Updated: 7/18/12 10:46 AM The Advanced Output Center Sullivan Center, Rm. 1232 This document is available electronically at http://crit.artic.edu/aoc 312 629 6688 / AdvancedOutput@saic.edu

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Laser Cutter for AutoCAD General Information: This guide is to serve for setup of the file for laser cutting and does not serve to provide insight on how to use or operate AutoCAD. Any questions on how AutoCAD works should be directed towards your professor. The template file is available at http://crit.artic.edu/aoc Plotting to Laser Cutters Setup: If you plan on plotting an AutoCAD file to the laser cutters we require you to download our template file from our website as it is already setup with the correct layout size for laser cutting. If you’d rather create your file without the template or have already created a file without the template you’ll have to transfer the information into our template before you can laser cut. When creating your file we recommend you use layers to separate cuts and be sure to use the same colors as they appear in the general file setup for laser cutting (Red, Green, Blue, etc). Do not use orange during setup. Our Autocad drivers cannot detect the orange color. If you opted to use our template you can skip step one. Step 1) Once you have the template downloaded to your machine you’ll have to get your file and the template file side by side in AutoCAD. Once both files are visible, make your design the active window and select all the lines you wish to cut (seen as ‘1)’ in image below). Once all lines are selected, place your cursor over one of those lines (point ‘2)’ in image) and drag that selection into the template window (step ‘3)’). When you release the cursor all of your information should now be present in the new file.

Updated: 7/18/12 10:46 AM The Advanced Output Center Sullivan Center, Rm. 1232 This document is available electronically at http://crit.artic.edu/aoc 312 629 6688 / AdvancedOutput@saic.edu

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Step 2) Once your information has been successfully transferred into our template file, select the layout tab “18x32 Laser Bed”. This is where you are going to set up and position the design for laser cutting. The 18x32 layout screen is equal to the size of the laser bed. Any information placed on this screen will cut wherever you have it positioned. If you double-click into the layout [1) –below] it will enter model space. Use model space to move the design into a position/scale that you wish to have it cut at. You can also select the scale using the menu selection seen at 2) in the image below

Step 3) After placing your design where you wish to have it cut you’ll need to transfer your file to one of the laser cutting terminals. Once you open the file on our terminal go to AutoCAD Icon->Print, press the plot button, or use command Control+P to access the print dialogue box.

Updated: 7/18/12 10:46 AM The Advanced Output Center Sullivan Center, Rm. 1232 This document is available electronically at http://crit.artic.edu/aoc 312 629 6688 / AdvancedOutput@saic.edu

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Step 4) After you bring up the print dialogue box verify that the printer is ‘Laser Cutter’. After you’ve selected this printer, select the properties button.

This will bring up the Plotter Configuration Editor. Select the ‘Custom Properties’ button. This will launch the standard setup for laser cutting setup. Enter your vector setup as you normally would. If you need help here, reference the “File Prep and Cutting” guide supplied for laser cutting setup. There are two additional steps you must do if you are using AutoCAD instead of illustrator. Step 5) When you are entering your settings for your plot, navigate to the ‘Engraving Field’ tab at the top of the properties screen and verify the field is set to 32x18 as seen here. If this is not done it will not plot correctly.

Updated: 7/18/12 10:46 AM The Advanced Output Center Sullivan Center, Rm. 1232 This document is available electronically at http://crit.artic.edu/aoc 312 629 6688 / AdvancedOutput@saic.edu

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One additonal thing you may want to do is save your settings. AutoCAD will clear settings after each plot and it’s a lot easier to load settings than re-enter everything.

Step 6) When you finish entering your settings for your file. Select ‘OK” as you normally would. This will launch a new dialogue box. For this make sure you are creating a temporary PC3 file and select “OK”.

Updated: 7/18/12 10:46 AM The Advanced Output Center Sullivan Center, Rm. 1232 This document is available electronically at http://crit.artic.edu/aoc 312 629 6688 / AdvancedOutput@saic.edu

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Step 7) Now just verify that all your settings on the Plot screen look correct.

1) Should be the printer you selected and should now say (temporary). 2) Plot style should be Laser Cutter.ctb. If missing ask the technician for

this file. 3) Verify this is User-Defined LANDSCAPE. If it is not you may have to go

back to file properties and adjust this. 4) Plot area should always be set to Layout. Otherwise this will cause

plotting problems. 5) Scale should always be set to 1:1. If you set up your layout correctly

you should never have to adjust this scale. 6) Drawing Orientation should be marked as “Landscape”

Before you select “OK” be sure the laser cutter is turned on and ready otherwise the plot could get stuck in the print queue.