ARCHITECTUREDEPARTMENT

JANUARY26,2016

EpilogLaserManualOperatingandTroubleshootingGuide

EpilogLaserManual

1|P a g e

RevisionTable

Version Dated Description By1.00 9/4/2012 OriginalDRAFT Dpeeples1.01 9/7/2012 AddedsectionsonloweringtabletoTips&

TroubleshootingDpeeples

1.1 10/10/2013 Removedcontentaboutcomputer/lasercommunicationsissues

Dpeeples

1.10 10/29/13 FoamCoreremovedfromapprovedmaterialslist KMuthersbough1.2 08/06/14 Updatesforonlinereservations,foamcorereferences

removed,updatereferencetomaterialstableremovedfromthisdocument

DPeeples

2.0 09/22/15 -UpdatedtoKSUlogos,-Editedapprovedmaterialslist-RenamedDocumenttoEpilogLaserManual(futureAPlaserwillbedifferent)-DeletedReservationsystempenaltycomments-AddedSafetyglassesrequirement-ModifiedRasterprintingworkaroundinstructions.-Addedcommentsaboutgroupeditems-Addedinstructionsoncustomsetupscreensforautofocus,settingresolution,uncheckingRastersettingsandremovalofnonred/yellowlayers-AddedphotosoftableelevationbuttonandplungerlocationsforEXTlasers

DPeeples

2.1 10/23/15 Revisionstoreorganizeprocessflow,withadditionofprocessflowhighlevelbulletedlist.

KMuthersbough

2.2 12/2/15 UpdatedscreenshotsforAutoCAD2015 ADakin

2.3 1-25-16 -Updatedtableofcontents-Updatedfandiallocation-UpdatedLasersignin-Safetyandconduct-Laserrecommendedsettinglocation-MaterialProperties,Generaltab,JPGfiles-Updatedprintingerrors,linewidth-Updatedobservationofthelaser-Updatedincaseoffire-Changedlasernumbersonloweringthetable-ChangedtroubleshootingtoAppendix-Madeaneditto“laserdoesn’treceiveyourfile”-Editedwordinginthe“removeeducationalproduct”messageEditedlasernumbersinthe“tabletistoohightofocus”

ADakin

2.4 1-26-16 -Addedin“UpdatePC3File”laserengraverselectionduringplot

RJohnson

EpilogLaserManual

2|P a g e

TableofContentsStudentNOTICES.........................................................................................................................................................................3

DONOTCUTMATERIALSTHATHAVENOTBEENAPPROVED.................................................................................................3ALWAYSturnonthefansbeforesendingafiletothelaser...................................................................................................3

OBSERVATION!!...........................................................................................................................................................................3

Ifyouarethelastoneout,pleaseTURNOFFTHEFANS.........................................................................................................3LaserReservations......................................................................................................................................................................4

Reservationsarelimitedto2hoursperdayperstudent.......................................................................................................4Reservationsareonlyvalidforthefirst10minutesofthehour............................................................................................4Pleasesigninwhenyouenterthelaserarea.........................................................................................................................4Failuretoshowupforreservations........................................................................................................................................4Thereservationsystemison-line...........................................................................................................................................4

SafetyandConduct.....................................................................................................................................................................5

Wearingshopapprovedshoes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..5

Clean-up!!!..............................................................................................................................................................................5Workspace................................................................................................................................Error!Bookmarknotdefined.Donations................................................................................................................................................................................5

ProcessOutline...........................................................................................................................................................................6

LoginandPrintingProcedure......................................................................................................................................................6

Openingandusingtheprintingtemplatefile.........................................................................................................................6Review/edittheMaterialPropertiessettingsfortheselectedmaterial.............................................................................10MaterialProperties–GeneralTab........................................................................................................................................11MaterialProperties–GeneralTab........................................................................................................................................11Keepingyourmaterialsettingchanges.................................................................................................................................14

OBSERVATION!!.........................................................................................................................................................................15

IncaseofFIRE!!.....................................................................................................................................................................15TIPS!!!........................................................................................................................................................................................16

Makingmultiplepasses.........................................................................................................................................................16Frequencysettings................................................................................................................................................................16Loweringthetableforthickmaterials..................................................................................................................................16

Troubleshooting............................................................................................................................Error!Bookmarknotdefined.

