Laser Cutter

GCC Spirit GLS Hybrid Laser Cutter/Engraver
Laser Cutter
Make	GCC LaserPro
Model	GLS Hybrid-80Ti
Specs
Manual	User Manual Support Page
Requires Certification	Yes
In Shop	Digital Fab. and Electronics Lab

Material Settings

Check out Laser Cutter/Materials for a slightly more comprehensive list of what can or cannot be cut. See also HappyLab's Wiki, translated from german, for some settings for the 60W version of this laser cutter.

Material Name	Cut/Engrave	Power	Speed	Passes	Air?	Notes	Tester
Mylar Sheet - 4mil	Engrave	50	50	1	Yes	Used raster to cut all the way through to make a solder stencil.	David.Bridgham (talk)
Paint	Engrave	17	50	1	Yes	This is to remove a layer of paint	David.Bridgham (talk)
1/8" Plywood	Cut	90	5	2	Yes		Sarah.goldsmith (talk) 21:40, 10 September 2019 (UTC)
1/8" Acrylic	Cut	100	2.5	1	Yes		Sarah.goldsmith (talk) 21:40, 10 September 2019 (UTC)
Polyester Interfacing	Cut	50	100	2	Yes	Burned a bit, and still needed to be torn out (but this did not damage it)	Adam.goldsmith (talk)
Polyester Ribbon	Engrave	15	100	1	No	Very brittle, breaks extremely easily	Adam.goldsmith (talk)
Polyester Ribbon	Cut	50	100	1	No		Adam.goldsmith (talk)
Cotton Canvas	Engrave	12	75	1	Yes		Sarah.goldsmith (talk) 21:40, 10 September 2019 (UTC)
Cotton Canvas	Cut	75	50	2	Yes		Sarah.goldsmith (talk) 21:40, 10 September 2019 (UTC)
80 Lb. Drawing Paper Medium Surface	Cut	30	35	1	No	Burned very slightly on back of paper.	Don.Fitzpatrick (talk)

Personal Computer Setup

The laser cutter is accessible from the members network. This is the same network as the WiFi network "CMS-Members" and the Ethernet jacks in the Electronics Lab.

1. First, you will need software that works with the driver: Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW are the recommended packages.
2. Then you need to install the driver then follow the instructions here: Ethernet-Connectivity-Setup.pdf starting at step 3 (using The laser cutter's hostname is GLS-Hybrid.sawtooth.claremontmakerspace.org (or just GLS-Hybrid) for the address).

Alternatively, you can use USB, and the process is essentially the same, just pick the USB port instead.

In both cases, there are a bunch of things that need to be set in the print driver, as well as in CorelDRAW/Illustrator. I would suggest reading the manual for these settings, as it will not work correctly (if at all) without them.

Laser Operation Checklist

Before Pressing Start

• Turn on the laser cutter and allow it to boot fully.
• Verify that you have correctly selected the cutting mode and turned on the air compressor. Raster is for engraving, Vector is for cutting: /Print/Preferences/Pen/
• Verify that your pen settings are correct for your material.
• Be aware of the cut starting point: /Print/Preferences/Advanced/Position Mode.
• Place your material on the printer bed and secure it if necessary.
• Close the bed chamber door
• Set the Z-Axis height to your materials thickness.
• Position the aiming laser if necessary.
• Turn on the Exhaust switch.
• Turn the key to activate the laser tube.

After Cutting

• Allow the bed chamber to exhaust for ~30 secs before opening.
• If using the Vector function make sure the piece is fully cut, before removing from the bed.
• When completely finished shut down the machine. Turn off the exhaust, the laser key, and the power switch.
• Remove debris from the bed and any pieces that may have fallen through the comb.

Laser Cert Info

Safety

Fire Hazard

Never place flammable materials or liquids on or in the Laser Cutter when it is on or in operation. Liquid acetone, alcohol, and other chemicals can release vapors that are flammable.

Pinch Hazard

When the printer is in operation do not put your fingers near any moving parts including belts, motors, or gears. Tie back long hair, jewelry, or clothing that can get caught in the moving parts of the machine.

Blinding Hazard

The GCC Spirit uses a CO2 laser to cut materials. The CO2 laser is not in the visible light spectrum, but can cause permanent damage to eyes. Do not disable any of the machine’s safety features, designed to prevent its operation while doors are open. This can result in damage to eyes.

