Laser Cutter

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.