Plottersays“DONE”afteryoupressthegreenbutton........................................................................................................17Laserdoesn’treceiveyourfile..............................................................................................................................................17Laserstartsprintingbackandforthreallyfastonthetoporfarleftorrightside...............................................................17Laserdecidedtohittheleft/rightorfrontlimitsandstop...................................................................................................17DeterminingifyourdrawinghasbeenstampedbyAUTOCAD.............................................................................................18Removingthe“PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT”message............................................................19FatLines................................................................................................................................................................................19Tableistoohightocompletethefocusprocess..................................................................................................................20Tabledropswaybelownormalandstopswithoutcutting...................................................................................................20

EpilogLaserManual

3|P a g e

StudentNOTICES

DONOTCUTMATERIALSTHATHAVENOTBEENAPPROVED.- Usingunapprovedmaterialsdamagestheequipment!That’swhyit’snotapproved!Thiswillcostyouyourlaser

useforaperiodmuchlongerthanyou,yourparents,andprofessorwillbehappyabout.o ApprovedMaterials

§ Acrylic/Plexi-glass–(NOTLEXAN–NOTPolystyrene--NOTPolypropylene)§ Basswood–(1/8thru3/8)§ Chipboard–singleordouble§ MatteBoard§ MuseumBoard§ MDF(¼”forcutting,-thicker-scoringonly)§ Paper§ Plywood1/8inchand1/4inch(REQUIRESAPPROVALbeforestarting)§ SolidWood1/32–3/8cutting§ SolidWoodover3/8scoringonly§ Sandply1/8”to1/4”(onlyhas3layers)§ WhiteMuseumBoard§ WhitePosterBoard§ Woodveneers–notglued

o AnythingelseASK!!!!

ALWAYSturnonthefansbeforesendingafiletothelaser.- Thetimerdialislocatedontheothersideofthecolumnpastthestaffdeskandislocatedjustbelowthebright

neonsign.

OBSERVATION!!• Youmustwatchthelasertheentiretimeitiscuttingyourmaterials.

o LeavingthemachinerunningunattendedwillcostyouyouruseprivilegesfortheSEMESTER.Noexceptions.

o Youarewatchingtomakesureitdoesnotcatchthematerialonfire,whichcanhappeninjustafewseconds!

o Alsowatchforexcessiveflame,sparks,orsmokethatcoulddepositsootonthelens.

Ifyouarethelastoneout,pleaseTURNOFFTHEFANS- Thetimerdialislocatedontheothersideofthecolumnpastthestaffdeskandislocatedjustbelowthebright

neonsign.

EpilogLaserManual

4|P a g e

LaserReservations

Reservationsarelimitedto2hoursperdayperstudent.

Reservationsareonlyvalidforthefirst10minutesofthehour.- Lasersunclaimedby10minutesafterthehourwillbeavailableforotherstouse.Thetwohourrulewillnotapply

totheuseofunclaimedlasertime.

Pleasesigninwhenyouenterthelab- Therewillbeasigninsheetatthedoor.Pleasesigninwhenyouarrivesothatthestaffknowsyouhavehonored

yourreservationtime.Ifyoudon’tsignin,youmaybeblockedfromusingthereservationsystem,sincethere’snorecordofyoushowingupforyourreservation.

Failuretoshowupforreservations- Ifyoufailtoshowupforyourreservation(by10minutesafterthehour),orfailtoletastaffmemberknowthat

yourreservationisbeingusedbyanotherstudent,youwillbeblockedfromusingthereservationsystemfortwoweeks.(Youwillbeabletousethelasersonawalk-inbasis,justnotmakereservations.)

Thereservationsystemison-line.Itcanbefoundathttp://www.supersaas.com/schedule/woodshop/equipment

- Theschedulingsystemisavailableviaanybrowserincludingyoursmartphone,android,iPhone,ortabletcomputer.

- Formoreinfo,pleasedownloadthe“ReservationSystemGuide”fromtheArchitectureDepartment–ArchitectureShopDownloadspageathttp://cacm.kennesaw.edu/architecture/resources/downloads.php.

EpilogLaserManual

5|P a g e

SafetyandConduct

Youmustwearshopapprovedshoes.NOOPENTOESHOES.Yourshoesmustcoverthetopofyourfootandyourheelandtoes.

Clean-up!!!• Youmustcleanupyourscrapsafteryoufinish• Cleanalldribbles/detritus/debris/scraps/cutpartsfrominsidethemachine• Cleanthefloorareaaroundthelaseranddisposeofallgarbagecutoutsetc.• NEVERLEAVEYOURLASERRUNNINGFORANYREASON!

Donations- Donatedmaterialsshouldbeplacedinthecorrectlylabeleddrawingfiledrawerlocatedoutsidethelaserroom.

o Pleasefeelfreetoput“usable”leftovermaterialsintheappropriatedrawer.o Pleaseaskbeforetakinganythingfromthedonationdrawers.