If cutting a reflective material, use the laser safety glasses on the pegboard behind the laser cutter. These are special safety glasses that reduce the amount of infrared light you will see. Normal safety glasses won't work!

Electrical Shock Hazard

Don’t attempt to service the machine while the power is on.

Material Safety

Because the laser vaporizes/burns material to produce results its is important to never cut a material that releases caustic or poisonous gases. Refer to the Materials List for examples of what can and cannot be cut. If you are not sure what a material is that you wish to cut or your material does not appear on the list ask/contact a shop lead ([email protected]) or the CMS Director.

The list does not include all materials or materials that have “Trade Names”.

Never cut any variety of Polyvinyl Chloride/PVC/Vinyl or any other material containing Chlorine, as they will release chlorine gas, which will damage both the machine and anyone who breathes it.

Anatomy of a Laser Cutter

• User Interface
• Power Switch
• Laser Switch
• Exhaust Switch
• USB Port
• Belts
• Stepper Motors
• Lead Screws
• Lens
• Mirrors
• Bed
• Gantry
• Air compressor
• Air supply line

Operations Checklist

In order to be certified to use the GCC Spirit, you will cut out a tag engraved with your name to be hung in the laser area. You also must show that you:

• Are familiar with common materials that are safe to use.
• Can prepare a file for printing using CorelDraw or another software and export the file for printing.
• Confirm that your material is secured to the bed
• Can upload a file to the Printer
• Are able to focus the laser for a given material using the manual focus.
• Can start, pause, and stop a print
• Recognize irregular operation
• Know the location of the emergency shut off
• Know what to do in the event of a fire
• What parts need regular cleaning (and who to contact if the laser isn't working as expected)

You should be able to answer the following questions:

• What material are you using?
• How would you determine settings for speed/power for a material?
• What does the software mean by Raster and Vector?
• Is your material flat/secured to the bed?
• Are you performing multiple operations at once (raster and vector)?
• How do you turn on the air compressor and exhaust?
• If you’re performing a Vector, are the line widths correctly set?
• In the event of a fire, what should you do?
• How do you clear the bed of debris after the cut is finished?

Before you press start

• Is your material safe to cut?
• Is the Laser Focused?
• Is your material secured?
• Is the head in the correct starting position based on your settings?
• Do you have the correct speed and power levels for your process?
• Is the Exhaust on?
• Is the Compressor on?
• If you are using vector mode, are the line widths set correctly?
• Have you chosen the correct mode for your operation?
• Are you engraving or cutting?
• From what position will the cut commence?

After the operation:

• Did you wait for the machine to vent?
• Has the material been cut all the way through? If not, what do you do?

Advanced Operations Checklist:

The following are things an advanced user of the laser cutter should be familiar with.

• Confirm the Lens and Mirrors are Clean.
• How would you test an unknown plastic for chlorine?
• Proper use of the rotary cutter and engraver
• How to disable SmartGuard when cutting materials with high cut brightness
• Use of the pass through doors
• Advanced centering / home positioning options

Troubleshooting/Common problems with the GCC Spirit

If you encounter a problem with the machine, double check your printer settings, Software settings (ie Corel Draw), and Page Layout for common mistakes.

If you can’t identify the error or suspect an issue with the machine

Turn it off and place an out of order tag on the printer and notify the shop lead.

Fire

Do not leave the laser unattended. The laser is burning material, it is not uncommon to see flames following the cutting head while its is performing a Vector. You should not see fire/embers anywhere but the location the head is currently cutting. If the Lasers fire sensor detects to much light it will cancel the print and shut off. In the event of a small fire be aware that opening the door will fan the flames. You should attempt to smother the flames or blow them out using canned CO2.

When cutting, the laser seems to be under performing

The Lens and Mirrors most likely need to be cleaned. The Lens and first mirror are behind the panel with three thumb screws. The second mirror is on the far left side of the gantry, held in place by an additional thumb screw. Use a cotton swap to clean the lens. DO NOT use the cotton swab on the mirror, only use the lens paper otherwise you may scratch the mirror!

If the laser cutter is filling with smoke

Check that the Exhaust/Fume Extractor is turned on.