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PL1220 Precision Laser Owner’s Manual Laguna Tools 744 Refuge Way Grand Prairie, TX lagunatools.com...
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LAGUNA® and the LAGUNA Logo® are the registered trademarks of Laguna Tools, Inc. DISCLAIMER Laguna Tools is not responsible for errors or omissions. Specifications subject to change. Machines may be shown with optional accessories. Revision 03 (10/10/2023)
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual Laser and Component Safety Check ....................47 Alignment Check and Test Run ....................... 49 RDWORKSV8 SOFTWARE ................51 Install RDWorksV8 as a Standalone Program (Recommended) ............. 53 Connect PC to Laser Machine ......................55 Sync Machine Settings with RDWorksV8 ..................58 Sync Machine Settings with RDWorksV8 (Alternate Method) ............
Laguna Tools equipment is designed for specific and limited applications. This product should neither be modified nor used for any application other than those for which it was designed.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual Safety Warnings 1. Failure to comply with safety instructions may lead to personal injury and/or damage to the equipment. Do not operate the machine unless familiar with all safety instructions, warnings, and signs. 2. Do not operate the machine with the electrical cabinet door open–High Voltage Supply Inside.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual Additional Safety Information 1. All motion parameters have been set up by Laguna Tools. If any modifications are required, please have a professional operator perform the changes. 2. Safety Signs should be attached to places that are easy to spot.
21. Never stand on the machine. Serious injury may occur if the machine is tipped or if the cutting tool is unintentionally contacted. 22. Consult the Owner’s Manual or Laguna Tools for recommended accessories. Using improper accessories will increase the risk of serious injury or damage.
American National Safety Institute, the UL Standards of safe tool use, and the IEC standards of safe tool use. Laguna Tools is in no way responsible for injury or death that occurs while using this product.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual Electrical Safety 1.7.1 Power Connections A separate electrical circuit should be used for each machine. The circuit should not be less than the wiring listed in the table below and should be protected with an appropriate circuit breaker based on the total running and start-up amperages (listed below).
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual WARNING If this information is different than what is stated on the Motor Specification Plate–omit this information. It is possible that the documentation is outdated to a machine change–such as a different motor. Always check the motor plate prior to any wiring. If there are any doubts, please consult a certified electrician.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual DANGER In all cases, verify the receptacle in question is properly grounded. If you are not sure, have a qualified electrician check the receptacle. Grounding Methods Provided by CSA Group. (Canadian Standards Association) Figure 1-2: Figure 1-1:...
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual Use only 3-wire extension cords that have 3-prong grounding type plugs and matching 3- conductor receptacles that accept the machine’s plug, as shown in Fig. 1-1. Repair or replace damaged or worn cord immediately. 1.7.2.2 Grounded, cord-connected machines intended for use on a supply circuit having a...
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual Table 1-3: Extension Cord Gauges 120V Minimum Gauge Extension Cord 120V Recommended Sizes for Use with Stationary Electric Machines Total Length of Gauge of Extension Ampere Rating Volts Cord in Feet Cord Up to 25 18 AWG...
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual Table 1-5: Extension Cord Gauge 240V Minimum Gauge Extension Cord 240V Recommended Sizes for use with Stationary Electric Machines Total Length of Gauge of Extension Ampere Rating Volts Cord in Feet Cord Up to 50 18 AWG...
PL1220 Owner’s Manual Connections With the power still unplugged, make all connections according to the connection diagram. Verify water and air connections are not leaking. Exhaust blower – Use a flathead screwdriver to install the Exhaust Ventilation to the machine.
Contact Laguna Tools customer service as soon as possible in case of damage. It is advisable to photograph and document any shipping damage. The original packaging is required to return damaged equipment to Laguna Tools.
The PL1220 has a full 12″ by 20″ workspace with a full 12″ Z- axis to fit large materials and a rotary device. The bottomless design allows the user to engrave large projects like tabletops and murals.
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Two (2) expandable ducting tubes • One (1) exhaust reducer • • One (1) USB thumb drive with RDWORKS software One (1) 40W laser tube • One (1) PL1220 laser machine • Figure 4-1: PL1220 Components Exhaust Fan PL1220 Machine Interface Air Pump Lift-bed...
