Laser Cutter Instructions and Workflow: Difference between revisions

a. When you are satisfied with your image, print the image from the vector application.

b. In the Windows “Print” dialog box

i. Printer should be Epilog Engraver Win32.

ii. Click “Setup”.

iii. Click “Preferences”.

iv. Choose the job type: “Raster”, “Vector”, or “Combined” based on if you are cutting, etching, or doing both. If you have a Raster or Combined job, set the resolution appropriately, but generally there’s no need to go above 600dpi.

v. Enable Auto Focus (except in special occasions where the laser might collide with something or you are cutting/engraving an oddly shaped object).

vi. Set the piece size accordingly,  or just set to 24” by 12” and set the art board within the vector application to 24” by 12” and then position the cutting/engraving image within the art board in).

vii. Raster settings (for engraving) are applied to strokes within the image that’s over a hairline (as defined above), while vector settings (for cutting) are applied to hairlines. If you have a combo image, you’ll have to set both. These settings depend on the material properties and thickness and there is a handy reference chart on the wall with commonly used materials.

viii. Set “Engrave Direction” to “Bottom Up” as cutting in that manner works better with the airflow through the machine.

ix. Dithering settings can usually be left alone, except in the cases of specialized images.

x. “Vector Sorting”, which determines which cuts are made first should be checked. Generally optimize is fine.

xi. Frequency Automatic can generally be left alone.

xii. Click OK.

xiii. Click Print.

xiv. Set the proper orientation, rotation, placement, etc.

xv. Do not click “Print” until the laser is on.