Chris Terrell
12-17-2011, 7:59 AM
I've recently started using a Chinese-made laser cutter (50 or 60W tube, can't recall right now). I'm trying to find the right settings for cutting 9mm MDF cleanly and minimising the amount of charring that I have to sand off afterwards. So far I've found that it took about 8 repeats of the cutting operation, initially at 100% power and speed of about 100cm/minute for 3 runs, the rest at 50% power as it began to ignite a section (it was salvageable).
The job was done and the item - a tool carrier - is ok but there is deeper charring in the central part of the board thickness due to overheating. I'm wondering if this would have happened anyway in thicker material or if it needed a cooling time between repeats?
Does anybody have any advice on good settings for cutting MDF without this amount of burning?
I haven't had time available to do a full calibration test to find this out for myself, though a quick test implied that a lower power setting and speed, plus repeated cutting, would be better.
I'm wondering too if the beam/mirrors might need realigning and if this would make any difference?
The cutter has a reasonably effective air assist, but I'm not sure it projects the air very deep into a narrow cut in thick materials.
I've been told that this machine should be able to cut 12mm MDF.... over a few days perhaps!!?? At the moment I'm thinking it may be better and quicker overall just to use the laser to mark out the pattern and cut it using a bandsaw, coping or fretsaw and hole cutters.
Any thoughts and suggestions welcome, I'm already impressed by the amount of useful stuff I'm learning through this forum, so thank you in advance!
Best wishes and Happy New Year to you all.
Chris:)
The job was done and the item - a tool carrier - is ok but there is deeper charring in the central part of the board thickness due to overheating. I'm wondering if this would have happened anyway in thicker material or if it needed a cooling time between repeats?
Does anybody have any advice on good settings for cutting MDF without this amount of burning?
I haven't had time available to do a full calibration test to find this out for myself, though a quick test implied that a lower power setting and speed, plus repeated cutting, would be better.
I'm wondering too if the beam/mirrors might need realigning and if this would make any difference?
The cutter has a reasonably effective air assist, but I'm not sure it projects the air very deep into a narrow cut in thick materials.
I've been told that this machine should be able to cut 12mm MDF.... over a few days perhaps!!?? At the moment I'm thinking it may be better and quicker overall just to use the laser to mark out the pattern and cut it using a bandsaw, coping or fretsaw and hole cutters.
Any thoughts and suggestions welcome, I'm already impressed by the amount of useful stuff I'm learning through this forum, so thank you in advance!
Best wishes and Happy New Year to you all.
Chris:)