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Laser Cutter Tutorial

Use the guides below to help you get started using the Innovation & Collaboration Studio’s laser cutters. If you have additional questions or need additional help to get started, make sure to seek assistance from one of the lab’s student assistants. They are here to help!

Full Spectrum Laser – Pro-Series 24” x 16+

  1. Turn on laser by flipping the red “on switch” on the power strip behind the laser.
  2. Open RetinaEngrave3D
  3. Connect laser (bottom left of screen)
  4. Home laser (type H) or click the house at the top of the screen
  5. Insert material you are going to engrave/cut out.
  6. Use arrows, (page-up), & (page-down) on the keyboard to move the laser and the gold pin so it hovers over the material.
  7. Once laser head is hovering over the material, click ‘Auto Focus Z – Table’ button at the top of the screen (or type Z)
  8. Upload vector image using InkScape, CorelDraw, etc.
  9. Scale image based on your material size
  10. Adjust the power settings:
    • Set the datum – it’s at the top left of the image by default
    • Check perimeters (button on the top of screen) – four blue arrows pointing out
    • If perimeters are good, the power is where you want, and the desired setting is selected, then hit the green play button (go).
  11. Always have someone watching the laser in case of malfunction
    • Do NOT stare at the laser while it is going, can cause eye damage.
    • Do NOT open the lid while laser is going.
  12. When finished:
    • Jog the laser head away from material
    • Remove material
    • Turn off machine
    • Close all windows
    • Log off computer

Full Spectrum Laser – Pro-Series 24” x 16+

  1. Turn on laser by flipping the red “on switch” on the power strip behind the laser.
  2. Open RetinaEngrave3D
  3. Connect laser (bottom left of screen)
    • If connected, it should display ‘Connected [IP Address]’ on the computer along with the display on the laser
    • If it is not connected, click the refresh arrow
    • If it still isn’t connecting, turn off laser, exit screen, restart
  4. Home laser [type H] or click the house at the top of the screen
    • Physical laser should move to the top right of area
    • Will display ‘Homed’
      • NOTE: Homing is essential; if you do not home, it can damage machine.
  5. Insert material you are going to engrave/cut out
    • Line up material with the bed as well as possible.
  6. Use arrows on the keyboard to move the laser and the gold pin so it hovers over the material
    • Left, right, up, down arrows move the laser head horizontally. (x- & y-axis)
    • Page-up [moves bed up] & page-down [moves bed down]. (z-axis)
  7. Once laser head is hovering over the material, click ‘Auto Focus Z – Table’ button at the top of the screen (or type Z)
    • Warning will pop up; click ‘OK’
    • Machine will auto focus
  8. Upload vector image using InkScape, CorelDraw, etc.
    • On your selected software: File > print or [Ctrl+P]
    • Be sure ‘Full Spectrum Engineering Driver’ is selected
  9. Scale image based on your material size
    • On leftmost toolbox, select “image scale/resize” tool
      • It is a white box with arrows pointing inwards from the corners
    • b. Make sure to check box ‘Apply to Raster and Vector’
      • Once selected, make sure to click ‘Resize’ button
        • Make sure your raster and vector images line up by clicking between ‘Raster Engrave’ and ‘Vector Cut’ tabs
  10. Adjust the power settings:
    • Raster: burns/engraves the wood, goes back and forth
      • RASTER ENGRAVE TAB
      • Under raster properties, (the setting with sliding bars, NOT the table) adjust the power and speed settings [Generally 30 power, 70 speed]
    • NOTE: The higher the speed, the less detailed the cut and lighter the engraving. The lower the speed, the more detailed and darker the engraving will be.
        • Dither: Makes it “sketch” type of raster / engraving
    • Vector: Outline cut / follows a path. This will be the setting for cutting out the shape.
      • VECTOR CUT TAB: Power settings
      • Detects what to cut based on the color of line
    • NOTE: If you just want the outline to be cut out, then you will change the color of the outermost line to a color that is not being used.
    • EXAMPLE: A circle shows a bunch of outlined black words that you do not want to cut out, you will select the outermost line and change it to red. While changing the passes on the Black to ZERO.
    • iii. Go to VECTOR LAYERS settings to the right of the screen
      • Change the settings of the color you selected to cut out the image
      • Select appropriate number of passes (amount of times it will follow a path)
      • Changing the passes on the “black” to ZERO.
      • NEVER use 100-power on any setting; it can damage the laser and/or cause a fire.
      • NOTE: General setting 1/8” Plywood: 70 Power, 50 Speed
  11. Set the physical datum by using arrows—it’s at the top left of the image by default so put the physical laser at the top left of your material.
    • Put a weight on the material away from the head of the laser so it does not slide around
  12. Check perimeters (button on the top of screen)–four blue arrows pointing out
  13. Make sure you are under the Raster Engrave Tab
  14. If perimeters are good, the power is where you want, and the desired setting is selected, then hit the green play button (go).
  15. If you are doing a vector cut also, select Vector Cut Tab
    • Check perimeters, if good, click green play button (go)
  16. Always have someone watching the laser in case of malfunction
    • NOTE: *Location of fire extinguishing items*
    • Do NOT stare at the laser while it is going, can cause eye damage.
    • Do not open the lid while laser is going.
  17. When finished:
    • jog the laser head away from material
    • remove material
    • Turn of machine
    • Close all windows
    • Log off computer