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual Figure 4-1: PL1220 Components Cont’d Spare limit Power cable Expandable switch ducting tubes USB cable Air pump hose Exhaust reducer Ethernet Alarm cable Duct tube cable straps NOTE There are several other parts included in the toolbox not pictured above.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual 5.0 Interface Figure 5-1: RDWorks Interface Graph Display Area – Displays the whole file’s track and display the running track. Running Parameters – Displays the running file’s file number, speed, max power, etc. Coordinates – Displays the current coordinate of X, Y, and Z-Axes.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual Graph Layer Parameters – Displays the layers’ information of the current file, such as max or min power, speed, etc. When the system is idle, double click the layer. Then users can change the layer’s parameters and the changes will be saved.
When setting up your PL1220, read this overview prior to starting. 1. Carefully un-box the laser machine. 2. Verify to setup on a level floor. 3. If using the base, level the base to the floor and then place the PL1220 Laser machine on top. 4. Install the laser tube.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual WARNING Verify wiring is correct according to local electric code. All needed electrical information can be found in the Electrical Safety Section NOTE It is recommended to use a power strip with an on/off switch to give power to the machine and all components at the same time and to turn them on and off easily.
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See the inventory section to cross reference the parts you should receive. NOTE All shipping related claims for loss or damaged goods must be made to Laguna Tools within 24 hours of delivery. Contact Laguna Tools customer service department to make claims for any damaged items/parts.
DO NOT plug in the PL1220 machine until setup and assembly is complete. 1. Carefully unbox the PL1220 laser machine. 2. With two (2) people, lift and place the PL1220 laser machine on a level floor or desired surface. CAUTION The machine is heavy and requires at least two (2) people to lift it into position.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual NOTE The PL1220 does not need to be sitting on the Z-Axis base to operate. It has been designed where if the Z-Axis base is not connected, everything will still work other than the auto-focus control. If the Z-Axis base is not connected, the focal length will need to be set manually by twisting the cap and setting the proper focal spacing.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual Laser Tube Figure 6-2: Laser Tube Mount Tube top lock screw Tube lock screws Tube height adjustment dial Top mount Tube height lock screws NOTE Reference the connection diagram in section 2.0 when installing. 1. Open the rear panel of the laser machine. (Older models require unscrewing the screws using an Allen key).
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual 4. Carefully place the new, unconnected laser tube inside the mounts. CAUTION The laser tube is very fragile. 5. Carefully connect the water tube between the inlet on the rear of the connection panel and the water inlet on the laser tube (left side, cathode side).
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual CAUTION Loosen and tighten the small set screw on the end of the cathode terminal. DO NOT break it off. 8. Connect the low voltage (-) terminal (right side, anode side) to the power supply according to the wiring diagram in this manual.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual NOTE Do not worry about testing the laser for alignment at this point as all other components need to be installed prior to testing. 6.4.1 Properly Installed Laser Tube Figure 7-3 depicts the water tubes connected to the inlet water port. The cathode wire connects to the pin with a set screw.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual Figure 7-4 depicts the water tubes connected to the outlet water port. The anode wire connects to the pin with the alligator clamp. ALLIGATOR CLIP Figure 7-4: Anode Side (Right) NOTE The chiller, air pump, exhaust blower, and software need to be properly installed prior to running and testing the function of the laser tube.
The next step is to connect the chiller, air pump, and exhaust fan, which are in the following section(s). Chiller DANGER DO NOT plug in the PL1220 machine until setup and assembly is complete. WARNING DO NOT connect to a power supply until the setup is complete.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual Figure 6-6: Water Chiller NOTE Seven (7) liters (1.85 Gal) of distilled or deionized water are required to fill the chiller. 1. Measure out seven (7) liters (1.85 Gal) of distilled or deionized water and place to the side.
7. Connect the power cord to the chiller machine only. 8. DO NOT connect to power until setup is complete. Air Pump DANGER DO NOT plug in the PL1220 machine until setup and assembly is complete. WARNING DO NOT connect to a power supply until setup is complete.
