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Step 12Test Cut
Before the actual cut, you may want to ensure that your print area is contained within the space you're hoping for. There are a couple of easy ways to do this.
If you tape over your print area, or tape a sheet of paper over the area you intend to print (make sure you cover more then just intended print area, in case you're measurements are off, this is what makes a test cut useful), you can etch into the paper or tape, and make sure the laser is only going to cut the areas you plan.
Print at a high speed, and a low power. It doesn't take much to cut through paper, I think I've used between 10-15% at full speed. With tape I use around the same.
If you plan to use tape, I recommend blue painters tape. It doesn't tend to stick as much when pealing off, and it doesn't leave sticky tape backing on whatever it was stuck to. But again, I would highly recommend you try it for yourself on whatever material you plan to use it on first. Always test first!
When test cutting, ensure you have the exhaust fan turned on, you wouldn't want to start a paper fire.
The images I'm using for this step are from an older project I did, etching a laptop. I'm using these for obvious reasons, even though it goes away from the acrylic I'm using for all the other steps.
If you tape over your print area, or tape a sheet of paper over the area you intend to print (make sure you cover more then just intended print area, in case you're measurements are off, this is what makes a test cut useful), you can etch into the paper or tape, and make sure the laser is only going to cut the areas you plan.
Print at a high speed, and a low power. It doesn't take much to cut through paper, I think I've used between 10-15% at full speed. With tape I use around the same.
If you plan to use tape, I recommend blue painters tape. It doesn't tend to stick as much when pealing off, and it doesn't leave sticky tape backing on whatever it was stuck to. But again, I would highly recommend you try it for yourself on whatever material you plan to use it on first. Always test first!
When test cutting, ensure you have the exhaust fan turned on, you wouldn't want to start a paper fire.
The images I'm using for this step are from an older project I did, etching a laptop. I'm using these for obvious reasons, even though it goes away from the acrylic I'm using for all the other steps.
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