The FabLab's Epilog laser-cutter Mini 24"

Network setup

The Epilog laser cutter is accessible through a private ethernet network. It can be accessed either from the Windows machine on its right or a laptop through the ethernet cable. The IP address is 129.175.5.206. The windows IP address is 129.175.5.207. Apparently 129.175.5.208 is free.

Command line instructions

Here are some instructions to print svg documents, typically produced from inkscape, from a unix-based laptop (linux), using the cups-epilog command-line driver.

Turn on the laser cutter

Both the machine below and the laser cutter itself.

Connect the laptop to the local network

Epilog Mini, Former configuration

Connect the laptop to the free orange cable on the table next to the laser cutter.

Set:

IP=129.175.5.207
EPILOG_IP=129.175.5.206

Laser Fusion

Set:

IP=192.168.3.5
EPILOG_IP=192.168.3.4

Setup network

If you are using wicd to manage your network connections, you need to turn off first the daemon:

sudo service wicd stop

Set up the network with:

sudo ifconfig eth0 $IP/16

Check the network connection:

ping $EPILOG_IP

Configure cups-epilog and its parameters

export DEVICE_URI="epilog://$EPILOG_IP/Legend/rp=100/rs=20/rm=grey/vp=100/vs=20/vf=500"

rp: raster power (engraving)
rs: raster speed
rm: raster color
vp: vector power (cutting)
vs: vector speed
vf: vector frequency

Printing

From inkscape, export the SVG file to eps
```
  Save a copy -> eps -> ...
```

Send the file to the printer:

  cups-epilog/epilog 123 user jobname < file.eps

Put the sheet on the laser cutter, with its lower left corner on the upper limit of the 12 mark.
Launch a dry run

Turn on the laser pointer on, leave the bay open, no blower, press Go.

No need to calibrate. You may want to edit the parameters to set the vector and raster speed to 100%.
Launch a full run

Turn off the laser pointer, turn on the blower, close the bay, press Go.

The job can be paused / restarted at anytime.

TODO: tips and tricks to produce documents from inkscape

TODO: tips and tricks to print on slices of wood

Materials

Contreplaqué 4mm (Bricomarché)

export DEVICE_URI=”epilog://$EPILOG_IP/Legend/rp=100/rs=20/vp=100/vs=20/vf=500/rm=grey”

fentes: 3.4 mm

Fablab Digiscope