Operation Manual
First Steps before Marking
To prepare your laser for the first marking tests, perform the following steps: 1. Switch machine on with the ON / OFF switch.
2. Close the top cover.
The working table automatically references in X/Y/Z direction.
- Open the protection cover and place work piece on the working table. Usually you position the work piece into the upper left-hand corner of the working table against the horizontal and vertical rulers. However, any other position on the working table is also possible.
- Focusing the Laser Beam
For the laser beam in your laser system to be able to engrave and cut precisely, the energy is focused with a lens system, which is mounted on the motion system in a lens holder.
The focusing point of the laser beam depends in the installed lens. It is measured from the lens to the material surface
For optimal processing the surface of the material that you want to engrave or cut, must be adjusted to this point.
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There are three methods to focus the laser beam:
- A: Manual focusing
- B: Focusing by software
- C: Automatic focusing by means of light barriers
A – Manual focusing:
A1. Move the processing head over the material to be engraved by means of the positioning keys X/Y
A2. Hang the focus tool on the external ring of the working head so that the focus tool can move unhindered. Move the working table upwards by pressing the Z positioning key. While doing this carefully observe the focus tool.
1
Before the focus tool reaches the work piece, move the working table upwards only very slowly and step by step by briefly tapping the positioning key, until the tool tilts to the side. Now the lens is focused onto the surface of the material.
B – Focusing by software:
Click the icon “focus laser” in the Trotec JobControl
The working table moves in Z direction.
The following values are used to determine the focus position and therefore always have to be checked before using this focus option:
- material thickness (specify the value as accurate as possible)
- table height (check if right table is selected in Options)
- lens type (specify the according lens)
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To C – Automatic focusing by means of light barriers (optional):
The automatic focusing is only possible if the work piece is thicker than the rulers.
The Autofocus option might not work on transparent materials or materials which are not flat.
Bear in mind that defects from head crashes (working head hits material or working table) are NOT warranted.
By pressing the two keys for Z positioning of the working table simultaneously, the laser beam is automatically focused onto the work piece (If you don’t have the autofocus-option, the table will go down to Z = 0).
Operation Manual
First marking Tests
The following steps describe, how to successfully mark a first pattern. Please follow the individual steps:
1. First switch on the computer, then the Laser.
2. Put the object to be engraved into the laser and move into the desired position on the working table. Usually the object is positioned in the upper left-hand corner. Use the rulers to determine the dimensions of the object to be engraved.
3. With the positioning keys the lens is positioned over the material to be engraved. You focus with the help of the focus tool or by auto focus (see page 34 ongoing).
4. Generate a graphic with the help of your graphics software. The size of the graphic does not matter as the printer driver adjusts it to the work piece automatically if requested.
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Also consult the Software Manual for further information.
5. Select “File Print”, to access the printer driver, where you can perform work piece and material settings as well as specify a job name or a job number.
This file is automatically transferred into Trotec JobControl.
6. After the material, the engraving direction, die orientation of the work piece and the orientation of the plate have been specified in the Trotec JobControl under “Plate, Setup Plate”, the job can be positioned on the plate with a double-click. If necessary, the job can be positioned at any position on the plate by dragging with the mouse. The position of the job corresponds with the engraving position on the working table.
Make sure when engraving flammable materials the air assist is on!
7. Establish a connection with the engraver by clicking on the button “Establish Connection” in JobControl.
8. Switch on the exhaust system. When using an original Trotec exhaust system with installed connection cable, this happens automatically – check only, whether in the indicator “Exhaust Ready” is green in the Engraver Control of the JobControl.
9. Finally press the START button (green arrow) in the Control of the JobControl, to start the engraving process.
10. 11.
While the laser is working, you can generate the next graphic.
When the working is complete, the JobControl offers you the following possibilities: delete the job
Job Reset and placing back in to the waiting list for later repeat of the working.
Job Reset and immediate repeat
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4.8 Rotary Engraving Attachment
The rotary engraving option in the printer driver is used in combination of the rotary engraving attachment, to engrave cylindrical objects.
To compensate for the different diameters of different objects, the image must be adjusted. This is performed automatically by the engraving driver, by selecting the rotary engraving option and entering the diameter of the object to be engraved.
Never plug or unplug the rotary engraving attachment while the machine is turned on. If this is not observed, there insists the danger of irreparable damage on the electronics.
The rotary engraving attachment is available with cones and with rolls. The rotary with cones permits engraving of cylindrical objects with a diameter of up to 270 mm, a length of up to 760 mm and maximum weight of 3 kg. The rotary with rolls permits engraving of cylindrical objects with a diameter of up to 180 mm, a length of up to 960 mm and maximum weight of 10 kg.
To install and set-up the rotary engraving attachment proceed as described as follows:
- Make sure the engraving or vacuum table is installed.
- Move the working table to the lower position, switch off the laser and open the top lid and front panel for easier loading.
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- Put the rotary engraving attachment onto the working table and connect it to the working table. Place the rotary on the table and position its brackets to hold the rulers.
- Connect the rotary engraving attachment via the control cable with the connector of the motion system. The connector is located inside the left front of the interior.
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Mounting the work piece:
- Before you mount the object into the rotary engraving attachment, measure the diameter of the object at the position to be engraved with a sliding caliper or a similar tool. Write down this value.
- Adjust the height by loosening and fixing of lever 1 and screw 2 to make the work piece fitting into the rotary engraving attachment.
- When using a rotary attachment with cones, fix the slider of the rotary with lever 3 until the work piece is fixed between the two cones. When using a rotary attachment with rolls, adjust the slider of the rotary with lever 3 until the work piece fits on it, and then place the work piece on the rolls.
- Now check if the work piece is horizontal and, if necessary, adjust the level by lever 1 on the right side or lever 4 or screw 2 on the left side.
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9. Now switch on the laser and wait until the referencing is finished. Position the working head over the object at the position, where you want to engrave. Now focus the object with the focus tool. If the object slopes too much in the area to be engraved, the rotary engraving attachment can be tilted, so that the surface of the object is running again parallel with the X axis of the motion system. To do this, lift the right-hand side of the rotary engraving attachment and place a wedge under it. Take care not to lift the rotary engraving attachment too high, as it can touch the lens holder.
Engraving:
Additionaly consult the Software Manual for further information about the engraving process.
- Generate a graphic with the help of your graphics software. The size is not important, as the graphic can be adjusted to the dimensions of the work piece by the printer driver.
- Then perform the settings for size and orientation in the JobControl under “Plate, Setup Plate” and, if necessary, select the engraving material. Please note especially, that you can determine the orientation of the graphic on the object with “Job Orientation”.
- In the “Options” menu of the JobControl select “Rotary Engraving Attachment” and enter the diameter of the object.
- Double-click on the previously generated job in the waiting list to place it on the plate.
- Use the mouse to drag the job to the position of the plate, at which the desired engraving area is located on the object. Use the rulers in the machine and in JobControl for orientation and move the lens holder directly over the desired position, after you have connected the computer with the laser, and position the job on the screen according to the position of the lens.
- Establish the connection to the laser.
- Switch on the exhaust system (only necessary if you do not use an original Trotec exhaust system).
- If you use a machine type with a water cooled laser tube, switch on the cooling system before switching on the laser.
- Activate the START button in the Engraver Control of the JobControl and start the engraving process.