LVL1 - User contributions [en]

01/17/2012

2012-01-18T01:54:15Z

Timjusttim:

STREAMING (maybe):

* Streaming projector screen from meeting: [https://join.me/900-528-826]
* Streaming video/audio of meeting: [http://www.ustream.tv/channel/highball-1]
* Last Week Hactivity Stats: 
**Hactivity Peak:1.2 GigaJons
**Weekly Total Hacktivity: 363GigaClarks
== Agenda ==
#You can find all of our Meeting Minutes at http://wiki.lvl1.org
#Please Sign in on the meeting attendance roster.
#Waivers of Liability - Please sign if you have not already
#Old Business
##Equipment Wanted
###?
##Open Invitations for LVL1 Contributions (for serious considerations, please put it in writing)
###Bernheim CONNECT 2012 Projects / Planning
###Louisville Science Center Engineers Week (2/23 - 2/25)
###Projects / Installations for Louisville Metro
#New Business
##Space Ugrades
###Last puzzle piece of insulation for the upstairs loft (Thanks John H!)
###Video game systems (Thanks Josh)
###MLK Day Clean-up of wayward donation shelves and scrap metal (Thanks Chris and Josh)
###Witness the firepower of this armed and FULLY operational LASER CUTTER (Thanks to many)
##U of L Co-op Makership announced!
###Available for Speed School students seeking Summer 2012 Co-Ops
###Support through National Science Foundation
###Cindy is PI on this research project on Makerspaces in higher education
###http://www.lvl1.org/coopmakership/
##Officer and Director Votes
###Hand ballot to current Secretary Tim H.
####President - Chris C. / Jynn (vote for 1)
####Vice President - Jon C.
####Treasurer - Mark E.
####Secretary - Tim M.
####Directors at Large (Choose 3)
#####Brad L
#####Dan B
#####Josh W
#Upcoming Workshops, Meetings and Events
##Mother Meeting Every Monday 7PM
##LVL1 Open Meeting & Making every Tuesday 8pm
##White Star Balloon Meeting (Thurs 8pm)
##Pow-Pow-Powerwheels Racing Series meeting (Thurs 9pm)
##KiCAD Workshop Saturday 1/21/12 at 1pm-5pm
###http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2696636713
##Machine Shop Tour Field Trip (1/28)
##Digital Electronics for Arduino Workshop 1/29 2-5pm
###http://digitalarduino.eventbrite.com/
##Makerships Deadline 1/31
###3 months membership and $100
###Apply with a project proposal
##U of L Co-Op Makership Deadline 2/15
###http://www.lvl1.org/coopmakership/
##Louisville Science Center Engineers Week (2/23 - 2/25)
#Project Roll Call
==Minutes==
#Call to order at 800 pm by Cpreck. 35 Humans present.
#Jon C explained his Giga-Clarks and Mega-Jons
#Space upgrades
##Looking for tanks for cutting torches (propane and atmospheric air.) Nick will handle.
#Events
##Add Speed School E-Expo display (late Feb)
#Elections
##Motion by TimH to accept VP, Sec, Treas, and 3 directors slots by acclamation. Second by Cpreck. Passed by voice vote.
##Chris Cpreck was elected by ballot (19 votes in person plus 11 proxy ballots = 30 total votes, exceeding the required quorum of 19 votes.) Vote was 27 votes for Cpreck, 2 for Jynn, and 1 abstain.
#Project Roll Call
##Jose discussed his on-going project, dubbed "Father". It is to counteract Mother's AI system
##Weiz discussed his work to date on metal casting.
##Josh discussed the idea of building a rolling exhibit that can be taken on the road when we are invited to a demo.
##Paul talked about his idea of a Kinnect controlled LED wall.
##Dan discussed the custom Arduino Mega shield for Delorme Satellite tracking.
##Brad discussed his upcoming project for a device that will block all distracting web links.
##LVL1.org will be blacked out on Wednesday to protest SOPA and PIPA.
##PaulF acquired a NEATO robot... a Roomba-like robot for cleaning and hacking.
#ChrisC reminded us that we need to have a culture of clean-up. Leave the space cleaner than you found it...Especially on Tuesday nights.
#Adjourn at 850pm. Hack on.

01/10/2012

2012-01-11T02:00:57Z

Timjusttim:

1/3/12

2012-01-04T01:25:50Z

Timjusttim:

12/6/11

2011-12-07T01:36:22Z

Timjusttim: /* Minutes */

12/6/11

2011-12-07T01:30:33Z

Timjusttim:

11/29/11

2011-11-30T01:44:05Z

Timjusttim:

11/15/11

2011-11-16T01:41:23Z

Timjusttim: /* Agenda */

Full Spectrum Laser

2011-11-09T02:42:30Z

Timjusttim:

{{Template:Equipment
|owner=LVL1
|serial=2011052503
|model=Full Spectrum Laser MLE-40
|arrived=July 2011
|doesitwork=Sporadic
|contact=Tyler, Tim M, Chris, Aaron
|where=Main space near the makerbot
}}

== Problem Log ==
November 8, 2011: Retina Engrave / computer problem (Tim H)

When printing to the laser, we get a software error that has been tracked back to "out of memory". Jon is getting us a more powerful computer and we will do a complete new install of the software once that computer is here. I will alert the Google Group when this is done. In the meantime, it appears that you can reboot the computer, load retina engrave, load inkscape and cut one job... if you have the patience.

August 30, 2011: THE LASER CUTTER HAS A SLIGHT PROBLEM (Found by Dan)

Symptom: Power and focus degrade as the flying head moves toward the lower right corner of the bed. This is clearly noticeable as you move the head manually to the lower right as a marked change in beam appearance and brightness.

Underlying issue: The laser beams (visible and infrared) are not aligned perfectly parallel to the movement of the positioning mechanism. The issue appears to be this: The beam enters the flying head at a slight downward angle. It strikes the head optics in an ok position when near the middle/upper left portion of the bed, but when the head is in the lower right the beam strikes the internal metal below the mirror in the head.

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST THE OPTICS TO CORRECT THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE EXTENSIVELY STUDIED INFORMATION ON HOW TO DO THIS. IT WILL BE VERY EASY TO MAKE THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE.

== Settings for Cuts ==
Here are some settings that I believe to be working for various types of materials
# Plexiglass (.08 thick) Cut: 100% power, 30% speed, 1 pass
# Plexiglass (.20 thick) Cut: 100% power, 30% speed, 3 passes
# Masonite (1/8" thick) Cut: 50% power, 50% speed, 5 passes (it really smokes and stinks)
# Coroplast (1/8") Cut: 50% power, 50% speed, 4 passes. (You need a knife to finish cutting the corrugated flutes. Any more passes and you get back scatter on the bottom surface.
# Plywood (1/8" thick from Michaels) Cut 100% power, 30% speed, one pass (NOTE: Best success if you set the focus height at the center of the thickness rather than the top surface.)
# Plexiglass (.08 glued to .20 with super glue ) Cut: 100% power, 20% speed, 4 passes. (NOTE: Set focal height to center of thickness rather than top surface.)

== Settings for Raster Engrave ==
# Plywood (1/8 thick from Michaels) 50% speed, 500 dpi, 1 pass

== Things you can put in the laser cutter ==
* Paper (cardstock could have additives that should not go in the cutter, test a sample)
* Acrylic and several other plastics
* Wood (careful of fire, treated wood could have additives)
* Cotton
* Many other fabrics (moleskin books can have high chlorine content)
* Cell phones (check for chlorine in the plastic)
* Laptops (check for chlorine in the plastic)
* Leather
* Glass
* Anodized/coated metal
* Chocolate

== Things you should not put in the laser cutter ==

* Anything containing chlorine
* PVC (this includes Moleskine notebooks)
* Lexan
* Vinyl
* Bare metal
* Animals
* People
* Butane lighters
* Gasoline or other liquids
* Any powder (the compressed air will blow it away)

== If you are unsure, check if your material to see if it contains bad PVCs ==

http://vimeo.com/1615418

http://www.chymist.com/Polymer%20Identification.pdf

== How to use the freakin' laser ==

1. Turn the power strip under the table. This powers the laser, water pump and air pump.

2. Make sure the water pump is on. (You can feel the 5 gal. bucket vibrate)

3. Verify the water pump is on. The laser tube will crack in 30 seconds if the water pump is not on.

4. If the water pump is off GO BACK TO STEP 2.

5. Make sure the air compressor is on.

6. Reset the emergency stop button.

7. Turn the key to the on position.

8. Rejoice in the light (the florescent light should be on)

9. Read this --> [[File:Laser Presentation.pdf]] (some items don't apply this was written by another hackerspace)

Do
1. Check for water flow on startup
2. Make sure exhaust fan is running
3. Check for fires and put them out ;)

Don't

1. Ever leave the laser unattended (see fires above)
2. Turn off the “Air” button. That needs to be on to protect the lens
3. Laser on Vinyl, PVC, Sintra (will produce corrosive and toxic gases)
4. Cut metals (it won't work)
5. Bump or touch the mirrors or lenses (will put the machine out of alignment or damage optics)

== Docs ==
'''Lasercutter/V4 Full Spectrum Laser 40W|Full Spectrum Laser 4th Generation 40W CO2 Laser Engraver - Deluxe Model'''

* [http://fslaser.com/products/lasers/hobby-lasers/40w-deluxe-hobby-laser Product Site]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=f2e3b07f01c34bab204bb6ef4cb6f7c3 Forums]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/lasersetupv2.html V4 Laser Download Page]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/files/FSL_40w_Hobby_Laser_Manual.pdf Manual]
* Drivers are on the cutter machine. We will figure out another way to get the drivers out to members.

