Merge pull request #121 from edinburghhacklab/nomis-laser-cutter

Reorder laser cutter training

Author: tcmal

syllabuses/G2/Big Laser Cutter/syllabus.md

@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
 
 ### Materials
 
-* Can catch fire
+* Can catch fire (laser cutter must not be left unattended)
 * Can produce toxic fumes
 
 ### Laser
 
-* High-power laser can cause burns or severe eye damage
-* Laser compartment must remain closed
+* High-power laser can cause burns, severe eye damage or blindness
+* Laser compartment must remain closed, and the lid-sensor must not be bypassed
 
 ### Electricity
 
@@ -31,6 +31,15 @@
 
 ## Usage
 
+### Hazards
+
+* The laser can cause burns, severe eye damage and blindness
+* The laser compartment must remain closed, and the lid-sensor must not be bypassed
+* The laser cutter contains high voltages (2kV, 240V) and users must keep clear
+  of the wiring in the laser compartment and control panel
+* There is a risk of fire with **any** material and the laser cutter must not be
+  left unattended, even for a minute (there is pause button and an emergency stop)
+
 ### Starting of the machine
 
 * Check there are no obstacles for when the laser cutter moves to the home position
@@ -40,23 +49,7 @@
 * Power on the machine (green button)
 * Ensure the internal air assist is running (unless cutting paper)
 * Ensure the chiller is running
-  * If it is not, alarm will continue sounding for more than a second and machine should not be used.
-
-### Stopping of the machine
-
-* Return the laser to the home position ("Datum" button)
-* Power off the machine (red button/key switch)
-* The E-stop should be pressed in an emergency, this will cut power to the laser
-* Remember to log out if leaving the machine unattended for any period of time
-
-### Hazards
-
-* The laser can cause burns and blindness
-* The laser compartment must remain closed, and the lid-sensor must not be bypassed
-* The laser cutter contains high voltages (2kV, 240V) and users must keep clear
-  of the wiring in the laser compartment and control panel
-* There is a risk of fire with **any** material and the laser cutter must not be
-  left unattended, even for a minute (there is pause button and an emergency stop)
+  * If it is not, alarm will continue sounding for more than a second and machine should not be used
 
 ### General
 
@@ -72,10 +65,16 @@
 * Using the cutter's control panel to move the head/carriage (don't move it
   outside the allowed area because there is no protection against this)
 * Positioning the workpiece and setting Z (vertical) alignment
+  * The optimal position for the bed depends on the material but is usually
+    about 1cm above the height of the metal frame enclosure around the bed
+  * Don't leave it too high because the laser head/carriage may hit it
+  * Don't use the bed height for focusing, raise the laser head so that it won't
+    hit the material
 * Focusing the laser
   * Place the 12mm focusing cylinder on the material under the laser and loosen
-    the ring on the laser head/carriage to drop it onto the material so that the
-    air flow stops, then tighten the ring and remove the focusing cylinder
+    (clockwise) the top ring on the laser head/carriage to drop it onto the
+    material so that the air flow stops, then tighten the ring (counter-clockwise)
+    and remove the focusing cylinder
 * Using the test button before cutting (the red light indicates the outer
   boundary of the cutting/engraving area)
 
@@ -94,34 +93,45 @@
 * Consult the complete list of materials on the wiki page
 * Ask a maintainer if you are unsure of suitability
 
+### Stopping of the machine
+
+* The E-stop should be pressed in an emergency, this will cut power to the laser
+* Return the laser to the home position ("Datum" button)
+* Power off the machine (red button/key switch)
+* Remember to log out if leaving the machine unattended for any period of time
+
 ### Post Cutting/Engraving
 
 * Once you have finished your work, turn off the laser cutter, log out of the access control, and clean up the bed
 * Leave the machine in the state you would expect to find it
 
 ## Maintenance
 
-### Basic
+### Basic (mandatory)
 
 #### Removing dirt and debris
 
 * Remove large debris by hand
 * Use vacuum cleaner to remove small debris
 
+### Intermediate (optional)
+
+* Cleaning mirrors and lens
+* Checking alignment of laser
+* Minor corrections of alignment (mirrors 2 and 3 only)
+
 #### Checking alignment of visible guide laser
 
