Epilog Fusion 13000, Owner'S Manual

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Section 13: Material Engraving Techniques
140
Please read the following warnings and recommendations and follow them closely at
all times!
 NEVER let the laser system operate if it will be unattended.
 KEEP the area around the machine clean and free of clutter, combustible
materials, explosives, or volatile solvents such as acetone, alcohol, or
gasoline.
 ALWAYS keep a properly maintained and inspected fire extinguisher on
hand. Epilog recommends a Halotron fire extinguisher or a multi-purpose dry
chemical fire extinguisher. The Halotron extinguishers are more expensive
than a dry chemical, but offer certain advantages should you ever need to use
an extinguisher. The Halotron extinguisher discharges a clean, easily
removable substance that is not harmful to the mechanics or wiring of the
laser system. The dry chemical extinguisher discharges a sticky, corrosive
powder that is very difficult to clean up.

ALWAYS use air assist when vector cutting.
 BE CAREFUL! when vector cutting. Many materials have the potential to
burst suddenly into flames – even materials that may be very familiar to the
user. Always monitor the machine when it is operating.
 KEEP YOUR LASER SYSTEM CLEAN – A build up of cutting and
engraving reside and debris is dangerous and can create a fire hazard in its
own right. Keep your laser system clean and free of debris. Regularly
remove the vector grid to clean any small pieces that have fallen through the
grid.
Next to wood, acrylic is the most popular material to use with laser systems. It
engraves and cuts very easily, is available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and
can be relatively inexpensive.
Acrylic comes in two forms, Cast and Extruded. Cast Acrylic is used for almost all
engraving purposes because the frost produced when lasered provides a nice white
contrast against the clear material. Extruded Acrylic remains clear when engraved
and does not produce an adequate contrast.
Extruded Acrylic on the other hand is ideal if you are only going to vector cut.
Extruded is less expensive than cast and also has a lower melting point that produces
an almost flame finished edge when cut with the laser.