EpilogLaserManual

6|P a g e

ProcessOutlineAhigh-leveldescriptionoftheprocesstousethelaserincludesthefollowingsteps:

• Buildafilewithobject(s)youwishtoscoreorcutinAutoCAD.• Openthe“printtemplate”filethatwillbeusedtoprintfromAutoCADtotheEpiloglaser.

o Filename“LASER24x36”fortheEXTlaserso Filename“LASER18x24”fortheMinilaser

• Ifthereareanyobjectsinthewhitewindowboxoftheprinttemplatefile,selectanddeletethem.• Copyobject(s)fromtheoriginalAutoCADfileyoumadeintothewhitewindowoftheprinttemplatefile.• PrinttheobjectsfromtheprinttemplatefiletotheEpiloglaser.

Moredetaileddescriptionsofthestepsaboveareinthebalanceofthedocument.

LoginandPrintingProcedureo LoginusingyourKSUnetworklogin

o OpenAutoCAD

TECHIENOTE:Whenyoulogintoacomputerthefirsttime,AutoCADwillgothroughitsbasicstartupandcopyfilesetc.,whichmaytakeafewminutes.Itwillloadmuchfasterafteryourfirstlogin.

Openingandusingtheprintingtemplatefileo INAutoCAD,selectOPEN>Drawing

EpilogLaserManual

7|P a g e

o Select“Desktop”

o Selectthefile“LASER24x36.dwg”(thisistheprinttemplatefile)NOTE:Youcanalsodownloadthe“LASER24x36.dwg”filefromtheArchitectureDepartment–ArchitectureShopDownloadspageathttp://cacm.kennesaw.edu/architecture/resources/downloads.phpandsaveyourdatatoitpriortocomingtotheshop.Besuretorenameittoanotherfilename.

o Answer“Yes”tothenoticethatitis“currentlyinuseorisReadOnly”

o Selectanderaseanycontentsinsidethewhiteboxintheprinttemplatefile.o OpenyourdrawingfileonyourthumbdriveorU:Driveo TECHIENOTE:StudentscanretrievetheirdrawingsfromtheUDrive(noThumbdrivesneeded).

§ Fromyourworkstation,saveyourdrawingfilestoafolderonyourUdrive.YouwillbeabletoretrievethemfromthereonthelaserPC’s.

§ RememberthatthespaceonU:islimitedsodon’tloadreallybigfiles.

EpilogLaserManual

8|P a g e

o NOTE:IfyougetthemessagethatyourdrawingisgoingtobestampedwiththeAutodeskmessage“PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT”.Select“Continue…”onthatscreenandthenext.Thengotothetroubleshootingsectionandfollowtheinstructionstoremovethestamp.

o IfyoudidnotgettheaboveAutodeskEducationalProductplotstampmessages…§ Cutandpasteyouritemsfromyourdrawingfileintothewhiteboxonthe“LASER24x36”print

templatefile.§ MakesureALLLINEWIDTHSARE0.00mm.(Ifyouhavegroupedlinestheymustbeungrouped

beforelinewidthscanbechanged.)§ Makesureyourcutlinesareontheredlayer(lasercut)andyourscorelinesareontheyellow

layer(laserscore).

EpilogLaserManual

9|P a g e

o Placeyourmaterialinthelasero SelectPLOT,andthepopupscreenbelowshouldappear.

o NOTE:Ifthewindowbelowappears,select“LaserEngraver”§ Thiswindowshouldonlyappearwhenyouareselectingamaterialforthefirsttimeona

machine.

o InthePlotwindow,selectthematerialfromthePrinter/plotterNamelistorchoose<previousplot>onthePagesetup“name”dropdown.

EpilogLaserManual

10|P a g e

o Click“OK”ifyougetthemessagebelow

o Review/editthesettingsfortheselectedmaterial

Review/edittheMaterialPropertiessettingsfortheselectedmaterialo Afterthematerialhasbeenselectedfromthedropdownlist,Clickon“Properties”totheright.

o Thenpress“CustomProperties”inthecenterlowersectionofthewindow.

EpilogLaserManual

11|P a g e

MaterialProperties–GeneralTabo OntheBlueEpilogdriverscreen,the“General”tab,

o Makesurethe<AutoFocus>boxischecked(lefthandsideunder“Options”)o Reducethe“resolution”slidebarto200.(Thissavesmemoryonlargefiles.)o Makesurethat“JobType”issetfor“Vector”,unlessyouareprintingrasterimages(i.e.JPGphotos)o ForJPGfiles,discusswithstaffo Thenselectthe“ColorMapping”tab.

