Tutorial 1

Luggage Tag

In this tutorial, you will be creating a customized luggage tag.

We will create our designs using the online platform Gravit.

Gavit Designer is a simpler version of Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape. All are vector design platforms, meaning the designs you create are combinations of paths–not pixels. This is essential for creating a file that the laser cutter can read.

Steps to Designing with Gravit:

1. Create a free account. Sign in using your UW-Madison Google account.

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Download and open the tutorial file

• Download the file Laser_Tutorial_One_ForUpload.gvdesign from Canvas.
• Open designer.gravit.io and load the file (File > Open file…)

Your screen should look like this!

Don’t adjust any of the line colors or widths. The design relevance will be discussed in the next lesson.

Customize the design

4. Double click the text box that says ‘Bucky Badger’ and type your name. If your name is long and doesn’t fit between the blue lines, reduce the font size on the right panel until it fits. Re-center the text boxes if they are no longer centered after you enter your information.
5. Enter your phone number in the next text box.

If you want, change the quote to a different (but still short!) quote.

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Add a hole for the key ring

6. Select ellipse from the ‘Shape’ dropdown menu.
7. Draw an ellipse on the workspace for the keyring.

Add a hole for the key ring

8. Under Fills on the right side, change opacity to 0% and press Enter.
9. Under Borders on the right side, type 0.001in into the border weight box and press Enter. (Gravit will automatically convert this into a point system.)

Note: You MUST type in 0.001in. Just typing 0.001 or 0.001” will not work.

10. Click the colored circle to the left of the border weight box.

Add a hole for the key ring

11. The color palette will appear. Enter 255 into the R box and press Enter.

Add a hole for the key ring

12. Change the width and height to 0.2in.

Note: If the width and height are linked (they change together), unclick the Keep Ratio button.

Add a hole for the key ring

• Adjust the position of the ellipse to your liking. Remember, this is the hole for the keyring.

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Save and export your customized file

1. Click Edit then Settings. Make sure Save layers as text paths in on. Click Save Changes.
2. Click File then Export.
1. Change the format to PDF.
2. Change the size to 300dpi.
3. Make sure the Color Mode is RGB.
4. Check Export text as curves.
3. Email the file to yourself, so you can open it on the laser cutter computer in the Makerspace!

Before using the laser cutter,

• Reserve time on the laser cutter through this website. Plan to arrive at least twenty minutes before your scheduled time.
• When you arrive at the Makerspace, use the laser cutting File Prep Station in the Makerspace (desktop computer next to electronics area, no login needed) to check your file.

3. Open UCP (Universal Control Panel) software and AI (Adobe Illustrator). At this point, you should also open your email and download the luggage tag PDF.

Open these slides on your computer or an iPad. (All slides intended to be used in the Makerspace will have a green outline.)

File Setup

4. In AI, click File, Preferences, Units… In the pop-up window, select Inches from each dropdown menu if not already selected. Click OK.

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File Setup

Note: If the document ever switches to a different unit system, click File then Document Setup… to adjust the document-specific settings.

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File Setup

• Open the PDF file of your luggage tag.
• Make sure the document is in the RGB color system.

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File Setup

• Click on each component of your design. Make sure all vector cut components are RGB Red and have a stroke width of 0.001”. Make any necessary adjustments. Do the same for vector engraving (blue).

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You can check the color by double clicking the hollow box.

Stroke Width

Once your file is ready to go,

9. Click File, Print. Double check that the printer is correct (ILS9.150D). Minimize the AI window to reveal the UCP screen.

Once your file is ready to go,

• Click the folder button on the top of the screen. Insert a flash drive, click Export, and save the .emf file to the flash drive. Don’t forget to eject the flash drive!

Once your file is ready to go,

• Click the folder button on the top of the screen. Insert a flash drive, click Export, and save the .emf file to the flash drive. Don’t forget to eject the flash drive!
• Lastly, look in the scrap bin for hardboard or acrylic. If you aren’t familiar with these materials, look at the display of examples. (Acrylic looks the best!)

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Note: If there isn’t any in the scrap bin, shop staff will help you purchase a small piece from the Makerspace Mini-Mart. If you aren’t sure what the material is in the scrap bin, staff can help.

