Laser Cutter Operations

• SETTING FOCUS: First in JOG mode, movie the laser carriage to approximately the middle of your cutting area. Switch mode to FOCUS. Attach focusing jig to screws on front of carriage. Raise or lower bed so that the jig is pushed slightly off your material. This sets your focus at the top of your material. Push straight down on joystick to set.
• Press red button to turn on laser pointer and set mode to JOG. Drive the laser dot to the top-left corner of the cutting area of your material. Push straight down on the joystick to set.
• SAFETY RULE: Before hitting the “Go” button, verify that the lid is closed, the focus gauge is on it’s shelf and not installed on the laser carriage, the exhaust fan is on, and Air Assist pump (under computer on shelf) is on if vector cutting. Make sure the Halotron fire extinguisher is nearby.
• Note your times for each job, along with how many times you ran each of them. Pay the front desk or give via Paypal to manager@bellinghammakerspace.org. Price is $1 per minute. We use this money to replace lens and laser tubes when they burn out.
• SAFETY RULE: Watch the laser for the duration of your job! You must watch out for flare-ups and other problems and know what to do when they pop up. Find the Emergency Stop button. You can also use the "STOP" button on the control panel (it's more of a Pause button because you can resume your job)