This guide will show you how to unpack your new laser machine, install the laser tube(s) and other parts, install the software, and create your first sample.

Table of Contents

Unpacking

Your machine has been carefully packed and shipped in a secure wood-sided shipping crate. Start by disassembling the crate with a screw gun and removing the wood crate parts from the area, leaving only the crate floor underneath the machine.

Remove and set aside all the loose parts—the water chiller, blower, ductwork, miscellaneous parts box, and box or boxes containing the laser tube(s). Pay particular
attention not to put weight or stress on the laser tube boxes, as the tubes are made of glass and the cardboard boxes are not designed to protect them from more than light handling.

Rotate all the foot-plates to the fully raised position (rotating anti-clockwise when looking down from above).

The machine is now ready to be lifted off the crate floor. This can be done with a forklift, or with several workers positioned on all sides of the machine (caution, the total weight of the machine is approximately 880 pounds, 400kg).

If using a forklift, you must use fork extensions or sturdy wood planks to span the full width of the machine. Do not attempt to lift with forks that do not reach the far edge of the machine.

If using an overhead crane and lifting straps, a spreader bar must be used to avoid excessive pressure from the straps on the top edge of the machine.

Once the machine is on a level surface, it can be rolled into place on its built-in casters.
After positioning, secure it in place by screwing the leveling feet down until they are in firm contact with the ground. Precise leveling of the machine is not necessary, but it should be reasonably level and well-supported with roughly equal pressure on all four feet.

- List of Parts

Mechanical Installation

Once your machine is in its final installation location, the first step is to install the laser
tube(s) in the laser housing on the back side of the machine. The sooner the laser is
installed, the sooner it will be protected from accidental damage outside the machine!

The figure below shows a schematic diagrams of the CO2 glass laser tube, the laser
housing, and the correct orientation of the laser tube within the housing.

You can recognize the back end (the anode, or + end) of the tube by the glass coil inside the outer glass envelope. The laser beam emerges from the other end of the tube.

On single-tube machines, the back end with glass coil will be on the left when you are
facing the back side of the machine. On dual-tube machines, one will face in each direction.

- Schematic Diagrams of Laser Tube Installation
Laser tube position

The water outlet port of the laser tube on the cathode (beam-exit) side must face upwards!

Follow these steps to complete the mechanical installation of the laser tube and other system components.

