View source for Talk:Epilog 30w Mini 24 Laser Engraver

== List of certified users ==

Since getting certified entailed having an account set up on the laser cutter computer, that's where/how the list of certified users used to be kept. In a way, that means the list for this tool is the *most* complete. It would probably be possible to pull that list off the computer and put it here. [[User:KathyW|KathyW]] 12:34, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

The true and authoritative list is now driven from the members.pumpingstationone.org server. After a person is authorized, the authorizer should log on to members. and add them to the laser-authorized group. There is a way you can do it from the command line of an ssh client in the space, too, instructions for that are on the wiki. --[[User:Rdoeksen|Rdoeksen]] ([[User talk:Rdoeksen|talk]]) 15:07, 3 July 2015 (CDT)

== Inkscape —.svg and .eps ==

Is anyone aware of whether the Epilog driver can natively handle straight up .svg (and which format) or .eps? Inkscape can handle these — it would be helpful to people with no Illustrator experience to be able to skip using software they're not familiar with. [[User:Jason|Jason]] ([[User talk:Jason|talk]]) 12:22, 25 February 2014 (CST)

Since the laser works through a print driver, if the line weight of the line in question is set to .001 inch or less (regardless of units, that wide or less) then it should render as a vector cut. You can print from Inkscape, or other programs, though best results have been seen by printing inkscape-made PDFs. "Hairline" lines won't probably work from any application, but very thin lines will be interpreted as vectors to be cut, not raster/etched. --[[User:Rdoeksen|Rdoeksen]] ([[User talk:Rdoeksen|talk]]) 15:10, 3 July 2015 (CDT)

=== inskcape .svg warning ===
Inskscape can print to the lasercutter directly, '''but''' "hariline/vector cuts" do not work. It will raster the entire image. The only way I have seen it work is to set line thinkness to .001 inches, and save as a pdf. Then print the pdf from adobe acrobat.

--[[User:Hef|Hef]] ([[User talk:Hef|talk]]) 13:37, 25 February 2014 (CST)
:That may be an issue with using the driver properly. I think you can set what will cut/raster in the advance settings, but I also don't care if there's already a mostly workable workflow for dealing with .eps and .svg. [[User:Jason|Jason]] ([[User talk:Jason|talk]]) 13:46, 25 February 2014 (CST)

== Dead link ==

During several automated bot runs the following external link was found to be unavailable. Please check if the link is in fact down and fix or remove it in that case!

* http://www.thingiverse.com/tool:33/things ([http://web.archive.org/web/20120531000843/http://www.thingiverse.com:80/tool:33/things archive])
** In [[Epilog 30w Mini 24 Laser Engraver]] on 2014-03-27 13:31:15, 404 Not Found
** In [[Epilog 30w Mini 24 Laser Engraver]] on 2014-06-28 12:45:41, 404 Not Found
** In [[Epilog 30w Mini 24 Laser Engraver]] on 2014-06-28 14:29:09, 404 Not Found
** In [[Epilog 30w Mini 24 Laser Engraver]] on 2014-07-07 14:35:59, 404 Not Found
** In [[Epilog 30w Mini 24 Laser Engraver]] on 2014-07-11 13:34:49, 404 Not Found
** In [[Epilog 30w Mini 24 Laser Engraver]] on 2014-07-16 13:57:27, 404 Not Found
** In [[Epilog 30w Mini 24 Laser Engraver]] on 2014-07-17 05:00:32, 404 Not Found
** In [[Epilog 30w Mini 24 Laser Engraver]] on 2014-07-18 05:01:18, 404 Not Found
** In [[Epilog 30w Mini 24 Laser Engraver]] on 2014-07-18 06:58:20, 404 Not Found

The web page has been saved by the Internet Archive. Please consider linking to an appropriate archived version: [http://web.archive.org/web/20120531000843/http://www.thingiverse.com:80/tool:33/things].--[[User:Wikibot|Wikibot]] ([[User talk:Wikibot|talk]]) 07:22, 18 July 2014 (UTC)


== Jason's discussion and advice re: laser operation ==

Jason Shanfield, who is on on the google group, had this to say about the laser operation and maintenance --[[User:Rdoeksen|Rdoeksen]] ([[User talk:Rdoeksen|talk]]) 15:12, 3 July 2015 (CDT)

Last night, a member showed me unacceptable results he was getting on the laser cutter. I only had time to correct a few issues. 

I am heading to PS1 to correct the rest. I will take the machine out of service for an hour or two. 

Here's what: 

1. Please handle the cutting head gently, taking great care to make sure that all rulers are down and that XY lock is off before you attempt to move it. The beam is a tedious pain in the ass to realign. Misalignment causes unexpected results. 

2. Please do not slam your pieces into the rulers when you place them on the table. This whacks them out of alignment and they're a tedious pain in the ass to readjust. 

3. Don't drop the focus gauge. If you drop the focus gauge, email pumpingstationjason@gmail.com and Elizabeth immediately and one of us will fix it. And please put up a note that says it's out of alignment and the kerf is wider than expected so people who want very accurate results don't waste their time and materials. 

4. Do not "adjust" anything, do not turn a single screw, do not open the machine, and do not use any function from the Config or Maint menus except Option 1 under Maint — return home. 

5. Do not use autofocus unless you really really know what you're doing or you run the risk of burning the Y motor out. 

6. Do not use autofocus unless you really really know what you're doing or you run the risk of burning the Y motor out. 

If you notice anything wonky with the machine, please email me and Elizabeth. We always try to get problems corrected or order parts within 48 hours. 

Finally, you're not going to get in trouble if the machine stops working while you're using it responsibly under normal conditions. That's what it's there for. Please let us know if this happens. If you break the machine and don't want to fess up, just create a throwaway gmail account and let us know anonymously. It's better than nothing.

This was Jason's take on things, but it seems reasoned. Note: once Elizabeth is replaced as the CNC host, read all mention of "Elizabeth" as "The Current CNC Host." --[[User:Rdoeksen|Rdoeksen]] ([[User talk:Rdoeksen|talk]]) 15:12, 3 July 2015 (CDT)

== Origin and pointer ==

It seems that sometimes the home position gets misaligned and the laser pointer sits about a half inch down from the y ruler. Going in to adjust the x and y home positions  (without changing numbers, currently (-326,+9))seems to have fixed the problem --[[User:Rtystgeeke|Rtystgeeke]] ([[User talk:Rtystgeeke|talk]]) 13:25, 23 July 2015 (CDT)
:What part of [[Epilog_30w_Mini_24_Laser_Engraver#Top_Eight]] is unclear? Please do not "adjust" anything. It took me 20 minutes to correct your "fix". The pointer does not always rest over the absolute or relative origin, however the machine ''will'' plot from that point. This is normal behavior. [[User:Jason|Jason]] ([[User talk:Jason|talk]]) 13:59, 8 August 2015 (CDT)
::Perhaps I was hasty and you're not the reason the absolute origin was off by 20-30 thousands. Fixed in any event. [[User:Jason|Jason]] ([[User talk:Jason|talk]]) 14:01, 8 August 2015 (CDT)

== Troubleshooting ==

Shelle had some trouble sending print jobs, and there is a [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/pumping-station-one/XZNpsIC7JUs/9lKj7uYoEgAJ troubleshooting] thread on the mailing list.