== Safety information and training ==
We should have a bunch of helpful information here on safe operation of the device and who to go to to be trained on its use here.

* Please speak to one of the people who is experienced with this laser cutter before using it so we can show you where everything is, how to setup the software, how to use it without breaking it, basic safety tips, etc.

* Read the instructions first. [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/files/FSL_40w_Hobby_Laser_Manual.pdf Manual]

* Never turn the current up above 15 milliamps, that will fry the laser tube quickly. Usually just a few milliamps is more than enough power to do what you want. Using too much power on wood or paper will start a fire. Instead of turning up the power, turn down the speed and/or use multiple passes. Always use the minimum power you can do to the job to prevent unsightly burn marks and extend the life of the laser tube.

* Never operate the laser cutter unattended because sometimes things catch fire. A squirt bottle with water is kept next to the laser to put out small fires. A fire extinguisher is in the corner of the room for larger issues.

* If little flames shoot up off of your material, turn down the power. Little flames can start fires and will fog up the lens, which is difficult to clean.

* It is easy to make the laser head bang against the side or top of the unit. This causes an awful noise and must be very bad for the gears. If the laser cutter makes a banging noise, stop it immediately and reposition the laser head before the next cut, or resize the artwork.

* Do not cut plastics which create hazardous fumes when burned. Acrylic is ok. PVC and vinyl releases the very toxic gas phosgene when heated. As a general rule, chemical resistant plastics should not be put in the laser cutter.

* Be very careful with the silver honeycomb, especially when removing it from the machine to clean little bits of debris off of it. It bends very easily and once bent can not be straightened out completely. It is mostly a cosmetic issue, but pressing your thumb in the wrong place will cause permanent marks.

* Do not laser materials that make an excessive amount of smoke. A little smoke is ok, but a large amount can fog up the lens. If it is making a lot of smoke, use more passes at a lower power.

* When cutting paper, turn down the power to a couple milliamps, or it will catch fire.

* Make sure the water pump and air assist are running!

== Software ==

Any program can print to the laser cutter, I had success using Inkscape and Gimp. Gimp is not very good for doing vector cuts, a major limitation. Inkscape is not the easiest software to learn but it is not difficult either.

=== RetinaEngrave (Windows) ===
==== Requirements ====

Windows XP or Windows 7

==== Supported formats/modes ====
==== How to install ====

* Download and install USB drivers
* Download and install RetinaEngrave
* Download and install Direct Print drivers

==== How to use ====

== Rastor ==

* Get an image, any format
* Load the image into The Gimp and make any necessary changes
* Start RetinaEngrave
* Print the image to the Full Spectrum Engineering Driver
* Switch to RetinaEngrave. Set the speed to 75% or less. Press Go.

== Vector ==

* Get an image, any format
* Load the image into The Gimp and make any necessary changes
* Copy the image to the clipboard
* Start Inkscape and create a new A4 Landscape document
* Paste the image into the new document
* Select all. Go to the Path menu and select Trace Bitmap
* Print the image to the Full Spectrum Engineering Driver
* Switch to RetinaEngrave. Select the Vector tab.
* Set the speed on the right hand side. Press Go.

=== Inkscape Notes ===
* You can import a bitmap and trace it (Path->Trace Bitmap)
* Hit F2 to Edit Path by Nodes. Spend some time getting used to using this feature and all the nuances of node editing such as adding and subtracting nodes.
* Use Path -> Break apart to be able to select and remove double lines
* VERY IMPORTANT!!! If you add text to vector cut, be sure to Path->Object to Path on the text or the vector side of Retina Engrave will hang!
* Save often. Inkscape crashes occasionally!
* Use the Bezier Curves and Straight Lines (Pen tool) to draw vectors easily.
* Take advantage of grids and snap
* If you have something that you may want to cut again, you can use Retina Engrave to save your job. It works well and then you do not have to reopen Inkscape.

=== [https://github.com/Metalab/ctrl-cut ctrl-cut] ===
Amir Hassan and Marius Kintel are working on open source laser cutter drivers through the CUPS interface. Primarily they're working on getting it operational with an Epilog cutter, but would like to expand past that soon.

== Quirks ==

* If your PC is connected to the laser cutter with the usb cable, and you have the RetinaEngrave software and drivers installed, and you still can't get the machine to acknowledge you (e.g. you try to press the "jog" buttons and the laser head doesn't move) try these things:
** There is a button between the "jog right" and "jog left" button. It shifts between UNLOCK and LOCK. Toggel it and try again!
** There is a big red emergency stop button on top of the laser cutter. It might be pressed down, which means the machine won't work. Press it again.

* It is easy to make the laser head bang against the side or top of the unit. Don't let it do that.

* If you are doing a raster engrave, you can not set the speed too high. Here is some artwork on paper, raster engrave, 250 dpi 85% speed: [http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/alanrockefeller/IMG_0190.jpg]. Here is the same image at 71% speed: [http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/alanrockefeller/IMG_0192.jpg]
At 500 dpi, 75% speed was too much. 72% was also too fast.
I also saw the problem at 250 dpi 71% and 1000 dpi 65%. Full spectrum engineering said on Feb 25 that this problem is caused by the belt being too tight. [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=310]

*You don't need to watch the laser every single second, but you should at least stay in the little room while it's on and keep a general eye on it. Why? Because if you're using something burnable, there's a chance it can catch fire. Which is bad.

* Turn off the machine when not in use. The air pump gets hot if left on for long periods. It is not quite hot enough to cause a problem, but it will last longer if it is not always on, and turning it off will keep dust from accumulating inside the laser unnecessarily.

== Tips ==

* Before putting your material into the laser cutter, test your image on paper. If you don't test on paper first you will ruin a lot of the material you are cutting. Once it looks good on paper you can place your material on the paper so you know it is positioned properly, and refocus if the material is thick.

* When engraving raster images, they go much faster if you use a lower DPI. The lowest setting is 250 DPI and that is enough for most things. Use higher DPI only with high resolution images and with materials that show the difference.

=== Finger boxes ===
http://www.frag-den-spatz.de/index.php?menue=/shop/menue.htm&page=/shop/boxgenerator/fingerbox.html

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:845

== Cutting power / speeds ==

<nowiki>** There is a list floating around laser cutter with setting that have been tested **</nowiki>

The best way to use the laser is with a vector image.
You will have more control over power and speed.

''[http://wiki.nycresistor.com/wiki/Laser_Power NYCR's Laser Power table]''

* Typing paper - 100% speed, 3 milliamps
* 2mm acrylic - 25% speed, 8 milliamps
* 5/8ths inch acrylic - 1% speed, 12 milliamps, 2 passes
* Plastic with metalic coating - 5 - 7 milliamps rastor, 3 ma vector
* Linen - 70% speed, 4 milliamps, 1 pass

== Specifications ==

* Maximum material size: 13" x 16"
* Maximum engravable area: 9.5" x 14.5"
* Maximum material thickness: 2.75"
* CO2 Laser Wavelength: 10.6um
* Maximum Laser Power: 40W

== [[Talk:Laser_Cutter|Discussion]] ==
'''[[Talk:Laser_Cutter|On the Discussion page!]]'''

Laser cutter purchase discussion is here http://wiki.lvl1.org/Laser_Cutter2

Full Spectrum Laser

2011-11-09T02:25:51Z

Timjusttim: /* Problem Log */

{{Template:Equipment
|owner=LVL1
|serial=2011052503
|model=Full Spectrum Laser MLE-40
|arrived=July 2011
|doesitwork=Working
|contact=Tyler, Tim M, Chris, Aaron
|where=Main space near the makerbot
}}

== Problem Log ==
November 8, 2011: Retina Engrave / computer problem (Tim H)

When printing to the laser, we get a software error that has been tracked back to "out of memory". Jon is getting us a more powerful computer and we will do a complete new install of the software once that computer is here. I will alert the Google Group when this is done. In the meantime, it appears that you can reboot the computer, load retina engrave, load inkscape and cut one job... if you have the patience.

August 30, 2011: THE LASER CUTTER HAS A SLIGHT PROBLEM (Found by Dan)

Symptom: Power and focus degrade as the flying head moves toward the lower right corner of the bed. This is clearly noticeable as you move the head manually to the lower right as a marked change in beam appearance and brightness.

Underlying issue: The laser beams (visible and infrared) are not aligned perfectly parallel to the movement of the positioning mechanism. The issue appears to be this: The beam enters the flying head at a slight downward angle. It strikes the head optics in an ok position when near the middle/upper left portion of the bed, but when the head is in the lower right the beam strikes the internal metal below the mirror in the head.

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST THE OPTICS TO CORRECT THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE EXTENSIVELY STUDIED INFORMATION ON HOW TO DO THIS. IT WILL BE VERY EASY TO MAKE THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE.

