You must have been trained and have a reservation to , certified and paid the per-semester subscription to use the laser cutter. Reservations can be made at the Service Technology Desk. Laser cutting is $5/hour.
Laser Cutter Training
How to Prepare Your File
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- If you are having EID access problems with the laser cutter systems, contact Service Desk Technology Desk at 512-471-1189. Only the Service Desk staff Technology Desk staff are permitted to give you access to the system. Do not get another student to log in for you, as this can result revoking of privileges, as described below.
- Infractions of laser cutter or any other Technology Lab policies will result in a warning for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders will have their access to all Technology Lab services (except printing and plotting) revoked for one semester. Privileges may be restored before the end of the semester based on a conversation with either Chelsea Cowley or Eric Hepburn.
- If you notice that the laser cutter requires cleaning or maintenance, please notify the Service Desk Technology Desk staff immediately in person or by calling 512-471-1189.Any reservation time lost to maintenance or cleaning will be reimbursed with equivalent time or with returned BevoBucks.
Reservations
- In order to use the laser cutters the student, faculty, or staff must
- complete laser cutter training AND
- have a valid reservation for the specific laser cutter made through the Service Desk.
- Reservations for the laser cutter must be made in person at the Service Desk and the cost is $5.00 per hour.
- The minimum reservation length is 30 minutes, the maximum reservation length is 3 hours.
- Each user is limited to a maximum of 3 hours per week of laser cutter reservations. Each week begins when the lab opens Monday and ends at lab closing on Sunday night.
- Same-day reservations do not count against your weekly limit and may be reserved without any limits.
- During times of high use, a wait list will be made available at the Service Desk.
- If you do not arrive within 15 minutes of your scheduled start time, staff will make the laser cutter available to the top of the wait list or to the next person requesting a same-day reservation. If you will be more than 15 minutes late for your reservation, call the Service Desk at 512-471-1189 to avoid losing the rest of your time.
- Laser cutter reservations must be canceled 12 hours in advance in order to receive a refund. Cancellations within 12 hours will only be refunded if the original reservation holder finds someone else to take the reservation. This policy also applies to unused time at the end of a reservation.
- complete in-person certification with a member of the Technology Lab staff AND
- pay the per-semester subscription.
- The maximum cutting time is 2 hours per session. If there is no one waiting, you can continue cutting.Laser cutter reservations are non-transferable, the person listed on the reservation must be present during the operation of the laser cutter for their reservation. The applies to group projects. The person on the reservation is the person who is officially responsible for the laser cutter during their reservation.
- In order to use the laser cutters the student, faculty, or staff must
Safety and Fines
- Although this system uses a CO2 laser that could damage your eyes or skin with direct contact, it uses both a system of safety interlocks and an IR-absorbing window on the top door, making the laser cutter safe to use without goggles or other safety gear.
- Please note that the intense light that appears during the engraving or cutting process is the product of material combustion or vaporization. DO NOT STARE AT THE BRIGHT LIGHT or risk damage to your eyes.
- Additionally, the Red Dot Pointer that appears on the material is just a positioning help, not the laser beam itself, however, DO NOT STARE at the Red Dot Pointer or risk damage to your eyes.
- Lastly, the machine doors are safety interlocked and will disable the CO2 laser beam from firing when the doors are opened. The Red Dot Pointer is NOT safety interlocked and can be activated with the door(s) either open or closed.
- Operating the laser cutter in any unsafe way can result in a fine up to the amount of damage caused to the laser cutter. (For example, a replacement lens for the X-660 costs $230.)
- Unsafe practices include (but are not limited to):
- Leaving the laser cutter unattended while it is running.
- Cutting materials that are not on the acceptable materials list.
- Operating the laser cutter without a reservation will result in a warning for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders will have their access to all Technology Lab services (except printing and plotting) revoked for one semester.
- Operating the laser cutter without the appropriate training will result in a warning for first-time offenders as well as for the person who allowed you access to the system. Repeat offenders will have their access to all Technology Lab services (except printing and plotting) revoked for one semester.
- Although this system uses a CO2 laser that could damage your eyes or skin with direct contact, it uses both a system of safety interlocks and an IR-absorbing window on the top door, making the laser cutter safe to use without goggles or other safety gear.
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For more information on materials that can possibly be cut (not all materials listed are approved by SOA ITTechnology), please see http://www.lasercuttingshapes.com/page/materials and contact the SOA IT Technology office for approval for use on the laser cutters.
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