  1. Check the laser tube
    Open the laser shipping box, carefully take out the laser tube, and check it for damage. The laser outlet window should be clean and there should be no physical damage to the glass tube.
  2. Place the laser tube in the machine
    Open the laser housing at the back of the machine and carefully set the laser tube onto its curved supports. The laser output side (the side opposite the inner glass coil) should be facing the angled mirror assembly. On single-laser models this will be to your right, and on dual-laser machines one laser tube will face in each direction. The laser output window should be about ½” (10-15mm) from the round porthole in the metal bracket on the mirror mount.
  3. Connect the water hoses
    Locate the two rubber water hoses within the laser housing. Connect one to each water inlet/outlet port at the ends of the laser tube (use the tube nearest each port). Make sure they are well-seated on the ports. (On dual-laser models connect all four hoses, two on each tube.)  
  4. Rotate the water outlet port to the top
    It is very important for proper cooling water flow that the water port on the laser output side of the tube (the side opposite the glass coil) be facing upwards, allowing air to escape once the cooling water flow is turned on. Before fastening the laser tube in place, rotate it so this port is directly on the top side of the tube.
  5. Fasten the laser tube in place
    Use the provided elastic straps to fasten the laser tube in place. Hook each elastic band to the back side of the curved tube mount, stretch it over the top of the tube, and then hook it onto the front side of the mount. Re-confirm that the water outlet port is facing straight up.
  6. Connect the laser power wires
    Connect the positive (red) wire you will find inside the laser housing to the screw terminal on the anode (+) side of the laser tube (the side with the glass coil inside). Slide the clear plastic insulation cover away to access the screw, then slide it back in place once the wire is screwed down. (This cover is important to avoid accidental contact with the high voltage that operates the laser tube.)  Connect the negative (yellow) wire to the cathode (-) side of the laser (the side facing the angled mirror). This side does not require an insulated cover.  Do Not Over-Tighten The Screws! The screws holding the ground and high voltage wires should be hand-tight. Avoid putting excessive stress on the glass tube or electrical terminals.
    On dual-laser models, repeat for the second laser tube. For each tube, use the appropriate color of wire that emerges from the machine housing closest to its respective terminal.
  7. Connect the water chiller
    Place the water chiller unit in a convenient location near the back of the laser machine. Identify the water hose coming from the outlet port of the laser tube (the one facing the top of the tube, by the laser exit mirror) and connect it to one of the inlet ports on the back of the chiller unit. Next, connect the inlet port of the laser tube (the one facing down on the side of the tube with the glass coil in it) to the corresponding outlet port on the water chiller.
    On dual-laser machines, repeat with the other pair of inlet/outlet ports.
    On single-laser machines, if your water chiller unit has a second pair of inlet/outlet ports, connect them to each other with a short length of rubber tubing about 6” or 15cm long. (You can cut a short length off one of the supplied water hoses for this purpose.)
  8. Connect the chiller alarm
    Connect the water chiller alarm cable from the connector on the back of the chiller unit to the alarm connector on the back of the laser machine.
  9. Install the exhaust blower
    Place the exhaust blower in a convenient location near the back of the machine. Use the supplied flexible duct and hose clamps to connect both air ports on the back of the machine to the supplied T connector, and from there to the center inlet port of the blower unit. Use the supplied flexible duct, or any 6” (15cm) flexible or rigid duct of your choice, to vent the bottom outlet port of the blower to the outside. Note that venting is very important: the machine cannot be operated without adequate venting to the outside! (In situations where this is not possible, we offer an optional air purification system.)
  10. Complete electrical hookup
    Install the power cord on the back of the main laser machine, then connect the laser machine power cord, blower power cord, and water chiller power cord to the supplied switched power outlet strip. Connect the outlet strip to a 220V, 15A capacity electrical outlet, making sure to follow all local electrical and fire safety codes.

Congratulations, you have completed the mechanical installation of your new laser machine! The next section will show you how to power it up and verify basic operation of the major components of the system, including the X-Y motors, water chiller, blower, and the laser tube(s).

Start Up

Now that you have finished the mechanical setup of your machine, you are ready bring it up to operational status. Please follow these steps in order to ensure safe and reliable startup.

It is convenient to start with the supplied power outlet strip plugged in to an appropriate 220V, 15A circuit, switched on, but with nothing plugged into it. You will be plugging the components of the system into this outlet strip one by one as they are brought online. (After the machine is operational, you can use the master switch on the outlet strip to switch all the components on and off together.)

  1. Add cooling water
    Fill the water chiller unit with distilled or deionized water through the filling port on the top of the unit (the commonly available variety used for ironing is fine). You will need about 2 gallons or 8 liters. A sight glass on the back of the units lets you verify when it is full.
  2. Test the water loop
    Plug the water chiller into the outlet strip and switch it on. Watch the laser tube to verify that it fills with water, and confirm that any air bubbles work their way out through the outlet port. If water comes in through the top of the tube, it means the tubes are hooked up to the wrong ports: interchange the inlet and outlet ports on the water cooler.
    Check carefully for any leaks in the water system and shut off the power immediately if you see any water entering the laser machine.
    If the water chiller sounds its alarm, check for kinks in the water hoses. (It is normal to hear the alarm for a fraction of a second when it is first switched on.)
    The water chiller is configured by default to keep the water at 2°C cooler than the ambient air temperature: the water will not feel cold even though the unit is operating correctly. (This provides adequate cooling while preventing harmful condensation on the water lines or laser tube.)
  3. Power up the laser machine
    Plug the main laser machine power cord into the outlet strip and switch on the laser machine circuit breaker and power switch.
    You should see the control panel light up, and the X-Y motors will move the laser head(s) to the coordinate system origin in the back right corner of the working area. The head should move quickly at first, then more slowly as the origin is determined accurately. (In subsequent use, the laser head will then move rapidly to its previously set origin position from last time the machine was used.)
  4. Place a test piece under the laser head
    Place a suitable piece of thin scrap material (paper, cardboard, thin acrylic, etc) in the center of the working area. Confirm that the laser head will clear the thickness of your test material. Then use the arrow buttons on the control panel to move the laser head over the test material. The head will move rapidly in the direction of whatever arrow button you press.
  5. Switch on water chiller and exhaust blower
    If you have not already done so, plug in and power on the water chiller unit and the exhaust blower. Never activate laser power without both of these units operating!
  6. Enable laser power
    After closing all doors, drawers, and ports on the machine, including the main lid, push the green laser power button above the control panel: It will light up indicating that the laser is enabled and ready to fire. (On dual laser machines, you can activate one or both tubes, just make sure there is test material under whichever laser heads(s) you choose to activate. Laser 1 powers the head on the left.)This button only enables laser operation. It does not actually switch on the laser until the rest of the control system is calling for laser power.
  7. Test the laser tube
    Press the Pulse button on the control panel to briefly activate laser power. You should see a burned spot, or a small hole, appear instantly underneath the laser head. (Look carefully: in some materials the hole may be almost invisible.) You can alternate use of the arrow buttons and the Pulse button to punch multiple holes in your test piece, and test that the laser is firing reliably.