== Things you can put in the laser cutter ==

* Paper (cardstock could have additives that should not go in the cutter, test a sample)
* Acrylic and several other plastics
* Wood (careful of fire, treated wood could have additives)
* Cotton
* Many other fabrics (moleskin books can have high chlorine content)
* Cell phones (check for chlorine in the plastic)
* Laptops (check for chlorine in the plastic)
* Leather
* Glass
* Anodized/coated metal
* Chocolate

== Things you should not put in the laser cutter ==

* Anything containing chlorine
* PVC (this includes Moleskine notebooks)
* Lexan
* Vinyl
* Bare metal
* Animals
* People
* Butane lighters
* Gasoline or other liquids
* Any powder (the compressed air will blow it away)

== If you are unsure, check if your material to see if it contains bad PVCs ==

http://vimeo.com/1615418

http://www.chymist.com/Polymer%20Identification.pdf

== How to use the freakin' laser ==

1. Turn the power strip under the table. This powers the laser, water pump and air pump.

2. Make sure the water pump is on. (You can feel the 5 gal. bucket vibrate)

3. Verify the water pump is on. The laser tube will crack in 30 seconds if the water pump is not on.

4. If the water pump is off GO BACK TO STEP 2.

5. Make sure the air compressor is on.

6. Reset the emergency stop button.

7. Turn the key to the on position.

8. Rejoice in the light (the florescent light should be on)

9. Read this --> [[File:Laser Presentation.pdf]] (some items don't apply this was written by another hackerspace)

Do
1. Check for water flow on startup
2. Make sure exhaust fan is running
3. Check for fires and put them out ;)

Don't

1. Ever leave the laser unattended (see fires above)
2. Turn off the “Air” button. That needs to be on to protect the lens
3. Laser on Vinyl, PVC, Sintra (will produce corrosive and toxic gases)
4. Cut metals (it won't work)
5. Bump or touch the mirrors or lenses (will put the machine out of alignment or damage optics)

== Docs ==
'''Lasercutter/V4 Full Spectrum Laser 40W|Full Spectrum Laser 4th Generation 40W CO2 Laser Engraver - Deluxe Model'''

* [http://fslaser.com/products/lasers/hobby-lasers/40w-deluxe-hobby-laser Product Site]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=f2e3b07f01c34bab204bb6ef4cb6f7c3 Forums]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/lasersetupv2.html V4 Laser Download Page]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/files/FSL_40w_Hobby_Laser_Manual.pdf Manual]
* Drivers are on the cutter machine. We will figure out another way to get the drivers out to members.

== Safety information and training ==
We should have a bunch of helpful information here on safe operation of the device and who to go to to be trained on its use here.

* Please speak to one of the people who is experienced with this laser cutter before using it so we can show you where everything is, how to setup the software, how to use it without breaking it, basic safety tips, etc.

* Read the instructions first. [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/files/FSL_40w_Hobby_Laser_Manual.pdf Manual]

* Never turn the current up above 15 milliamps, that will fry the laser tube quickly. Usually just a few milliamps is more than enough power to do what you want. Using too much power on wood or paper will start a fire. Instead of turning up the power, turn down the speed and/or use multiple passes. Always use the minimum power you can do to the job to prevent unsightly burn marks and extend the life of the laser tube.

* Never operate the laser cutter unattended because sometimes things catch fire. A squirt bottle with water is kept next to the laser to put out small fires. A fire extinguisher is in the corner of the room for larger issues.

* If little flames shoot up off of your material, turn down the power. Little flames can start fires and will fog up the lens, which is difficult to clean.

* It is easy to make the laser head bang against the side or top of the unit. This causes an awful noise and must be very bad for the gears. If the laser cutter makes a banging noise, stop it immediately and reposition the laser head before the next cut, or resize the artwork.

* Do not cut plastics which create hazardous fumes when burned. Acrylic is ok. PVC and vinyl releases the very toxic gas phosgene when heated. As a general rule, chemical resistant plastics should not be put in the laser cutter.

* Be very careful with the silver honeycomb, especially when removing it from the machine to clean little bits of debris off of it. It bends very easily and once bent can not be straightened out completely. It is mostly a cosmetic issue, but pressing your thumb in the wrong place will cause permanent marks.

* Do not laser materials that make an excessive amount of smoke. A little smoke is ok, but a large amount can fog up the lens. If it is making a lot of smoke, use more passes at a lower power.

* When cutting paper, turn down the power to a couple milliamps, or it will catch fire.

* Make sure the water pump and air assist are running!

== Software ==

Any program can print to the laser cutter, I had success using Inkscape and Gimp. Gimp is not very good for doing vector cuts, a major limitation. Inkscape is not the easiest software to learn but it is not difficult either.

=== RetinaEngrave (Windows) ===
==== Requirements ====

Windows XP or Windows 7

==== Supported formats/modes ====
==== How to install ====

* Download and install USB drivers
* Download and install RetinaEngrave
* Download and install Direct Print drivers

==== How to use ====

== Rastor ==

* Get an image, any format
* Load the image into The Gimp and make any necessary changes
* Start RetinaEngrave
* Print the image to the Full Spectrum Engineering Driver
* Switch to RetinaEngrave. Set the speed to 75% or less. Press Go.

== Vector ==

* Get an image, any format
* Load the image into The Gimp and make any necessary changes
* Copy the image to the clipboard
* Start Inkscape and create a new A4 Landscape document
* Paste the image into the new document
* Select all. Go to the Path menu and select Trace Bitmap
* Print the image to the Full Spectrum Engineering Driver
* Switch to RetinaEngrave. Select the Vector tab.
* Set the speed on the right hand side. Press Go.

=== Inkscape Notes ===
* You can import a bitmap and trace it (Path->Trace Bitmap)
* Hit F2 to Edit Path by Nodes. Spend some time getting used to using this feature and all the nuances of node editing such as adding and subtracting nodes.
* Use Path -> Break apart to be able to select and remove double lines
* VERY IMPORTANT!!! If you add text to vector cut, be sure to Path->Object to Path on the text or the vector side of Retina Engrave will hang!
* Save often. Inkscape crashes occasionally!
* Use the Bezier Curves and Straight Lines (Pen tool) to draw vectors easily.
* Take advantage of grids and snap
* If you have something that you may want to cut again, you can use Retina Engrave to save your job. It works well and then you do not have to reopen Inkscape.

=== [https://github.com/Metalab/ctrl-cut ctrl-cut] ===
Amir Hassan and Marius Kintel are working on open source laser cutter drivers through the CUPS interface. Primarily they're working on getting it operational with an Epilog cutter, but would like to expand past that soon.

== Quirks ==

* If your PC is connected to the laser cutter with the usb cable, and you have the RetinaEngrave software and drivers installed, and you still can't get the machine to acknowledge you (e.g. you try to press the "jog" buttons and the laser head doesn't move) try these things:
** There is a button between the "jog right" and "jog left" button. It shifts between UNLOCK and LOCK. Toggel it and try again!
** There is a big red emergency stop button on top of the laser cutter. It might be pressed down, which means the machine won't work. Press it again.

* It is easy to make the laser head bang against the side or top of the unit. Don't let it do that.

* If you are doing a raster engrave, you can not set the speed too high. Here is some artwork on paper, raster engrave, 250 dpi 85% speed: [http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/alanrockefeller/IMG_0190.jpg]. Here is the same image at 71% speed: [http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/alanrockefeller/IMG_0192.jpg]
At 500 dpi, 75% speed was too much. 72% was also too fast.
I also saw the problem at 250 dpi 71% and 1000 dpi 65%. Full spectrum engineering said on Feb 25 that this problem is caused by the belt being too tight. [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=310]

*You don't need to watch the laser every single second, but you should at least stay in the little room while it's on and keep a general eye on it. Why? Because if you're using something burnable, there's a chance it can catch fire. Which is bad.

* Turn off the machine when not in use. The air pump gets hot if left on for long periods. It is not quite hot enough to cause a problem, but it will last longer if it is not always on, and turning it off will keep dust from accumulating inside the laser unnecessarily.

== Tips ==

* Before putting your material into the laser cutter, test your image on paper. If you don't test on paper first you will ruin a lot of the material you are cutting. Once it looks good on paper you can place your material on the paper so you know it is positioned properly, and refocus if the material is thick.

* When engraving raster images, they go much faster if you use a lower DPI. The lowest setting is 250 DPI and that is enough for most things. Use higher DPI only with high resolution images and with materials that show the difference.

=== Finger boxes ===
http://www.frag-den-spatz.de/index.php?menue=/shop/menue.htm&page=/shop/boxgenerator/fingerbox.html

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:845

== Cutting power / speeds ==

<nowiki>** There is a list floating around laser cutter with setting that have been tested **</nowiki>

The best way to use the laser is with a vector image.
You will have more control over power and speed.

''[http://wiki.nycresistor.com/wiki/Laser_Power NYCR's Laser Power table]''

* Typing paper - 100% speed, 3 milliamps
* 2mm acrylic - 25% speed, 8 milliamps
* 5/8ths inch acrylic - 1% speed, 12 milliamps, 2 passes
* Plastic with metalic coating - 5 - 7 milliamps rastor, 3 ma vector
* Linen - 70% speed, 4 milliamps, 1 pass

== Specifications ==

* Maximum material size: 13" x 16"
* Maximum engravable area: 9.5" x 14.5"
* Maximum material thickness: 2.75"
* CO2 Laser Wavelength: 10.6um
* Maximum Laser Power: 40W

== [[Talk:Laser_Cutter|Discussion]] ==
'''[[Talk:Laser_Cutter|On the Discussion page!]]'''

