The UTSOA Technology Lab has 4 Epilog Fusion Pro Laser Cutters/Engravers with a cutting bed size of 48" x 36". You must be certified by a member of the UTSOA Technology Lab staff in order to use the laser cutter!
Laser Cutter Certification
Laser Cutter Reservations
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How to Prepare Your File for Laser Cutting
How to Use the Laser Cutter
Suggested Material Settings
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Laser Cutter Policies
General
- If you are having EID access problems with the laser cutter systems, contact Service Desk at 512-471-1189computers aren't logged in, notify staff at the Technology Desk. 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 or share your EID credentials, as this can result in finesrevoking privileges for both students, as described below.
- Sharing your EID password is in violation of the university's Acceptable Use Policy and can have severe consequences, up to and including disciplinary probation, suspension from the university, and criminal prosecution.
- Infractions of laser cutter or any other Technology Lab policies will result in privileges being revoked.
- Operating the laser cutter without being trained AND paying the subscription for the semester will result in privileges being revoked.
- 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.
- If you are having EID access problems with the laser cutter systems, contact Service Desk at 512-471-1189computers aren't logged in, notify staff at the Technology Desk. 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 or share your EID credentials, as this can result in finesrevoking privileges for both students, as described below.
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Certification and Subscription
- 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.
- be
- 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 512-471-4817 to avoid losing the rest of your time.
- Laser cutter reservations must be canceled 24 hours in advance in order to receive a refund. Cancellations within 24 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.
- 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
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- a member of the School of Architecture community (students, faculty, or staff) AND
- purchase a subscription for the semester AND
- complete online laser cutter training AND
- be certified for laser cutter use by a member of the Technology Desk staff.
Health and Safety
- 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 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.), which costs the school money.
- 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.
Tampering with the laser cutter
's safety mechanisms.
Turning off the Air Assist feature, especially when vector cutting. Consult with Tech Desk staff for possible exemptions.
- 'Sandwiching' more flammable material between less-flammable materials. (i.e. a sheet of cardboard between two layers of chipboard, etc.) The result could easily be a FIRE!
- Unsafe practices include (but are not limited to):
- IN CASE OF FIRE, IMMEDIATELY PRESS THE EMERGENCY STOP BUTTON (located on top of the laser) AND USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER (located near the door).
- 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.
Materials
- Use of prohibited materials could result in the material melting to the laser cutter bed and/or the release of toxic fumes. Due to the severity
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- of the risk, cutting prohibited materials will result in loss of lab privileges and possible fines for damages.
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- You may be asked at any time about your materials and their content. It's important for you to know what you're cutting, so please source it from trustworthy suppliers.
- Prohibited Materials
- PVC
- Note: The University Co-op sells material that looks like acrylic but is made of PVC and styrene, and is therefore strictly prohibited.
- PVC
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For more information on materials that can possibly be cut (not all materials listed are approved by SOA IT), please see http://www.lasercuttingshapes.com/page/materials and contact the SOA IT office for approval for use on the laser cutters.
Prohibited Materials
- Lexan
- Polyurethan
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- Styrene
- Polycarbonate
- Vinyl
- Glass
- Foam Core
- Metal
Chloride-based materials
Questionable Materials (Consult with Tech Desk Staff for approval)
Wood, ie. plywood with potentially flammable adhesives
Soft materials like leather
Reflective materials