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Verify the air hose fits all the way into the adapter. The connection should leak very slightly; this is normal. 2. Press fit the ¼ inch air hose into the connection on the back of the PL1220 machine. 3. DO NOT connect to power until setup is complete.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual Exhaust Fan DANGER DO NOT plug in the PL1220 machine until setup and assembly is complete. WARNING DO NOT connect to a power supply until the setup is complete. DO NOT perform any of the following steps, installations, or adjustments with the machine connected to a power source unless directed to do so.
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Figure 6-8: Exhaust Fan and components 1. Use a flathead screwdriver to install the exhaust reducer to the back of the PL1220 machine. 2. Connect and fasten (with band clamps) the end of 1 (of 2) ducting tubes to the exhaust fan inlet.
Laser and Component Safety Check DANGER DO NOT plug in the PL1220 machine until setup and assembly is complete. 1. With the power still unplugged, verify the connections are according to the connection diagram.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual NOTE It is recommended to use a power strip with an on/off switch to give power to the machine and all components at the same time and to turn them on and off easily. 6. Plug in the chiller to power. DO NOT turn it on at this time.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual b. Air Support System: Ensure that air is flowing to the laser head assembly. c. Laser Tube: Verify the cathode wire is connected and the cat screw is tightened (less than 1 NM or torque). Verify the anode wire is connected via the alligator clip.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual If the RDWorksV8 software is already installed on your computer, you are now ready to use the laser machine. If you do not have the RDWorksV8 software program installed on your computer, you will need to install it prior to using the laser machine.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual 7.0 RDWorksV8 Software NOTE For techniques on how to use the RDWorks software suite or manipulate work files, please refer to the Ruidia RDWorksV8 software manual available at https://lagunatools.com/resources/product-manuals/ The standalone setup is recommended for new users and is the easiest way to get started with the Laser Machine.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual RDWorks is adaptable and can be installed as a stand-alone program or as an add-in to a design program like AutoCAD or Adobe Illustrator. The following guide will go through the procedure of installing each individually. No matter which configuration of RDWorks is chosen to operate the laser machine, it is recommended to first connect the laser machine with the computer that will be manipulating files, just as with an inkjet printer.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual Install RDWorksV8 as a Standalone Program (Recommended) This setup is recommended for beginner operators and is the easiest way to get started in laser machining. Installing this version of RDWorks will allow the operator to utilize the RDWorks software package to create or edit work files and send them to the laser machine to be executed.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual 2. If the file was downloaded, unzip the .zip file 3. Run the RDWorksSetup.exe file in the unzipped folder to a desired location. 4. Click “’Install” a. Wait for the program to install. Figure 7-3 RDWorks Installation Interface 5.
Laser Machine. 7.2.1 Connecting Via USB (recommended for quick start) 1. Connect the one end of the USB-to-USB cable to PC and the other end to the PL1220 machine. 7.2.2 Connecting Via Ethernet (recommended for long term use) 1.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual 4. Set the IP address to any known value. Use 10.10.100.10 if confused. NOTE Every device (computer, router, laser machine) has a unique IP address. Completing step 4 establishes an address so that other devices can connect to the machine.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual 7.2.3 Troubleshooting Table 8-6: PC Connection Troubleshooting Potential Issue(s) Resolution(s) Verify the laser machine is powered on, functional, and that RDWorks V8 is installed and running on the Cannot connect connecting computer. Verify that the laser machine is connected to an available Ethernet port on the router.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual Sync Machine Settings with RDWorksV8 Figure 7-4: RDworksV8 Machine Settings System work plat 2. User tab 3. Read button...
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual NOTE RDWorks must be installed on the PC and the laser machine must be fully set up and operational. 1. Connect the PC to the laser machine via the USB cable or Ethernet cable. 2. On RDWorks, go to “File” and select vendor settings.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual Sync Machine Settings with RDWorksV8 (Alternate Method) Figure 7-5: RDWorksV8 Machine Settings System settings Enter password RD8888 Read system here and read machine settings settings Page settings Read machine settings Read page settings NOTE RDWorks must be installed on the PC and the laser machine...