+Don't do this unless the guide laser is obviously wrong because it will wear
+out the screw holding the guide laser in the aligned position.
+
 1. Put scrap material in the laser cutter and focus
 2. Close the lid
 3. Briefly press and release the "Laser" button to fire the laser
-4. Open the lid and align the guide laser with the mark on the material
-
-### Intermediate
-
-* Cleaning mirrors and lens
-* Checking alignment of laser
-* Minor corrections of alignment (mirrors 2 and 3 only)
+4. Open the lid
+5. Align the guide laser with the mark on the material
 
-### Advanced
+### Advanced (optional)
 
 * Removal of bed for extended cleaning
 * Full alignment

syllabuses/G2/Small Laser Cutter/syllabus.md

@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
 
 ### Materials
 
-* Can catch fire
+* Can catch fire (laser cutter must not be left unattended)
 * Can produce toxic fumes
 
 ### Laser
 
-* High-power laser can cause burns or severe eye damage
-* Laser compartment must remain closed
+* High-power laser can cause burns, severe eye damage or blindness
+* Laser compartment must remain closed, and the lid-sensor must not be bypassed
 
 ### Electricity
 
@@ -30,22 +30,6 @@
 
 ## Usage
 
-### Starting of the machine
-
-* Check there are no obstacles for when the laser cutter moves to the home position
-* Tap your tag on the access control
-* Ensure the external extractor fan is running
-* Release the E-Stop
-* Power on the machine (key switch)
-* Ensure the internal air pump is running (unless cutting paper)
-
-### Stopping of the machine
-
-* Return the laser to the home position ("Datum" button)
-* Power off the machine (red button/key switch)
-* The E-stop should be pressed in an emergency, this will cut power to the laser
-* Remember to log out if leaving the machine unattended for any period of time
-
 ### Hazards
 
 * The laser can cause burns and blindness
@@ -55,6 +39,15 @@
 * There is a risk of fire with **any** material and the laser cutter must not be
   left unattended, even for a minute (there is pause button and an emergency stop)
 
+### Starting of the machine
+
+* Check there are no obstacles for when the laser cutter moves to the home position
+* Tap your tag on the access control
+* Ensure the external extractor fan is running
+* Release the E-Stop
+* Power on the machine (key switch)
+* Ensure the internal air pump is running (unless cutting paper)
+
 ### General
 
 * Know how to power-up the cutter and check that the extraction, water
@@ -88,34 +81,45 @@
 * Consult the complete list of materials on the wiki page
 * Ask a maintainer if you are unsure of suitability
 
+### Stopping of the machine
+
+* The E-stop should be pressed in an emergency, this will cut power to the laser
+* Return the laser to the home position ("Datum" button)
+* Power off the machine (red button/key switch)
+* Remember to log out if leaving the machine unattended for any period of time
+
 ### Post Cutting/Engraving
 
 * Once you have finished your work, turn off the laser cutter, log out of the access control, and clean up the bed
 * Leave the machine in the state you would expect to find it
 
 ## Maintenance
 
-### Basic
+### Basic (mandatory)
 
 #### Removing dirt and debris
 
 * Remove large debris by hand
 * Use vacuum cleaner to remove small debris
 
+### Intermediate (optional)
+
+* Cleaning mirrors and lens
+* Checking alignment of laser
+* Minor corrections of alignment (mirrors 2 and 3 only)
+
 #### Checking alignment of visible guide laser
 
+Don't do this unless the guide laser is obviously wrong because it will wear
+out the screw holding the guide laser in the aligned position.
+
 1. Put scrap material in the laser cutter and focus
 2. Close the lid
 3. Briefly press and release the "Laser" button to fire the laser
-4. Open the lid and align the guide laser with the mark on the material
-
-### Intermediate
-
-* Cleaning mirrors and lens
-* Checking alignment of laser
-* Minor corrections of alignment (mirrors 2 and 3 only)
+4. Open the lid
+5. Align the guide laser with the mark on the material
 
-### Advanced
+### Advanced (optional)
 
 * Removal of bed for extended cleaning
 * Full alignment