Congratulations, you now have a fully operational laser cutting and engraving system!

Electrical safety

Once you have pushed the Pulse button, or in any other way energized the laser tube, there is the potential for residual high voltage to be present on the anode (red) wire in the laser enclosure. Do not touch this wire without first reading the discharging instructions in the troubleshooting guide.

Install Software

Insert USB stick of software package into computer and double click setup file named EagleWorksSetup_x.xx.xx.exe, you will see dialog as shown below.

Click Install button, you will see option dialog as shown below.

  1. Click Install USB driver button to install communication driver for control system.
  2. Choose Language and set Type to LaserWork.
  3. Click Install button to install EagleWorks software to your computer.

After software installation finished, click Exit button to close the dialog, then you can find EagleWorks directory in Windows start menu.

Create and Send A Job to Machine

Follow steps below to create and send a job to the machine.

  1. Start software by click Start > EagleWorks > EagleWorks, you will see the software window shown as below. You need to get familar with basic elements of the user interface. You can use drawing tools in Draw Toolbar to draw some graphic objects, modify graphics using Cut Property Toolbar, align or place graphics using Arrange Toolbar, set processing parameters using System Work Dialogbar, and send job to machine using Process Control Dialogbar.
  2. Use Ellipse tool to draw a circle with diameter of 30mm, shown as below.
  3. Set processing parameters.
    Double click layer in System Work Dialogbar, Layer Parameter dialog will be shown as below. Check Default option for Speed, set Processing Mode to Cut, and check Default option for Min Power and Max Power, then click OK button to save settings.
  4. Connect to machine by USB cable provided in software package.
  5. Send job to the machine.
    Check Path optimize option in Process Control Dialogbar, then click Download button to send job to the machine, shown as below.

Make A Sample

Follow steps below to make a sample.

  1. Choose a job
    Press File button on control panel to enter file list interface, shown as below. Use Up/Down button to choose the file you sent to machine just now, then press Enter button to confirm selection.
  2. Set relative origin
    Move laser head to a proper position above the material and press Origin button to set it as the relative origin, which is corresponding to the programming origin of the design.
  3. Check processing range
    Press Frame button, control system will move laser head to draw a bounding frame to indicate processing range. If bounding frame of the job according to the relative origin is out of working area limit, control system will show you a error message, please change position of the relative origin.
  4. Correct focal length
    Use focus checking block provided in software package to check if the focal length is set correctly, as shown below.If not, release fixing screw of lens tube on laser head, move it upward or downward to correct focal length.
  5. Start processing
    Close front door, switch on exhaust blower, press Start/Pause button to start processing.
Emergency stop

If anything wrong, please press Start/Pause button to pause processing or press Emergency button IMMEDIATELY to shutdown the machine!

Fire safety

When cutting acrylic, especially thick one, material may catch fire, please press Start/Pause button to pause processing and wait for flameout.

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