Section 13: Material Engraving Techniques
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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 the Air Curtain 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.
Wood Cleaning Techniques
When laser engraving or cutting wood, resin in the wood comes to the surface, mixes
with the smoke and is deposited as a residue. If the wood has a coating of
polyurethane or lacquer the coating protects the surface of the wood from the
resin/smoke damage. You can remove the resin from coated materials with a wet
chamois or a sponge with a web cover. Some people like to use 409, Windex or other
mild cleaning product, but water works well and is usually the most readily available
wetting agent. The chamois that Epilog recommends has a sponge in the middle of it,
and is available in the automotive car wash section of many Target stores or many
automotive supply shops.
If the wood is not coated with polyurethane, the resin and smoke will stain the surface
and you will need to sand the surface to remove the resin.
Never use a paper towel to clean the wood surface. The paper towel will shred and it
is impossible to get the shredded fibers out of the engraved recesses of the wood.
Most wood products that are designed for laser engraving will have a polyurethane
coating so that they are very easy to clean.
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