12. Let shop staff know you are ready to use the laser cutter. They will help get you set up and logged in to the computer. Follow the next slides to operate the laser cutter once shop staff has approved everything and given you the green light.

UW Makerspace Laser Cutter

The Makerspace has a Universal Laser Cutter ILS9.150D. The equipment specifications are below. Click the link if you’d like to review the manufacturer’s manual.

Locate these important work area features

• Garbage
• Scrap Bin

• Vacuum
• Fire extinguisher

• Laser Focus Dongle
• Digital Caliper

The vacuum is housed under the computer.

Preparation

• Measure the thickness of your material using the digital caliper and write it down. You will enter this value later. Note: If your material is bowed, do not use it.

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2. Turn on the laser. Listen for the sound of the ventilation. If it doesn’t turn on, notify shop staff. Make sure the emergency stop is released by turning the knob to the right. Both the power button and the E-stop are located on the top, right of the laser cutter.

Equipment Setup

3. Open the laser and inspect the equipment for any visible damage or scraps prior to using.
1. Check the inside edges and trays. Remove any scrap.
2. Ensure the laser bed is positioned properly in the upper left corner.

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Equipment Setup

4. Focus the laser to the material.
1. Double check that nothing is sitting on the honeycomb platform.
2. Lower the Z-axis to drop the platform away from the nozzle.
3. Place your material on the platform. If your material is bowed, do not use it.
4. Push and hold the focus button, located on the laser control panel. The laser head will move to the middle of processing area.
5. Once finished, push the return button to go back to the main screen.
6. Push and release the focus button to go into manual focus mode. Use the manual focus gauge to verify Z-axis height. If it’s off, raise or lower the Z-axis accordingly.
7. Press the return button to go back to main screen and move the laser to the upper right.

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Watch the video on the next screen for more clarification on these steps.

Equipment Setup

5. Focus the laser to the material.

Equipment Setup

• Focus the laser to the material.

Equipment Setup

7. Square the material in the upper left corner of the laser processing area.
8. Ask shop staff if the vents need to be adjusted. This will be discussed in the next lesson.
9. Close the laser. The interlocking system prevents any accidental exposure to the laser.

vents

Processing Procedure

1. Open UCP (on the desktop) and import your file.

Processing Procedure

• Relocate the design to the top left corner. Enter 0.200” into both the X and Y position boxes.

We do not to locate designs at 0,0 because this forces the laser to operate too closely to the rulers.

Processing Procedure

• Relocate the design to the top left corner. Enter 0.200” into both the X and Y position boxes.

We do not to locate designs at 0,0 because this forces the laser to operate too closely to the rulers.

If your scrap piece of material does not have space in the top left corner, use the rulers in the laser cutter to determine the best positioning for your design and make that change.

Processing Procedure

3. Click Settings in the bottom right corner.
4. Under the Materials Database tab,
1. Select your material from the UW Makerspace dropdown menu.
2. Enter the material thickness that you measured. Do not rely on stock information.
3. Make sure both Top and Bottom boxes are selected in the Which Laser? section.

Click Apply, then OK.

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Processing Procedure

5. Click Estimate View then Start to generate an estimated processing time.

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Processing Procedure

• Run through the checklist below. If everything has been completed properly, run your job by clicking the green play button on the top right.

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You must remain at the laser cutter while your material is processing. Watch for a machine error or fire.

Final Checklist

• Your material is approved.
• Your material is not in the way of the laser path.
• The correct material was chosen in the Materials Database.
• The correct material thickness was entered.
• The Z-axis height has been set to the material.
• The X and Y file location, laser position, and material position are all in alignment.

A pause button will appear while the laser is running. In the event of an emergency, use the E-stop.

Equipment Cleanup

1. Clean the area of all materials and scrap.

2. Empty the laser trays under the processing platform into the garbage (see slide 26).

3. Vacuum around the processing area.

4. Close any open programs, log out of the computer, and shut off the laser cutter.

Post-Processing

If desired, sand the edges and top surface of your luggage tag. You can purchase sandpaper from the Mini-Mart or take advantage of the used sandpaper from the scrap bin. You can also purchase a keyring to complete the luggage tag!

End of Tutorial 1

Luggage Tag

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Action Items:

Upload your file and a photo of your tag

Fundamentals 2