Differences

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--- full_spectrum_laser_pro_36x24_intro_and_quick_start [2017/02/03 23:10] – emphasized beginning cut santiagoricoy
+++ full_spectrum_laser_pro_36x24_intro_and_quick_start [2024/01/21 14:32] (current) – [WARNINGS] santiagoricoy
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 Email: [email protected]
 \\
-**Date:** Last modified on 1/24/17
+**Date:** Last modified on 2/4/17
 \\
 **Keywords:** laser cutter engraving etching burning cutting vector raster
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 ===== WARNINGS =====
 <fs large><fc red>PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY</fc></fs>
+The most important button on the laser cutter is the large red emergency stop button. If you are ever worried, unsure, or overall unconfident that the laser cutter is operating properly, please push down the large red button.
   * **NEVER** leave the system unattended during operation
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 .) **Alignment**:
-{{:sricoy:laser_cutter:aligning.jpg?nolink&500|}}
+**OPTIONAL:**
 After many uses (perhaps prolonged periods of disuse), or after moving the laser cutter, the mirrors may come out of alignment, and though it may not always be obvious, the cut quality will suffer. If the laser has not been operated for an extended period of time, quickly run a check to see if the laser is still in alignment.
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+Note that the peripheral devices will likely all be plugged into one surge protector, so some of these steps may be redundant.
 Machine power-on steps:
@@ Line 270: / Line 271: @@
-**To begin your cut**, triple check that the laser head is positioned where you need it, then simply press the start button. Your raster engrave will begin almost immediately. If in vector mode, the software will first process the image, and then begin the cut.
+**Before beginning your cut**
+Triple check that the laser head is positioned where you need it.
+You can use the arrow keys in RetinaEngrave to move around the laser head, or with the laser control panel in fast xy or slow xy mode.
+**Focusing:**
+{{:sricoy:laser_cutter:focusrulerlaser.jpg?500|}}
+For this step, you can use the up/down arrows in the slow-z or fast-z modes on the laser cutter; using fast-z to get close, and then slow-z to reach the final touching point.
+The focusing ruler (pictured above in use) should be sitting behind the left y-axis track in the laser cutter. Use this on the ledge of the laser head, and raise/lower the head until the end of it just touches the surface of your material.
+**Triple Check:**
+Using the option to run the perimeter (4 corner arrow icon) in RetinaEngrave, you can verify the edges of your cut. This should always be done to ensure you've gotten the right scale, or that your cut fits on your material.
+**Beginning the cut:**
+Simply press the start button in RetinaEngrave. Your raster engrave will begin almost immediately. If in vector mode, the software will first process the image, and then begin the cut; that mode was not covered here, so if you intended to do a raster engrave, and the machine pauses before cutting, you may want to hit the "C" key to cancel the cut.