MaterialProperties–GeneralTab

EpilogLaserManual

12|P a g e

• Makesurethe“ColorMapping”checkboxintheupperlefthandcornerischecked• Ifyouareonlycuttingvectors,makesurethe“Raster”checkboxonthelowerleftisuncheckedforeachcolor.• Ifcolorsotherthanredandyellowareshowingintherighthalfofthewindow,deletethembyselectingthem

oneatatimesandthenclickingontheblue“-“buttoninthemiddleofthescreen.• Selecteitherthered(cut)oryellow(score)layerbyclickinganywhereontherowintheright-handwindow.• Inthelefthalfofthewindow,modifythespeed,power,andfrequencysettingsfortheselectedlayeras

needed.(Seerecommendedlasermaterialssettingslocatedinthebasketattachedtoyourcomputer.)• Pressthe“TripleArrow”buttontoapplythechangesmadeinthelefthalfofthewindowtotherightside.• Selecttheotherlayerandmodifythosesettingsifnecessary.• Click“OK”whenfinishedtoacceptyourchanges.Youwillbereturnedtotheconfigurationeditorscreen

below.

o Click“OK”toreturntotheplotscreen

EpilogLaserManual

13|P a g e

o Correctthe“PaperSize”backto“ArchE36x48in”.

o ***NEVERclickonanythinginthePLOTAREAorPLOTOFFSETsections.

EpilogLaserManual

14|P a g e

Keepingyourmaterialsettingchangeso Whenyouexitthesettingscreenthefollowingalertboxwillappear.

o Tosaveyourchangesselectthe“SavechangestotheFollowingfile”radiobutton.

§ Note:Yourchangeswillbesavedandwillbeavailablelaterwhenyouareloggedonthatmachine.

o PressOKandthefilewillbesenttotheLaser

o TheLaserwillshowyourplotfilenameintheblueLEDwindow.§ Ifitdoesn’tshowup,contactshopstaffforhelp.§ Ifyourfiledoesn’tprintorthelaserreads“done”beforeyourfileprints,checktomakesureall

yourlinewidthsarecorrect.

EpilogLaserManual

15|P a g e

• Groupedobjectsmustfirstbeungroupedtochangethelinewidth.o PresstheGreenstartbuttononthelasertostartthejob.

OBSERVATION!!• Youmustwatchthelasertheentiretimeitiscuttingyourmaterials.

o NEVERleavethemachinerunningunattendedoritwillcostyouyouruseprivilegesfortheSEMESTER.Noexceptions.

o Ifyouasksomeonetowatchyourlasermakesuretheyarenotrunningtheirownjobfirst,ONEPERSONCANNOTWATCHTWOMACHINES.

o Youarewatchingtomakesureitdoesnotcatchthematerialonfire,whichcanhappeninjustafewseconds!

o Alsokeepwatchforexcessiveflame,sparks,orsmokethatcoulddepositsootonthelensandcontactastaffperson.

IncaseofFIRE!!• Ifthefireisverysmall,

o openthelidandquicklyremovethematerialfromthelasero Taketheburningmaterialoutofthelaser.o HavetheShopstaffcheckoutthemachinebeforerestarting.

• Ifthefireislargeroryoucan’tgrabthematerialtoremoveit,

o grabthefireextinguisherfromthewallmount,o removethepinandapplyjustenoughtoputoutthefire.o HavetheShopstaffcheckoutthemachinebeforerestarting.

• Thereisnoexcuseforafireonthelaserifyouarewatchingthelaser,thereforeyouwillbechargedforany

damagesdonetothelaserortothehoneycombbackboard.Costscouldexceed$800forrepairs.

EpilogLaserManual

16|P a g e

TIPS!!!

MakingmultiplepassesIfyouneedtomakeanotherpassusingthesamesettings,justpressthegreenstartbuttononthelaserwhenitfinishesanditwillrestartusingthesamefile.

Frequencysettings.TherearemanymisconceptionsabouttheFrequencysetting.TheFrequencysettingisforthedensityofthematerials.Changingthe“properlyset”frequencysettingwillnotaffectthequalityorspeedofyourcut.

o 5000-Plastic/Acrylico 1000-1600Chipboard/Museumboardo 500-1000–Paper,Wood,sandply

Loweringthetableforthickmaterials• Onlasers1,2,3&4.(LEGENDEXT)

o Openthelido Usetheswitchonthefrontleftsidetolowerthetablesothatthematerialisatleasttwoinchesbelow

thelaserplunger

o Closethelidandpressthegreenstartbutton

• Onlaser5(HELIX),onthemachinekeypado Pressthe“DisableX/Y”buttono Pressthegreen“go”buttono Presstheupordownarrowbuttonso Whenfinishedpressthe“Reset”button

• Contactstaffperson,forassistanceifneeded.

