Trotec Speedy 100 troubles with cutting laminate

[Kieran Mannings]

Hi Guys,



I was wondering if you could help, we have a Trotec Speedy 100 running on jobcontrol 9.4.2.7, day in day out we just do anodised aluminium engraving where engraving is very good quality, we only use for about an hour a day so very small use. We are looking to do a few more materials but are struggling to get good results. Particularly with vector cutting engraving laminate (0.5mm depth), using the follow settings we get the result attached a very rough edge and the circle is approx 1mm smaller than set in illustrator. The settings used are as follows:



DPI: 1000
Power: 10
Speed:0.80
PPI:10000
Passes: 10
Air assist: on
Correction: 10
Z-offset 0.00mm



These are standard settings for tromark lasermax as suggested by Job Control.

Mirrors and lenses recently cleaned.



As I say I’m a bit of an amateur with these things we have been using the machine for around a year but just doing the same work day in day out so we got the settings right once and repeat on a daily basis but now we’re trying to do a few more materials we need some advise from the pros.



Any help you guys could give would be much appreciated.



Kind Regards,



Kieran

224946

[Ernie Balch]

I don't know what settings to use on your system, but I would use a slow speed with high power and try to cut in one pass.

My 80W Rabbit cuts birch plywood 1/8" with 15 speed and 30% power. It also works well with 20 speed and 35% power. dense materials take more power.

ernie

[Dan Hintz]

Please put your laser info (including wattage) in your sig...

Word of advice... only use job control settings as a rough guide, never as an absolute. Play with your settings.

Is it really taking 10 passes? If so, that's a no-no for clean cuts. One pass, slow and warm.

[Dee Gallo]

I don't have a Speedy, but 10 power seems awfully low for cutting... on my Epilog that would not cut much of anything.

[Randy Digby]

On our Speedy 100 30w machine, we cut 1/16" Rowmark LaserMax at 28 Power, 1 Speed, and 3 passes and 1000ppi. I do slow and multiple passes to keep from burning and staining the surface, especially on white and yellow.

[Mark Sipes]

standard Rowmark LM922-xxx 25 w system 35% power 1.2 velocity 2000 ppi 2 passes air asst on


Verify focal length... 1.5 inch

[Mike Null]

Increase your power to 100 or whatever works. You should be able to do this in one pass. Use air assist if you have it.

The circle will be a tiny bit smaller than the drawing due to the kerf. You can adjust the size by .005" and compensate.

[Ross Moshinsky]

Increase your power to 100 or whatever works. You should be able to do this in one pass. Use air assist if you have it.

The circle will be a tiny bit smaller than the drawing due to the kerf. You can adjust the size by .005" and compensate.

Yeah, I don't understand why anyone would do anything but this.

Turn up the power to 90+. Adjust the speed until it cuts through. You don't even need air assist. If you're worried about the surface, just use some transfer paper to protect the surface.

[Kieran Mannings]

Guys, many thanks for your help, it certainly seems logical to cut with one hot pass rather than many low power passes, we shall give this a go on Monday and report back, thanks again


Kieran

[Kieran Mannings]

Thanks for your help guys, changing the PPI from 10000 to 1000 made a massive differrence! My laser engraving knowledge is growing, slowly.. :)

[Mike Null]

I usually run mine at 500 or 600 and the same with the dpi--usually 500.