Asylum Laser Cutter Usage and Safety Training-Epilog Helix Cutter and Engraver

Derek Seabury &Jimmie Rodgers

Epilog Helix

Meet Helix● Capabilities

○ 50W Laser○ 24x18in cut area

● Safety○ Door sensors, cooling failure both kill laser power○ eStop shuts off laser and mechanical drives

● Controls○ Printer driver based○ Can do vector cut, vector etch, and vector raster etch

(grayscale fills)

Starting Helix● Powering up

− Turn on system power strip(on right)- powers laser, ventilation and air systems

− Turn on laser power switch(paddle) on left● Check for a scraps and cuttings in the

machine● Check airflow

Upload to Helix● Connecting to Helix

○ Log in to PC as user Cutter○ Open Inkscape

● File-Print-● Choose settings that correspond to your

material

Upload to Helix● Connecting to Helix● Log in to PC as user Cutter● Open Inkscape● Load SVG image to be cut from your thumb drive

● Confirm document is in Portrait orientation( alter height as needed)

● Hit Print, choose appropriate material

Instant Inkscape● Importing

○ Use a bounding box for easy scaling● Make everything a Path

○ Path->Object to Path● Set Document properties

○ Default measure mm for Asylasaur○ Portrait mode for Helix○ Set Document size to drawing size

Preparing Images ● Resize your images to fit drawings● Use mm● Use a bounding box for easier scaling of images● Scale to 100mm x 100mm( 8” x 8”)● Use portrait mode● Images may contain both vector lines and fills● Red= vector cut Blue=Vector etch Black=raster etch

Helix Cut Files● Helix etches files that the machine prints

○ Document must be portrait mode○ The etch depth will be dependent on darkness of

color○ You don’t have to convert to paths

● Vectors that are red will be cut○ Paths and outlines in SVG○ Must be RGBA #FF0000FF○ Must have stroke width > 0 ○ Cut will occur after etching○ Cuts will etch if document contains gradients!

Helix Cut Files● Helix etches files that the machine prints

○ Document must be portrait mode○ The etch depth will be dependent on darkness and

color

● Vectors that are red will be cut○ Paths and outlines in SVG○ Must be RGBA #FF0000FF○ Must have stroke width > 0(0.1 pt) ○ Cut will occur after etching○ Cuts will etch if document contains gradients!

Vector Etching ● Vector etch(blue) should always be shown as a 0.1 pt

RGB blue stroke

Raster Etching● Raster Etch(black) can be drawn as a combination of

lines and strokes.● Thinnest line should be 0.5 pt● Can shade areas of different density

Loading Helix● Open the door gently● Focus is automatic● Ventilation will pull materials down

○ Cover more area for more pulling pressure

○ Square piece to edge

Cutting on Helix● On Helix panel press “X/Y Off” then “Go” to

confirm

Cutting on Helix● Move gantry to desired Origin(center of

work-piece) by hand-○ If there is resistance repeat first step

● Press “Set Home” button● Hit “Reset” button to confirm origin● Hit Go button to start job

Upload to Helix● Run job-put onsafety gogglesas appropriate

Things That Go Wrong

● 3 Problems laser cutting○ Moving to or cutting in the wrong place

■ Head isn’t where you expected■ Nothing happening under the head

○ Head crash■ Work or the bed making contact

○ “Extra” Fire■ Flames other than where

When Things Go Wrong● Alarms:

○ Limit alarm○ Door alarm○ Cooling alarm○ Ventilation Alarm○ Air pressure alarm

● Hit Stop and Reset the machine

When Things Go Boom● FIRE!

○ Open door, stop job○ Blow fire out○ Pat fire out○ Fyre-B-Gon spray fire out○ Use fire extinguisher

● Stay calm - remember you asked for fire!

Finishing up on Helix● Note run time at completion for billing● Allow ventilation( at least 3 minutes for

plastics)● Remove work● Power off laser and support systems.● Put money in the jar- $7.50 per 5 minutes

of run time● Problems- Submit ticket through the wiki

Comments? Questions? Requests?