Laser cutter purchase discussion is here http://wiki.lvl1.org/Laser_Cutter2

Full Spectrum Laser

2011-11-09T02:25:05Z

Timjusttim: /* Problem Log */

{{Template:Equipment
|owner=LVL1
|serial=2011052503
|model=Full Spectrum Laser MLE-40
|arrived=July 2011
|doesitwork=Working
|contact=Tyler, Tim M, Chris, Aaron
|where=Main space near the makerbot
}}

== Problem Log ==

August 30, 2011: THE LASER CUTTER HAS A SLIGHT PROBLEM (Found by Dan)

Symptom: Power and focus degrade as the flying head moves toward the lower right corner of the bed. This is clearly noticeable as you move the head manually to the lower right as a marked change in beam appearance and brightness.

Underlying issue: The laser beams (visible and infrared) are not aligned perfectly parallel to the movement of the positioning mechanism. The issue appears to be this: The beam enters the flying head at a slight downward angle. It strikes the head optics in an ok position when near the middle/upper left portion of the bed, but when the head is in the lower right the beam strikes the internal metal below the mirror in the head.

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST THE OPTICS TO CORRECT THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE EXTENSIVELY STUDIED INFORMATION ON HOW TO DO THIS. IT WILL BE VERY EASY TO MAKE THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE.

November 8, 2011: Retina Engrave / computer problem (Tim H)

When printing to the laser, we get a software error that has been tracked back to "out of memory". Jon is getting us a more powerful computer and we will do a complete new install of the software once that computer is here. I will alert the Google Group when this is done. In the meantime, it appears that you can reboot the computer, load retina engrave, load inkscape and cut one job... if you have the patience.

== Things you can put in the laser cutter ==

* Paper (cardstock could have additives that should not go in the cutter, test a sample)
* Acrylic and several other plastics
* Wood (careful of fire, treated wood could have additives)
* Cotton
* Many other fabrics (moleskin books can have high chlorine content)
* Cell phones (check for chlorine in the plastic)
* Laptops (check for chlorine in the plastic)
* Leather
* Glass
* Anodized/coated metal
* Chocolate

== Things you should not put in the laser cutter ==

* Anything containing chlorine
* PVC (this includes Moleskine notebooks)
* Lexan
* Vinyl
* Bare metal
* Animals
* People
* Butane lighters
* Gasoline or other liquids
* Any powder (the compressed air will blow it away)

== If you are unsure, check if your material to see if it contains bad PVCs ==

http://vimeo.com/1615418

http://www.chymist.com/Polymer%20Identification.pdf

== How to use the freakin' laser ==

1. Turn the power strip under the table. This powers the laser, water pump and air pump.

2. Make sure the water pump is on. (You can feel the 5 gal. bucket vibrate)

3. Verify the water pump is on. The laser tube will crack in 30 seconds if the water pump is not on.

4. If the water pump is off GO BACK TO STEP 2.

5. Make sure the air compressor is on.

6. Reset the emergency stop button.

7. Turn the key to the on position.

8. Rejoice in the light (the florescent light should be on)

9. Read this --> [[File:Laser Presentation.pdf]] (some items don't apply this was written by another hackerspace)

Do
1. Check for water flow on startup
2. Make sure exhaust fan is running
3. Check for fires and put them out ;)

Don't

1. Ever leave the laser unattended (see fires above)
2. Turn off the “Air” button. That needs to be on to protect the lens
3. Laser on Vinyl, PVC, Sintra (will produce corrosive and toxic gases)
4. Cut metals (it won't work)
5. Bump or touch the mirrors or lenses (will put the machine out of alignment or damage optics)

== Docs ==
'''Lasercutter/V4 Full Spectrum Laser 40W|Full Spectrum Laser 4th Generation 40W CO2 Laser Engraver - Deluxe Model'''

* [http://fslaser.com/products/lasers/hobby-lasers/40w-deluxe-hobby-laser Product Site]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=f2e3b07f01c34bab204bb6ef4cb6f7c3 Forums]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/lasersetupv2.html V4 Laser Download Page]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/files/FSL_40w_Hobby_Laser_Manual.pdf Manual]
* Drivers are on the cutter machine. We will figure out another way to get the drivers out to members.

== Safety information and training ==
We should have a bunch of helpful information here on safe operation of the device and who to go to to be trained on its use here.

* Please speak to one of the people who is experienced with this laser cutter before using it so we can show you where everything is, how to setup the software, how to use it without breaking it, basic safety tips, etc.

* Read the instructions first. [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/files/FSL_40w_Hobby_Laser_Manual.pdf Manual]

* Never turn the current up above 15 milliamps, that will fry the laser tube quickly. Usually just a few milliamps is more than enough power to do what you want. Using too much power on wood or paper will start a fire. Instead of turning up the power, turn down the speed and/or use multiple passes. Always use the minimum power you can do to the job to prevent unsightly burn marks and extend the life of the laser tube.

* Never operate the laser cutter unattended because sometimes things catch fire. A squirt bottle with water is kept next to the laser to put out small fires. A fire extinguisher is in the corner of the room for larger issues.

* If little flames shoot up off of your material, turn down the power. Little flames can start fires and will fog up the lens, which is difficult to clean.

* It is easy to make the laser head bang against the side or top of the unit. This causes an awful noise and must be very bad for the gears. If the laser cutter makes a banging noise, stop it immediately and reposition the laser head before the next cut, or resize the artwork.

* Do not cut plastics which create hazardous fumes when burned. Acrylic is ok. PVC and vinyl releases the very toxic gas phosgene when heated. As a general rule, chemical resistant plastics should not be put in the laser cutter.

* Be very careful with the silver honeycomb, especially when removing it from the machine to clean little bits of debris off of it. It bends very easily and once bent can not be straightened out completely. It is mostly a cosmetic issue, but pressing your thumb in the wrong place will cause permanent marks.

* Do not laser materials that make an excessive amount of smoke. A little smoke is ok, but a large amount can fog up the lens. If it is making a lot of smoke, use more passes at a lower power.

* When cutting paper, turn down the power to a couple milliamps, or it will catch fire.

* Make sure the water pump and air assist are running!

== Software ==

Any program can print to the laser cutter, I had success using Inkscape and Gimp. Gimp is not very good for doing vector cuts, a major limitation. Inkscape is not the easiest software to learn but it is not difficult either.

=== RetinaEngrave (Windows) ===
==== Requirements ====

Windows XP or Windows 7

==== Supported formats/modes ====
==== How to install ====

* Download and install USB drivers
* Download and install RetinaEngrave
* Download and install Direct Print drivers

==== How to use ====

== Rastor ==

* Get an image, any format
* Load the image into The Gimp and make any necessary changes
* Start RetinaEngrave
* Print the image to the Full Spectrum Engineering Driver
* Switch to RetinaEngrave. Set the speed to 75% or less. Press Go.

== Vector ==

* Get an image, any format
* Load the image into The Gimp and make any necessary changes
* Copy the image to the clipboard
* Start Inkscape and create a new A4 Landscape document
* Paste the image into the new document
* Select all. Go to the Path menu and select Trace Bitmap
* Print the image to the Full Spectrum Engineering Driver
* Switch to RetinaEngrave. Select the Vector tab.
* Set the speed on the right hand side. Press Go.

=== Inkscape Notes ===
* You can import a bitmap and trace it (Path->Trace Bitmap)
* Hit F2 to Edit Path by Nodes. Spend some time getting used to using this feature and all the nuances of node editing such as adding and subtracting nodes.
* Use Path -> Break apart to be able to select and remove double lines
* VERY IMPORTANT!!! If you add text to vector cut, be sure to Path->Object to Path on the text or the vector side of Retina Engrave will hang!
* Save often. Inkscape crashes occasionally!
* Use the Bezier Curves and Straight Lines (Pen tool) to draw vectors easily.
* Take advantage of grids and snap
* If you have something that you may want to cut again, you can use Retina Engrave to save your job. It works well and then you do not have to reopen Inkscape.

=== [https://github.com/Metalab/ctrl-cut ctrl-cut] ===
Amir Hassan and Marius Kintel are working on open source laser cutter drivers through the CUPS interface. Primarily they're working on getting it operational with an Epilog cutter, but would like to expand past that soon.

== Quirks ==

* If your PC is connected to the laser cutter with the usb cable, and you have the RetinaEngrave software and drivers installed, and you still can't get the machine to acknowledge you (e.g. you try to press the "jog" buttons and the laser head doesn't move) try these things:
** There is a button between the "jog right" and "jog left" button. It shifts between UNLOCK and LOCK. Toggel it and try again!
** There is a big red emergency stop button on top of the laser cutter. It might be pressed down, which means the machine won't work. Press it again.

* It is easy to make the laser head bang against the side or top of the unit. Don't let it do that.

