel Gantry System Laser Head Guide Rail Belt Cutting Bed...

  • Page 15: Connecting Components

    3.0 INITIAL SETUP 3.6 CONNECTING COMPONENTS Start by plugging in your laser machine to a suitable power outlet. Please refer to the Electrical Requirements in section 3.3. Water Chiller First, hook up your water chiller using the two clear water hoses. Connect each of the water hoses to the barbed connectors labeled “INLET”...

  • Page 16: Operation

    Ensure the cables and connections are intact, and that all moving parts do so smoothly. Turning ON Mako Laser Cutter 1. To turn on the laser, flip the main power switch on the back of the machine to the ON position.
  • Page 17 4.0 OPERATION is free of kinks with all hoses connected firmly. It is critical that no air bubbles are left within the tube prior to energizing the laser. Debugging the Light Path The light path of the laser tube is calibrated during the manufacturing process, however it’s a good idea to recalibrate the laser after transportation to ensure the safety and performance of the machine.
  • Page 18 4.0 OPERATION Mirror 1 Adjustments Open the machine lid and move the gantry system to the front of the machine. Use the Housing Keys to open the side panel of the machine to access the laser mirrors. To align the reflection of Mirror 1, place a small amount on masking tape over the aperture of Mirror 2.
  • Page 19 4.0 OPERATION Mirror 3 Adjustments To align the reflection of Mirror 3 you will again use the masking tape, but instead place it on the bottom of the red, metal laser nozzle. Adjust the knobs on the top of the laser head accordingly to align with the diagram pictured below.

  • Page 20: Control System Navigation

    4.0 OPERATION 4.3 CONTROL SYSTEM NAVIGATION The Reset button will reset the laser head back to the last set X,Y coordinates if the laser Reset head has been moved. The Pulse button will temporarily activate the laser and create a short burst of laser power.
  • Page 21 4.0 OPERATION The Max-Power button is used to set the maximum power that the laser will output. This is useful for when you are working with engraving and need a variety of powers for the Max- Power different depths engraving. For more information, please see the RD Works Section. The File button pulls up all the available files and file folders on the laser machine.

  • Page 22: Preparing Files For Print

    4.0 OPERATION 4.4 PREPARING FILES FOR PRINT Laser Cutting The first step to preparing a laser cut part is to prepare the CAD file that will create the shape that is to be cut out on the laser. Drawing CAD Files for Laser Cutting Laser cut CAD files are simple, 2D line drawings that represent the outline of the parts you want to create from stock materials.
  • Page 23 4.0 OPERATION Open the photo you wish to etch in Adobe Photoshop on your computer. Note: for photo etching, photos with strongly contrasting lights and darks will give the best results, as will selecting materials that have strong contrast between burned and unburned areas. Select the photo by clicking on it in the main window.
  • Page 24 4.0 OPERATION WARNING! If a file is prepared using a table size setting larger than your bed size, it may cause the axis to attempt to travel beyond their physical limitations, resulting in damage to the laser machine. Preparing a Photo Etch: RDWorks Import the pre-prepared photo to RDWorks.
  • Page 25 4.0 OPERATION When satisfied, click Apply to Source to transfer your changes to the photo on the virtual cutting table. Click OK. The next time the photo on the virtual cutting table is selected, the changes will be applied and the appearance will change. In the upper right of the RDWorks screen, there are 6 tabs.
  • Page 26 Mako Laser Cutter. Once transferred, the etching should display on the Mako Laser Cutter screen so that you can see the photo (it will look like the brightness and contrast are a bit too high, this is normal). It will display in the...
  • Page 27 4.0 OPERATION Setting up a photo/graphic for engraving in RDWorks Import your pre-prepared photo to RDWorks. Select File, Import, then select the JPG or BMP that you prepared earlier. RDWorks will open the photo right in the middle of the grid (representing the cutting bed) and will zoom in until the photo is maximized on your screen.
  • Page 28 4.0 OPERATION When satisfied, click Apply to Source to transfer your changes to the photo on the virtual cutting table. Click OK. The next time you select the photo on the virtual cutting table, the changes will be applied and the appearance will change. In the upper right of the RDWorks screen, there are 6 tabs.
  • Page 29 Once transferred, the photo will display as a solid in the colour of the layer that the engraving operation was set to in RD Works. If it has significant white area or you can see the photo in the Mako Laser Cutter display, the engraving will not be deep enough and you will not get smooth transition from high to low areas.
  • Page 30 4.0 OPERATION Another indication of this problem is a small file size. If the file loads quickly and has a small file size (should typically be in the hundreds of kilobytes or up) the photo will need to be darkened to successfully engrave.
  • Page 31 4.0 OPERATION Note: Speed and Power work inversely for cutting. Less power is needed if lower speeds are used. It is good practice to use low speeds (5-25 mm/s) and lower power levels to do cutting. Adding Text to your File in RDWorks In the upper right corner of the RDWorks screen, there are 6 tabs.
  • Page 32 4.0 OPERATION • Max and Min Power – set minimum to between 12.5-14% power. Set maximum to between 17-40%, depending on speed and material. Similar results can be achieved by using lower speeds with lower maximum power, or higher speeds with higher maximum power. The minimum power does not need to be increased for higher speeds.