EpilogLaserManual

17|P a g e

Appendix

Plottersays“DONE”afteryoupressthegreenbutton• Checkthefollowing:

o Alllinewidthsmustbesetto0.00mm(Ifyourvectorsare“grouped”intoanobject,settingthelinewidthwillnotwork.Youmust“ungroup”theobjectsfirst,thensetthelinewidthsto0.0)

o YourlinesmustbeoneithertheRed(cut)orYellow(score)layerso DidyoucheckthepapersizebeforepressingOK?

§ Itshouldbe“ArchE36x48in”foralllasers,includinglaser#2(theHELIX)o Ifnoneofthesewerewrong,

§ selectPLOT,§ thenselect“Preview”inthelowerleftcorner§ Doesyourdrawingshowup?

• Ifnot,checktheabovesettingsagainandcontactastaffperson.

Laserdoesn’treceiveyourfile• Nothingshowsuponthelaserreadout.

o Youmaybeeitherasleepandhavingnightmares,orthereisacableproblem,contactstaff.

Laserstartsprintingbackandforthreallyfastonthetoporfarleftorrightside.

Oneoftwothingsishappening:

1) YouleftRastercheckedintheCustomPropertiesofthePlotterConfigurationEditor.Cancelandre-sendtheprintjobwithoutRasterchecked.

2) ThelaseristryingtoprinttheAutodeskmessage“PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT”inRASTERMODE.The“ProducedbyanAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT”wasstampedonyourfile.Seebelowsection:“DeterminingifyourdrawinghasbeenstampedbyAUTOCAD”.

Laserdecidedtohittheleft/rightorfrontlimitsandstopThelaseristryingtoAutoFocusoutsidethelimitsorprinttheAutodeskmessage“PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT”inRASTERMODE.TheProducedbyanAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT”wasstampedonyourfile.Seebelowsection:“DeterminingifyourdrawinghasbeenstampedbyAUTOCAD”.

EpilogLaserManual

18|P a g e

DeterminingifyourdrawinghasbeenstampedbyAUTOCAD• Tochecktoseeifthestamphasbeenembeddedinyourdrawing:

o FromAutoCAD-GotoPloto Pick<previousplot>fromthe“name”dropdowno Clickon“preview”inthelowerleftcorner.

• Ifthesmallblackbarsappearonallfoursides…• Zoominononeandyourwillsee:

• Followthestepsbelowtoremovethestampfromyourfile

EpilogLaserManual

19|P a g e

Removingthe“PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT”message.---Method1

• FromthecommandlineinAutoCADtype• DXFOUT

o • Saveyourdrawingfile• ExitAutoCAD• RestartAutoCAD• GotothecommandlineandtypeDXFIN• Findthefileyoujustexportedandopenit.• Itwillnothavethemessageembedded.

---Method2

• Makesure“Raster”isNOTselectedorcheckedonthecustomsetupscreensunderthecolorsettings.Unchecking“raster”inthecolorsectionswillalsopreventthemessagefromprinting(ifallofthecolorsshowinghaveitunchecked).

FatLinesTwopossiblecauses

1. Youdidn’tcheckthe“AutoFocus”checkboxonthefirstpageofthebluematerialcustompropertiessetupscreenor:

2. Ifyouritemsstartoffwithanicethincut/scorelineandthenstartgettingnoticeably“fatter”ornotcuttingthrough,itisbecausethematerialisnotflatonthetable.Askforassistancefromstafftodealwiththisissue.

EpilogLaserManual

20|P a g e

Tableistoohightocompletethefocusprocess• Onlasers1,2,3&4,(LEGENDEXT)

o Openthelido Usetheswitchonthefrontleftsidetolowerthetablesothatthematerialisatleasttwoinchesbelow

thelaserplunger

o Closethelidandpressthegreenstartbutton

• Onlaser5,(HELIX),onthemachinekeypado Pressthe“DisableX/Y”buttono Pressthegreen“go”buttono Presstheupordownarrowbuttonso Whenfinishedpressthe“Reset”button

• Contactstaffperson,forassistanceifneeded.

Tabledropswaybelownormalandstopswithoutcutting• Typicallymeanstheplungerisstuckintheupposition• Checktomakesuretheplungerismoving

freely.Seephoto.• Ifnot,contactastaffpersontocleanit.• Ifitwasstuckintheuppositionbutnow

movesfreely,restartyourlaserjob.(OnLaser5HELIXre-sendthejobtothelaser.)