* If you are doing a raster engrave, you can not set the speed too high. Here is some artwork on paper, raster engrave, 250 dpi 85% speed: [http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/alanrockefeller/IMG_0190.jpg]. Here is the same image at 71% speed: [http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/alanrockefeller/IMG_0192.jpg]
At 500 dpi, 75% speed was too much. 72% was also too fast.
I also saw the problem at 250 dpi 71% and 1000 dpi 65%. Full spectrum engineering said on Feb 25 that this problem is caused by the belt being too tight. [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=310]

*You don't need to watch the laser every single second, but you should at least stay in the little room while it's on and keep a general eye on it. Why? Because if you're using something burnable, there's a chance it can catch fire. Which is bad.

* Turn off the machine when not in use. The air pump gets hot if left on for long periods. It is not quite hot enough to cause a problem, but it will last longer if it is not always on, and turning it off will keep dust from accumulating inside the laser unnecessarily.

== Tips ==

* Before putting your material into the laser cutter, test your image on paper. If you don't test on paper first you will ruin a lot of the material you are cutting. Once it looks good on paper you can place your material on the paper so you know it is positioned properly, and refocus if the material is thick.

* When engraving raster images, they go much faster if you use a lower DPI. The lowest setting is 250 DPI and that is enough for most things. Use higher DPI only with high resolution images and with materials that show the difference.

=== Finger boxes ===
http://www.frag-den-spatz.de/index.php?menue=/shop/menue.htm&page=/shop/boxgenerator/fingerbox.html

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:845

== Cutting power / speeds ==

<nowiki>** There is a list floating around laser cutter with setting that have been tested **</nowiki>

The best way to use the laser is with a vector image.
You will have more control over power and speed.

''[http://wiki.nycresistor.com/wiki/Laser_Power NYCR's Laser Power table]''

* Typing paper - 100% speed, 3 milliamps
* 2mm acrylic - 25% speed, 8 milliamps
* 5/8ths inch acrylic - 1% speed, 12 milliamps, 2 passes
* Plastic with metalic coating - 5 - 7 milliamps rastor, 3 ma vector
* Linen - 70% speed, 4 milliamps, 1 pass

== Specifications ==

* Maximum material size: 13" x 16"
* Maximum engravable area: 9.5" x 14.5"
* Maximum material thickness: 2.75"
* CO2 Laser Wavelength: 10.6um
* Maximum Laser Power: 40W

== [[Talk:Laser_Cutter|Discussion]] ==
'''[[Talk:Laser_Cutter|On the Discussion page!]]'''

Laser cutter purchase discussion is here http://wiki.lvl1.org/Laser_Cutter2

11/8/11

2011-11-09T01:32:02Z

Timjusttim:

11/1/11

2011-11-02T00:30:02Z

Timjusttim:

10/25/11

2011-10-26T00:39:20Z

Timjusttim:

STREAMING (maybe):

* Streaming projector screen from meeting: [https://join.me/900-528-826]
* Streaming video/audio of meeting: [http://www.ustream.tv/channel/highball-1]

#You can find all of our Meeting Minutes at http://wiki.lvl1.org
#Please Sign in on the meeting attendance roster.
#Waivers of Liability - Please sign if you have not already
#n00bs! Check out the LVL1 Quickstart info sheet next to the liability waivers. Feel free to ask questions.
#Old Business
##Equipment Wanted
###Front window for Fume Hood (30" by 48")
###Capacitors, 20 uF @ 10,000 volts to explode watermelons
###Bicycle Chain and gears (Lots of bicycle chain!)
###VGA Audio/Video Matrix (for mother)
#New Business
##Space Upgrades
###Reorganizing of Boneyard (Thanks Jon and Nathan!)
###Dust Collection System (On Loan from Marc Verdi, Thanks Marc!)
#Upcoming Workshops & Events
##"Who's your Mommy" Mother Automation System Meeting (10/26)
###Introduction to automation, system overview, Phase 1 Goals and Plans, and to determine the best week day for the re-occurring "Mother Lovin Meetings"
##Sumobot competition and Halloween party (10/29) Prizes!!
##SkyDogCon in Nashville (11/4)
###Our booth at DerbyCon was so awesome, they invited us to Nashville!
###Coolest unfinished project gets $1000!
##Freeduino Workshop (11/5)
###http://lvl1novemberfreeduino.eventbrite.com/
##hackerSPACE in Lexington (11/11-11/12)
###CubeSat class satellites workshop from the inventors of CubeSats
###$150 general / $75 student
###http://www.kentuckyspace.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=330&Itemid=179
##Kinect Workshop (11/12 2pm)
###Windows version for this one, Linux version sometime in Dec. or Jan.
###http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2354833370
#Project Rollcall
==MINUTES==
#Call to order at 805 pm. 33 humans present.
#Space Upgrades
##New LVL1 hot air rework station has arrived.
#Paul described his experience with his magnet implants.
#Mark updated on his conversation with the IRS regarding our 501c3 application. The IRS person had looked at our website and was concerned that we have too many fun activities to qualify. We will receive a latter with request for more info form the IRS and we can respond at that time.
#Chris C discussed the Makership fund and asked for donations to fund future Makerships.
#Brad talked about his new development board -> theolabs.com -> Procyon Rev 2 -> teho Labs 2011.
#Adjourn at 835 pm.

== Jon Announcements ==

===Donations Process===
*New labels on shelves
*Shelves will be processed at the end of each week
*Please allow the items to go through the "Donation" process
*Items to be loaned may be put on Donation shelves if desired and a wiki page and label will be created for you. (make sure you mark the "LOAN" box on the label)

*Donation Etiquette
**When a company donates hardware (teensies, LED's, Discovery Kits, etc...), lets make sure we try to post some projects on the LVL1 site with links referring to the company that donated the hardware. This is how we convince other companies that there is a value in donating items to LVL1.
**Let's acknowledge those who make donations or put in the work to get us donations. I'm looking for someone to post a blog entry weekly/bi-weekly or monthly thanking those who have donated items to the space.
**Please wait for donations to be "processed" before taking them. Also, remember donated items should be first given a chance to be used for LVL1 projects before taken for personal use.
(Be Excellent)

===Big Room Clean Up===
*Please remove PERSONAL items from the middle of the BIG Room and place along the left wall
*Do not move items that are not PERSONAL items
*Items left will not be thrown away yet
*You'll get a chance to view items again before they are thrown away

===Boneyard Renovation===
*[http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/6280481804_0b25d9d339_b.jpg]Boneyard has been cleaned and organized
*[http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6227/6279959441_ca4d0b16cf_b.jpg]Large wooden shelves are for LVL1 project storage and are NOT part of the boneyard
*[http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6225/6280480742_2d7e41d8c9_b.jpg]Items are being sorted into bins. Feel free to take from bins, but PLEASE DO NOT put items back into bins they don't belong in.
*The back corner of the boneyard is for "Processing" items. If you don't want to sort items back into their correct bins, please put items in this area and someone else will take care of putting them back in the correct place.
*Items with excess stock or items requiring large storage space are labeled with dates and will be periodically brought upstairs for a "free for all" before being removed from the space.
*Boneyard Wish List - If you are looking for specific items that are not in the boneyard, write them on the "Wishlist" board right inside the door and we'll hold it aside for you if it's donated.

===Pivotal Tracker Rack===
(located in Boneyard)
*[http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6279961421_53a3238e11_b.jpg]A shelf is being designated for items that are to be "installed" or setup at the space.
The task requiring these items should be listed on the pivotal tracker.
Example: 
- Routers/Switches needing installed (designated routers or switches will be on rack) 
- Handicap Rails - (rails are on the rack) 
- Printer needing a permanent location and installed on network (printer on the rack)
You get the picture. 

===MOTHER===
*Building Automation and System Integration Meetings now starting
*Meetings are for anyone interested in learning about Automation or that wants to help with the Mother Project
*First meeting "Who's Your Mommy?" will be tomorrow evening (Wednesday 11/26)
*"Who's Your Mommy?" meeting will be an introduction to automation, system overview, Phase 1 Goals and Plans, and to determine the best week day for the re-occurring "Mother Lovin Meetings"

10/18/11

2011-10-19T00:35:32Z

Timjusttim:

9/27/11

2011-09-28T00:38:34Z

Timjusttim:

NEW:

Streaming projector screen from meeting: [https://join.me/841-455-476]

Streaming video/audio of meeting: [http://www.ustream.tv/channel/whitestarballoonmeeting]

#Please Sign in on the meeting attendance
roster.
#Waivers of Liability - Please sign if you have not already
#n00bs! Check out the LVL1 Quickstart info sheet next to the liability waivers. Feel free to ask questions.
#Old Business
##Equipment Wanted
###Front window for Fume Hood (30" by 48")
#New Business
##Space Upgrades
###Zeiss Lens Wipes for cleaning optics (Thanks Chris!)
##Approved to build rails for the upstairs loft
###Power, insulation to follow
#Upcoming Workshops & Events
##Vogt Awards application deadline (9/30)
###Up to $250K investment available to local inventors for commercialization
###http://www.vogtawards.com/Homepage/home.htm
##Derbycon (9/30-10/2) tickets on sale now
###http://www.derbycon.com/
##Derbycon After Party! (9/30, 8PM)
###Bringing the hackers back here, turn off your wifi!
##Louisville Public Library Technology Boot Camp (Sat 10/8)
###http://www.lfpl.org/bootcamp.html
###6 minute talks and/or demonstration tables
###Contact Corissa Phillips techconnects@lfpl.org
##Daycon in Dayton, Oh (10/10-10/12)
##Sumobot competition and Halloween party (10/29) need prizes
##hackerSPACE in Lexington (11/11-11/12)
###CubeSat class satellites workshop from the inventors of CubeSats
###$150 general / $75 student
###http://www.kentuckyspace.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=330&Itemid=179
#Project Rollcall
==MINUTES==
#Call to order at 8 pm by Chris Cprek. 28 two legged, mostly warm blooded entities present.
#Guest from the Indy hacker space visited while passing thru town.
#Project roll call
##Mikro kernel and Jenn have designed a LVL1 token... should be ready in a few days.
##Fire Tim discussed the power wheels racing league. More info can come for a planning meeting on Thursday, 9/29
##KYOSS will have a programming SIG meeting on Wed 9/28.
##Herman introduced himself and talked about his background from Columbia, India, Africa, etc.
#Adjourn at 8:25 pm.