  • Page 33: Preparing The Machine For Work

    4.0 OPERATION 4.5 PREPARING THE MACHINE FOR WORK Powering the Machine On Before powering on the machine ensure that the protective cover is closed. Verify the safety Emergency Stop is not engaged (if it is, rotate it clockwise and it will extend to the non-engaged position). Flip the main power switch on the back of the machine.
  • Page 34 4.0 OPERATION • Press “Enter” – the file is now in the active memory of the machine and is ready to run. Note: There is a limited number of file names which can be displayed on the screen at one time, so other files in memory may only become visible when the curser keys are used to scroll up or down through the list.

  • Page 35: Maintenance

    5.0 MAINTENANCE 5.1 MACHINE CLEANING To ensure the safety and performance of your machine, it is important to perform cleaning and maintenance on a regular basis. The laser cutting machine should always be kept in an environment that is between 18˚C and 30˚C. Please also be mindful of the amount of dust and air pollution in the operating environment as this can affect the various electronic parts of the machine.
  • Page 36 5.0 MAINTENANCE Cleaning Lens and Mirrors If you find your laser is cutting poorly the lenses and mirrors may need to be cleaned. If the mirrors or lenses become smudge or dirty the laser beam will have a difficult time transmitting through the glass. 1.

  • Page 37: Maintenance Schedule

    5.0 MAINTENANCE Guide Rails Cleaning The guide rails, which are covered by a metal protective cover, will occasionally need to be cleaned and lubricated. To clean the guide rails on the Gantry system, wipe them down with paper towel (no solvents) and lubricate them with a few drops of shredder performance oil.

  • Page 38: Additional Info

    If no smoke can be seen coming through bottom, a few more rounds of cutting may be necessary. Mako Laser Cutter Tricks • If you are not sure if the cut file will fit on the material you have on the bed, press “frame” button and it outline a rectangular area representing how large the cut will be.

  • Page 39: Training Completion Form

    6.0 ADDITIONAL INFO 6.2 TRAINING COMPLETION FORM Employee/Trainee: Trainer: Date of Training: The above mentioned employee/trainee received instruction on the operation of the Mako Laser Cutter. The following topics were covered turning the training: • Machine Overview • General Safety •...

  • Page 40: Technical Support Contact

    Troubleshooting section in this manual please contact our Technical Support line. InkSmith Technical Support Phone: 1-844-465-7684 ext. 1 E-mail: tech@inksmith.ca www.inksmith.ca Technical Support Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm EST NOTE: For complex problems please provide photograph or video evidence via email (tech@inksmith.ca) in order to help us better diagnose your issue.
  • Page 41 CO2 LASER QUESTIONS? Denisa Dica Customer Support tech@inksmith.ca 1-844-465-7684 ext. 1 www.inksmith.ca...

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