Reading this page does not replace training. You must be checked off on this tool before using it.
The laser cuts and engraves sheet materials using a focused beam. It is self-serve once you have been trained.To be confirmed: the full operating procedure (model, startup, focusing, job setup, ventilation, shutdown). Only the rules below are sourced so far. The machine's details are in Atlas: https://atlas.waukeshamakers.com.
## Certification required Yes. See **Training and Certification: How Certification Works**. ## The rule posted on the machine **Never leave the laser unattended while it is running.** Stay with the machine for the whole job, watching it, not just in the room. Lasers can set the material on fire, and a small flare-up becomes a real fire within seconds when nobody is watching. If you need to step away, pause or stop the job first. ## Before you start - Do the general checks in **Training and Certification: Pre-Use Inspection**. - **Check your material.** Only cut materials on the approved list, and never cut anything you cannot identify. See **Digital Fabrication: Laser-Safe and Prohibited Materials**. - Make sure the exhaust or filtration is running. See **Shop Safety: Air Quality**. - Know where the nearest fire extinguisher is. See **Shop Safety: Fire Safety and Hot Work**. - Clear scraps and leftover pieces out of the bed. ## While it runs - Watch for flames. A brief flicker at the cut point can be normal; sustained flame is not. Stop the job if flames persist. - Do not open the lid or defeat any interlock while the laser is firing. ## When you are done - Wait for the smoke to clear before opening the lid. - Remove your parts and all scraps from the bed. Small scraps left behind are a fire hazard for the next job. - Report any problem; see **Shop Safety: Tagging a Tool Out of Service and Reporting It**.