9/20/11

2011-09-21T00:39:47Z

Timjusttim:

NEW:

Streaming projector screen from meeting: [https://join.me/841-455-476]

Streaming video/audio of meeting: [http://www.ustream.tv/channel/whitestarballoonmeeting]

#Please Sign in on the meeting attendance
roster.
#Waivers of Liability - Please sign if you have not already
#n00bs! Check out the LVL1 Quickstart info sheet next to the liability waivers. Feel free to ask questions.
#Old Business
##Equipment Wanted
###Front window for Fume Hood (30" by 48")
#New Business
##Space host program - Tim H
##Space Upgrades
###Bilge pump on laser cutter (Thanks Bill S!)
###Carpet for the couch area
##Vote for Bylaws Modification
###Proposed by Travis Geis to allow Membership suspension / continuation
###Turn in ballot of 'yea' or 'nay' to Tim H.
#Upcoming Workshops & Events
##Timjusttim's 0x3c Party (9/24 7pm) please rsvp via google groups for a decent head count for food.
##Vogt Awards application deadline (9/30)
###Up to $250K investment available to local inventors for commercialization
###http://www.vogtawards.com/Homepage/home.htm
##Derbycon (9/30-10/2) tickets on sale now
###http://www.derbycon.com/
##Louisville Public Library Technology Boot Camp (Sat 10/8)
###http://www.lfpl.org/bootcamp.html
###6 minute talks and/or demonstration tables
###Contact Corissa Phillips techconnects@lfpl.org
##Daycon in Dayton, Oh (10/10-10/12)
##Sumobot competition and Halloween party (10/29) need prizes
##hackerSPACE in Lexington (11/11-11/12)
###CubeSat class satellites workshop from the inventors of CubeSats
###$150 general / $75 student
###http://www.kentuckyspace.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=330&Itemid=179
#Project Rollcall
==MINUTES==
#Space upgrades
##White Star has brought in some shelves for their stuff to be located in the basement.
#Project Roll Call
##Mikrokernel talked about a parametric project box
##Bryan talked about his gear clock.
##KYOSS plans a web development seminar on Wed Sept 28.
#The vote on the proposed by-law change failed for lack of a quorum. There were 16 votes for the change, none against, none abstain, with a quorum of 19 votes required. The vote will be rescheduled for a later week.

9/20/11

2011-09-20T23:39:52Z

Timjusttim:

#Please Sign in on the meeting attendance roster.
#Waivers of Liability - Please sign if you have not already
#n00bs! Check out the LVL1 Quickstart info sheet next to the liability waivers. Feel free to ask questions.
#Old Business
##Equipment Wanted
###Front window for Fume Hood (30" by 48")
#New Business
##Space Upgrades
##Space host program - Tim H
###Bilge pump on laser cutter (Thanks Bill S!)
##Vote for Bylaws Modification
###Proposed by Travis Geis to allow Membership suspension / continuation
###Turn in ballot of 'yea' or 'nay' to Tim H.
#Upcoming Workshops & Events
##Timjusttim's 0x3c Party (9/24 7pm) please rsvp via google groups for a decent head count for food.
##Vogt Awards application deadline (9/30)
###Up to $250K investment available to local inventors for commercialization
###http://www.vogtawards.com/Homepage/home.htm
##Derbycon (9/30-10/2) tickets on sale now
###http://www.derbycon.com/
##Louisville Public Library Technology Boot Camp (Sat 10/8)
###http://www.lfpl.org/bootcamp.html
###6 minute talks and/or demonstration tables
###Contact Corissa Phillips techconnects@lfpl.org
##Daycon in Dayton, Oh (10/10-10/12)
##Sumobot competition and Halloween party (10/29) need prizes
##hackerSPACE in Lexington (11/11-11/12)
###CubeSat class satellites workshop from the inventors of CubeSats
###$150 general / $75 student
###http://www.kentuckyspace.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=330&Itemid=179
#Project Rollcall

9/13/11

2011-09-14T00:35:37Z

Timjusttim:

#Please Sign in on the meeting attendance roster.
#Waivers of Liability - Please sign if you have not already
#n00bs! Check out the LVL1 Quickstart info sheet next to the liability waivers. Feel free to ask questions.
#Old Business
##Equipment Wanted
###10-12 gauge wire for high wattage motors
###Front window for Fume Hood (30" by 48")
#New Business
##Space Upgrades
###Cleaned out the recycling pile (Thanks Jon for the recyclers)
###Fume hood in progress (Thanks Travis!)
#Upcoming Workshops & Events
##KYOSS Meeting (9/14 6:30pm)
###Debian Package Management
##Timjusttim's 0x3c Party (9/24 7pm)
##Vogt Awards application deadline (9/30)
###Up to $250K investment available to local inventors for commercialization
###http://www.vogtawards.com/Homepage/home.htm
##Derbycon (9/30-10/2) tickets on sale now
###http://www.derbycon.com/
##Louisville Public Library Technology Boot Camp (Sat 10/8)
###http://www.lfpl.org/bootcamp.html
###6 minute talks and/or demonstration tables
###Contact Corissa Phillips techconnects@lfpl.org
##Daycon in Dayton, Oh (10/10-10/12)
##Sumobot competition and Halloween party (10/29) need prizes
##hackerSPACE in Lexington (11/11-11/12)
###CubeSat class satellites workshop from the inventors of CubeSats
###$150 general / $75 student
###http://www.kentuckyspace.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=330&Itemid=179
#Project Rollcall
==Minutes==
#Call to order at 810pm by MikroK with 26 two legged warm blooded beings present.
#KYOSS meeting tomorrow night (9/14). Guest speaker is a member of the Debian development team. Pizza at 630 pm.
#New Member John Coder sponsored by John Hicks and Travis Geis. Welcome John!!!
#Fare the well to Travis who leaves for Stanford college this weekend.
#Project Roll call
##Bryan talked about his new 'gear clock' and he is working getting it to keep accurate time.
##Becki talked about an artist who uses layers of laser cut for wall coverings
##Chris talked about his brain wave reading hardware/software. Beware of exploding watermelons.
##Timjusttim talked about the new program to have 'owners' or 'hosts' for various areas and/or equipment around the space.
##Grace discussed her ability to spill bottles of amber fluids.
##Pat has a used 3 year old washing machine for surplus.
#Adjourn at 830 pm. Hack on.

9/13/11

2011-09-14T00:34:47Z

Timjusttim:

#Please Sign in on the meeting attendance roster.
#Waivers of Liability - Please sign if you have not already
#n00bs! Check out the LVL1 Quickstart info sheet next to the liability waivers. Feel free to ask questions.
#Old Business
##Equipment Wanted
###10-12 gauge wire for high wattage motors
###Front window for Fume Hood (30" by 48")
#New Business
##Space Upgrades
###Cleaned out the recycling pile (Thanks Jon for the recyclers)
###Fume hood in progress (Thanks Travis!)
#Upcoming Workshops & Events
##KYOSS Meeting (9/14 6:30pm)
###Debian Package Management
##Timjusttim's 0x3c Party (9/24 7pm)
##Vogt Awards application deadline (9/30)
###Up to $250K investment available to local inventors for commercialization
###http://www.vogtawards.com/Homepage/home.htm
##Derbycon (9/30-10/2) tickets on sale now
###http://www.derbycon.com/
##Louisville Public Library Technology Boot Camp (Sat 10/8)
###http://www.lfpl.org/bootcamp.html
###6 minute talks and/or demonstration tables
###Contact Corissa Phillips techconnects@lfpl.org
##Daycon in Dayton, Oh (10/10-10/12)
==Minutes==
#Call to order at 810pm by MikroK with 26 two legged warm blooded beings present.
#KYOSS meeting tomorrow night (9/14). Guest speaker is a member of the Debian development team. Pizza at 630 pm.
#New Member John Coder sponsored by John Hicks and Travis Geis. Welcome John!!!
#Fare the well to Travis who leaves for Stanford college this weekend.
#Project Roll call
##Bryan talked about his new 'gear clock' and he is working getting it to keep accurate time.
##Becki talked about an artist who uses layers of laser cut for wall coverings
##Chris talked about his brain wave reading hardware/software. Beware of exploding watermelons.
##Timjusttim talked about the new program to have 'owners' or 'hosts' for various areas and/or equipment around the space.
##Grace discussed her ability to spill bottles of amber fluids.
##Pat has a used 3 year old washing machine for surplus.
#Adjourn at 830 pm. Hack on.
##Sumobot competition and Halloween party (10/29) need prizes
##hackerSPACE in Lexington (11/11-11/12)
###CubeSat class satellites workshop from the inventors of CubeSats
###$150 general / $75 student
###http://www.kentuckyspace.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=330&Itemid=179
#Project Rollcall