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual 1. Connect the PC to the laser machine via USB cable. 2. On RDWorks, click “File” and click “vendor settings”. 3. Enter the vendor password: RD8888 4. Click the “Read” button to read machine settings. 5. Click the “Save” button to save machine settings 6.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual 8.0 Adjustments Focal Lens Adjustments To make cuts and engravings on different materials, the operator will need to adjust the focal length according to the material’s properties. This is either done using the lift bed and the focal length sensor, or by adjusting manually.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual 8.1.1 Adjustment Procedures 1. Unscrew the height adjustment clamp. 2. Adjust the height of the laser tube such that the focused beam is in contact with the work surface. a. This can be achieved by setting the focal spacing to a distance between 7mm and 9 3.
NOTE When using the PL1220 off the lift-bed – for engraving a tabletop or materials that does not fit in the laser – a spacing block can be made to quickly adjust the focal spacing. Use ¼...
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The focal length is different than focal spacing and depends on the focal lens used. The stock lens used. The stock lens installed in the PL1220 is 20mm in diameter and 63.5 mm in focal length. Focal spacing will vary. Experiment with sample materials...
Lock ring 1. Unscrew the assembly and remove from the PL1220 machine. NOTE The front of the PL1220 must be tilted up to remove the assembly. 2. Unscrew the nozzle to expose the lock ring. 3. Carefully remove the lock ring with a small rod (a screwdriver will work).
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Use the same method to clean the mirrors. 5. Reassemble as shown. CAUTION DO NOT to scratch the focal lens. NOTE The PL1220 is designed to be used with a 20 mm diameter 63.5 mm focal length lens.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual Table 12-4: Thin Materials Paper 40 WATT 80 WATT 120 WATT 500 – 15% 500 – 10% 500 – 5% CAUTION When cutting paper, be very cautious of the fire danger. NOTE When cutting paper, be very cautious of the fire danger.
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual Table 12-6: Thin Material Cont’d Leathers 40 WATT 80 WATT 120 WATT Engrave 150 – 100% 300 – 100% 450 – 100% Cut 1/8 inch (3.2mm) 75 – 100% 175 – 100% 300 – 100% NOTE Leathers are complicated to process because of the range in oil density and/or finishes of the leather.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual 12.0 Maintenance DANGER Unplug the machine prior to any maintenance work. Always unplug the machine when changing the blade, guards, or any maintenance. 12.1 General Keep the machine clean. At the end of each day, clean the machine. Wood contains moisture and if sawdust or wood chips are not removed, it will cause rust.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual 12.4 Before Every Use Clean engraving table (work surface) • • Check mirror surfaces (clean only if dirty) • Check focal lens (clean only if dirty) Check the air assist system • 12.5 Weekly (10 hours of use) Clean venting pathway •...
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PL1220 Owner’s Manual CAUTION Excessive cleaning can be problematic. Clean mirrors and lenses only when needed. Motion System Lubrication – White Lithium (PTFE) grease.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual 13.0 Troubleshooting Table 14-1: Troubleshooting Behavior Possible Causes Solutions 1. Flip breaker switch 1. Breaker is in the defeated Laser machine will not turn on. position. 2. Confirm power supply meets machine 2. Improper input power. specifications.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual 13.1 Frequently Asked Questions Q: What materials can the 40-Watt CO2 laser machine cut/engrave? A: The processing capabilities of laser machines are distinguished by the wavelength of the laser beam and the power output of the laser tube. CO2 Lasers can cut and engrave most materials other than metals.
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50.8 mm, constraint by the laser assembly mounting tube. A longer focal length can be used by removing the removable bottom of the PL1220 and resting the machine on riser blocks to accommodate the larger focal spacing needed.
PL1220 Owner’s Manual 14.0 Specifications Table 15-1: PL1220 Laser Specifications PL1220 Laser Voltage 115V Hertz 60Hz Phase Running Amperage 9.6A (14.4A with all components) Recommended Dedicated 15A on power strip for all components Breaker Table 15-2: CO2 Laser Specifications CO2 Laser...
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