9/6/11

2011-09-07T01:23:19Z

Timjusttim:

#Please Sign in on the meeting attendance roster.
#Waivers of Liability - Please sign if you have not already
#n00bs! Check out the LVL1 Quickstart info sheet next to the liability waivers. Feel free to ask questions.
#Old Business
##Equipment Wanted
###10-12 gauge wire for high wattage motors
#New Business
##Space Upgrades
###Wood lathe tools (Thanks Becki!)
###Cleared out old KIPCUG computers for recycling
##Pivotal Tracker for space bugs, requested features
###https://www.pivotaltracker.com/projects/346747/overview
###2 items completed, 9 current, about 4 items looking for owners
#Upcoming Workshops & Events
##Vogt Awards application deadline (9/30)
###$250K available to local inventors
###http://www.vogtawards.com/Homepage/home.htm
##Derbycon (9/30-10/2) tickets on sale now
##Louisville Public Library Technology Boot Camp (Sat 10/8)
###http://www.lfpl.org/bootcamp.html
###6 minute talks and/or demonstration tables
##Daycon in Dayton, Oh (10/10-10/12)
##Sumobot competition and Halloween party (10/29) need prizes
##hackerSPACE in Lexington (11/11-11/12)
#Oculus Week In Review
#Project Rollcall
==Minutes==
#Call to order at 805 pm by mikrokernel. Brad is the co-pilot also know as the AV squad. 28 humans and one air swimmer present.
#Add to the Calendar... 9/24 0x3C party at LVL1. AKA the "I may be old, but I got see most of the good bands" Party.
#Project Roll Call
#If you have stuff in the front room, take it home. The landlord wi likely to give us short notice to empty it.
##Dan discussed the upcoming White Star restarted project. Volunteers needed as soon as the jet stream gets better.
##Chris talked about his brain mapping device.
##Brad needs some large (approx 10 kv capacitors) for exploding watermelons
##Pat is going to set up leave one take book library
##Tyler will get RFID cards for members that don't already have one
#Adjourn at 840 pm.

8/30/11

2011-08-31T01:08:51Z

Timjusttim:

#Please Sign in on the meeting attendance roster.
#Waivers of Liability - Please sign if you have not already
#n00bs! Check out the LVL1 Quickstart info sheet next to the liability waivers. Feel free to ask questions.
#Old Business
##Equipment Wanted
###Wood lathe tools
#New Business
##Space Upgrades
###Library Upgrade with lots of coding books
##Pivotal Tracker for space bugs, requested features
###https://www.pivotaltracker.com/projects/346747/overview
###0 items completed, 6 current, about 9 items looking for owners
##Tinkering to Commercialization recap
##Bernheim CONNECT recap
##Sensors Everywhere recap
#Upcoming Workshops & Events
##Derbycon (9/30-10/2) tickets on sale now
##Daycon in Dayton, Oh (10/10-10/12)
##Sumobot competition and Halloween party (10/29) need prizes
##hackerSPACE in Lexington (11/11-11/12)
#Oculus Week In Review
#Project Rollcall
##UK Projects from Dave Hibberd
==Minutes==
#Call to order at 8:10 pm with 28 warm blooded creatures present.
#Nick reports that we now have a working vacuum pump and chamber for de-gassing.
#It appears that the bldg owner will son be working on floors in the front area. If you have stuff in there get it out or lose it soon.
#Tinkering to commercialization update... They discussed free local governmental resources to get a new business started. Kentucky Small Business Development Corp offers free market surveys for start-ups.
#Bernheim Connect. Joe said the fire breathing pony had some issues with setting the grass on fire... oops. Jon's balloon LOL shield did indeed fly. v02 is coming soon. Mark learned that speakers will indeed melt.
#Lots of Occulus week in review pictures.
#Project review
##Dave Hibberd (sp?) with a strange accent reminiscent of Sean Connery discussed his high altitude ballooning project. We learned a new word: "Catsatrof**k"... very descriptive.
##FireTim discussed the LOL shield in the sky... aka LSD. The deadline for completion was 630 pm and the soldering was done at 7pm.
##Mikrokernel is working on his electric bike.
##BradL is working on PCB about the size of a watch battery with a zigbee transceiver that can actually be inserted in a helium balloon.
##Brian brought his airswimmer clown fish. Not yet ready for school.
##Jon has installed the AI "Mother" system in the space. He needs help in adding functionality.
##Becky and Paul have their EL wire for their costumes. Project will be minus two hours before the party.
#Adjourn at 915 pm... hack on.

8/23/11

2011-08-24T00:37:10Z

Timjusttim:

8/9/11

2011-08-10T00:38:40Z

Timjusttim:

#Please Sign in on the meeting attendance roster.
#Waivers of Liability - Please sign if you have not already
#n00bs! Check out the LVL1 Quickstart info sheet next to the liability waivers. Feel free to ask questions.
#Old Business
##Equipment Wanted
###Wood lathe tools
###220 Mig/Tig Welder
##Open to Volunteers / Projects
###Bernheim CONNECT (Just register your project http://www.bernheim.org/event_im/Connect_particForm11.pdf )
###Chris has an emailable form if you'd prefer. Just contact Chris.
#New Business
##Space Upgrades
###Ctrl+Alt+Del on the space
####All of the things are in the big room
####PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if this is a stalled project take it home for the time being until it's active.
###RFID door entry installed
###Mac workstation setup
##Pay Jynn for the shirts
###She's carrying a negative balance until everyone is paid up.
##Pivotal Tracker for space bugs, requested features
###https://www.pivotaltracker.com/projects/346747/overview
#Upcoming Workshops & Events
##KYOSS (8/10 6:30pm)
##Balloon Launch Indianapolis (Sat 8/12 11am till 2pm)
##Quantified Self (Wed 8/17 5:30pm) http://www.meetup.com/Louisville-Quantified-Self/events/26450591/
###Flashcube Building, 9300 Shelbyville Road - Suite 600
###Show and tell for people who are tracking data about their body and conducting their own personal investigations and research into their bodies, minds, and selves. Anything is game -- from diet and nutrition, exercise, DIY health tracking gadgets, to personal genetics, to ways to digitize and track information, to how to self-experiment with data and statistics.
##From Tinkering to Commercialization: A 'How-To Guide' (Thurs 8/25 6pm @ GLI Offices)
##Bernheim CONNECT (8/27) http://www.bernheim.org/connect.html
##Derbycon (9/30-10/2) tickets on sale now
##Daycon in Dayton, Oh (10/10-10/12)
##Sumobot competition and Halloween party (10/29) need prizes
##hackerSPACE in Lexington (11/11-11/12)
##East End lunch this Friday for anyone interested. Jumbo Buffet, Friday, 12'sh
#Oculus Week In Review
#Project Rollcall
==MINUTES==
#Call to order at 808 pm by microkernel. Humans and near humans present. Zero canines.
#Space upgrades
##Ben has a tentative lead on a welder.
##Stuff has been moved to the big room. Keep all horizontal surfaces empty so that we can have room to work. If something in the big room belongs to you... PUT YOUR NAME ON IT.
##Big thanks to Bill Sch and Tyler for implementing the RFID door entry.
#Workshops
##KYOSS will have an android dev seminar, and an insider's look at Debian. TIME CHANGE to 630 pm on Wednesday.
#TO DO
##Chris and Mark will order RFID tags for the door.
##Bill S will get a bilge blower to help exhaust the laser cutter.
#Adjourn at 845 pm.

Full Spectrum Laser

2011-08-06T17:23:01Z

Timjusttim:

<nowiki>*** THE LASER PRINTER IS CURRENTLY ACTING UP ***</nowiki>

- THE "PRINT HEAD" DRIVE IS NOT MOVING SMOOTHLY

- DURING A PRINT THE IMAGE WAS SHIFTED TO THE LEFT 2"

THE LAST PROBLEM MIGHT BE THE COMPUTER

NOTICED BY TYLER AT 2:30 AM ON 8/6/2011

More info---- I just tried the lassor again (1 pm 8/6/11) and it worked - kinda. It cut in the intended location, but the horizontal lines (X) had some small bumps in them. I saw that on my last cut on Thursday, but everyone seemed to think that I was cutting too slow and too hot. I don't have time right now to dig in, but has anyone tried lube on the drive? If no one works on it this weekend, I will have some time on Monday. timjusttim.

{{Template:Equipment
|owner=LVL1
|serial=2011052503
|model=Full Spectrum Laser MLE-40
|arrived=July 2011
|doesitwork=Working
|contact=Tyler, Tim M, Chris, Aaron
|where=Main space near the makerbot
}}

== How to use the freakin' laser ==

1. Turn the power strip under the table. This powers the laser, water pump and air pump.

2. Make sure the water pump is on. (You can feel the 5 gal. bucket vibrate)

3. Verify the water pump is on. The laser tube will crack in 30 seconds if the water pump is not on.

4. If the water pump is off GO BACK TO STEP 2.

5. Make sure the air compressor is on.

6. Reset the emergency stop button.

7. Turn the key to the on position.

8. Rejoice in the light (the florescent light should be on)

9. Read this --> [[File:Laser Presentation.pdf]] (some items don't apply this was written by another hackerspace)

Do
1. Check for water flow on startup
2. Make sure exhaust fan is running
3. Check for fires and put them out ;)

Don't

1. Ever leave the laser unattended (see fires above)
2. Turn off the “Air” button. That needs to be on to protect the lens
3. Laser on Vinyl, PVC, Sintra (will produce corrosive and toxic gases)
4. Cut metals (it won't work)
5. Bump or touch the mirrors or lenses (will put the machine out of alignment or damage optics)

== Docs ==
'''Lasercutter/V4 Full Spectrum Laser 40W|Full Spectrum Laser 4th Generation 40W CO2 Laser Engraver - Deluxe Model'''

* [http://fslaser.com/products/lasers/hobby-lasers/40w-deluxe-hobby-laser Product Site]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=f2e3b07f01c34bab204bb6ef4cb6f7c3 Forums]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/lasersetupv2.html V4 Laser Download Page]
* [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/files/FSL_40w_Hobby_Laser_Manual.pdf Manual]
* Drivers are on the cutter machine. We will figure out another way to get the drivers out to members.

== Safety information and training ==
We should have a bunch of helpful information here on safe operation of the device and who to go to to be trained on its use here.

* Please speak to one of the people who is experienced with this laser cutter before using it so we can show you where everything is, how to setup the software, how to use it without breaking it, basic safety tips, etc.

* Read the instructions first. [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/files/FSL_40w_Hobby_Laser_Manual.pdf Manual]

* Never turn the current up above 15 milliamps, that will fry the laser tube quickly. Usually just a few milliamps is more than enough power to do what you want. Using too much power on wood or paper will start a fire. Instead of turning up the power, turn down the speed and/or use multiple passes. Always use the minimum power you can do to the job to prevent unsightly burn marks and extend the life of the laser tube.

* Never operate the laser cutter unattended because sometimes things catch fire. A squirt bottle with water is kept next to the laser to put out small fires. A fire extinguisher is in the corner of the room for larger issues.

* If little flames shoot up off of your material, turn down the power. Little flames can start fires and will fog up the lens, which is difficult to clean.

* It is easy to make the laser head bang against the side or top of the unit. This causes an awful noise and must be very bad for the gears. If the laser cutter makes a banging noise, stop it immediately and reposition the laser head before the next cut, or resize the artwork.

* Do not cut plastics which create hazardous fumes when burned. Acrylic is ok. PVC and vinyl releases the very toxic gas phosgene when heated. As a general rule, chemical resistant plastics should not be put in the laser cutter.

* Be very careful with the silver honeycomb, especially when removing it from the machine to clean little bits of debris off of it. It bends very easily and once bent can not be straightened out completely. It is mostly a cosmetic issue, but pressing your thumb in the wrong place will cause permanent marks.

* Do not laser materials that make an excessive amount of smoke. A little smoke is ok, but a large amount can fog up the lens. If it is making a lot of smoke, use more passes at a lower power.

* When cutting paper, turn down the power to a couple milliamps, or it will catch fire.

* Make sure the water pump and air assist are running!

== Software ==

Any program can print to the laser cutter, I had success using Inkscape and Gimp. Gimp is not very good for doing vector cuts, a major limitation. Inkscape is not the easiest software to learn but it is not difficult either.

=== RetinaEngrave (Windows) ===
==== Requirements ====

Windows XP or Windows 7

==== Supported formats/modes ====
==== How to install ====

* Download and install USB drivers
* Download and install RetinaEngrave
* Download and install Direct Print drivers

==== How to use ====

== Rastor ==

* Get an image, any format
* Load the image into The Gimp and make any necessary changes
* Start RetinaEngrave
* Print the image to the Full Spectrum Engineering Driver
* Switch to RetinaEngrave. Set the speed to 75% or less. Press Go.

== Vector ==

* Get an image, any format
* Load the image into The Gimp and make any necessary changes
* Copy the image to the clipboard
* Start Inkscape and create a new A4 Landscape document
* Paste the image into the new document
* Select all. Go to the Path menu and select Trace Bitmap
* Print the image to the Full Spectrum Engineering Driver
* Switch to RetinaEngrave. Select the Vector tab.
* Set the speed on the right hand side. Press Go.

=== Inkscape Notes ===
* You can import a bitmap and trace it (Path->Trace Bitmap)
* Hit F2 to Edit Path by Nodes. Spend some time getting used to using this feature and all the nuances of node editing such as adding and subtracting nodes.
* Use Path -> Break apart to be able to select and remove double lines
* VERY IMPORTANT!!! If you add text to vector cut, be sure to Path->Object to Path on the text or the vector side of Retina Engrave will hang!
* Save often. Inkscape crashes occasionally!
* Use the Bezier Curves and Straight Lines (Pen tool) to draw vectors easily.
* Take advantage of grids and snap
* If you have something that you may want to cut again, you can use Retina Engrave to save your job. It works well and then you do not have to reopen Inkscape.

=== [https://github.com/Metalab/ctrl-cut ctrl-cut] ===
Amir Hassan and Marius Kintel are working on open source laser cutter drivers through the CUPS interface. Primarily they're working on getting it operational with an Epilog cutter, but would like to expand past that soon.

== Quirks ==

* If your PC is connected to the laser cutter with the usb cable, and you have the RetinaEngrave software and drivers installed, and you still can't get the machine to acknowledge you (e.g. you try to press the "jog" buttons and the laser head doesn't move) try these things:
** There is a button between the "jog right" and "jog left" button. It shifts between UNLOCK and LOCK. Toggel it and try again!
** There is a big red emergency stop button on top of the laser cutter. It might be pressed down, which means the machine won't work. Press it again.

* It is easy to make the laser head bang against the side or top of the unit. Don't let it do that.

* If you are doing a raster engrave, you can not set the speed too high. Here is some artwork on paper, raster engrave, 250 dpi 85% speed: [http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/alanrockefeller/IMG_0190.jpg]. Here is the same image at 71% speed: [http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/alanrockefeller/IMG_0192.jpg]
At 500 dpi, 75% speed was too much. 72% was also too fast.
I also saw the problem at 250 dpi 71% and 1000 dpi 65%. Full spectrum engineering said on Feb 25 that this problem is caused by the belt being too tight. [http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=310]

*You don't need to watch the laser every single second, but you should at least stay in the little room while it's on and keep a general eye on it. Why? Because if you're using something burnable, there's a chance it can catch fire. Which is bad.

* Turn off the machine when not in use. The air pump gets hot if left on for long periods. It is not quite hot enough to cause a problem, but it will last longer if it is not always on, and turning it off will keep dust from accumulating inside the laser unnecessarily.

== Things you can put in the laser cutter ==

* Paper (cardstock could have additives that should not go in the cutter, test a sample)
* Acrylic and several other plastics
* Wood (careful of fire, treated wood could have additives)
* Cotton
* Many other fabrics (moleskin books can have high chlorine content)
* Cell phones (check for chlorine in the plastic)
* Laptops (check for chlorine in the plastic)
* Leather
* Glass
* Anodized/coated metal
* Chocolate

== Things you should not put in the laser cutter ==

* Anything containing chlorine
* PVC (this includes Moleskine notebooks)
* Lexan
* Vinyl
* Bare metal
* Animals
* People
* Butane lighters
* Gasoline or other liquids
* Any powder (the compressed air will blow it away)

== Tips ==

* Before putting your material into the laser cutter, test your image on paper. If you don't test on paper first you will ruin a lot of the material you are cutting. Once it looks good on paper you can place your material on the paper so you know it is positioned properly, and refocus if the material is thick.

* When engraving raster images, they go much faster if you use a lower DPI. The lowest setting is 250 DPI and that is enough for most things. Use higher DPI only with high resolution images and with materials that show the difference.

== Cutting power / speeds ==

<nowiki>** There is a list floating around laser cutter with setting that have been tested **</nowiki>

The best way to use the laser is with a vector image.
You will have more control over power and speed.

''[http://wiki.nycresistor.com/wiki/Laser_Power NYCR's Laser Power table]''

* Typing paper - 100% speed, 3 milliamps
* 2mm acrylic - 25% speed, 8 milliamps
* 5/8ths inch acrylic - 1% speed, 12 milliamps, 2 passes
* Plastic with metalic coating - 5 - 7 milliamps rastor, 3 ma vector
* Linen - 70% speed, 4 milliamps, 1 pass

== Specifications ==

* Maximum material size: 13" x 16"
* Maximum engravable area: 9.5" x 14.5"
* Maximum material thickness: 2.75"
* CO2 Laser Wavelength: 10.6um
* Maximum Laser Power: 40W

== [[Talk:Laser_Cutter|Discussion]] ==
'''[[Talk:Laser_Cutter|On the Discussion page!]]'''

Laser cutter purchase discussion is here http://wiki.lvl1.org/Laser_Cutter2