Blue
Members must complete the Small Lasers Class before using this tool
Blue is a Universal Laser Systems PLS 6.60 laser cutter — a 60W CO2 laser with a 32" × 18" bed capable of cutting, engraving, and marking a wide range of materials. It is driven via the ULS print driver from CorelDraw, Inkscape, Illustrator, or other vector applications installed on the laser room PC.
Specifications
| Laser Type | CO2 |
|---|---|
| Power | 60W |
| Bed Size | 32" × 18" |
| Controller | ULS (Universal Laser Systems) |
| Software | ULS Print Driver (prints from CorelDraw, Inkscape, Illustrator, etc.) |
| Z Axis | Adjustable (focus set via focus tool — do not use the white button or software Z) |
| Location | Laser room |
Safety
Universal Safety
- Be aware of your surroundings, especially when handling large materials.
- Do not approach anyone operating equipment. Stand patiently in their field of view.
- Safety glasses and closed-toed shoes are required in the shop.
Equipment-Specific Safety
Small Lasers Class is required to use this tool.
- Never leave the laser while it is running. Fires can start in seconds.
- Locate the HALOTRON fire extinguishers in the laser room before starting any work.
- The CO2 laser beam is invisible infrared. The polycarbonate lid blocks IR light — keep it closed during operation. If the lid is not properly shut, the laser will cut off automatically (red light on control panel will flash).
- Do not press the white focus button on the machine or adjust focus in the software. Focus is calibrated by authorized personnel. Changing it affects all subsequent users.
- Do not operate the laser if the lens or mirrors appear dirty (dull, greyish-brown rather than golden-yellow). Fill out a problem report by scanning one of the red QR codes in the space — this notifies the space stewards of the problem. Do not attempt to clean them without specific training — the optics are fragile and easily damaged.
Use Case
Blue is used for laser cutting, engraving, and rastering of a wide variety of materials on a 32"×18" bed. It is a good general-purpose machine for smaller jobs. For larger-format work or higher power, consider Tarkin or Dorian. For engraving round objects, use Pearl (which has a rotary fixture). Trained Blue users may also use Pearl, which is similar in operation.
Materials
Acceptable Materials
Check the Laser Cutter Materials page before working with any material you haven't used before. Common safe materials include: acrylic, plywood, wood, MDF, cardboard, leather, paper, fabric, glass and stone (etch only).
Blue's bed size is 32"×18". Setting your artboard to this size in your design software makes placement easier.
Prohibited Materials
- PVC / Vinyl (including vinyl records) — 60% chlorine by weight; releases corrosive gas that destroys the machine. Do not attempt.
- Polycarbonate / Lexan — does not cut, produces heavy soot that fouls optics instantly. Includes CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs.
- PTFE / Teflon — produces toxic and corrosive gases.
- Metal — contact workshop before attempting.
- Food — contamination risk.
- Epoxy — not laser-safe.
- Materials with sticky glue backing — glue residue requires lens replacement.
- Polystyrene and Polypropylene — catch fire and make a mess.
When in doubt, use the copper wire flame test to check for chlorine: YouTube search
Consumables
Check the Laser Cutter Materials page for settings. A Blue Laser Cutter Settings page with material-specific settings is also available.
Setup
1. Locate Fire Extinguishers
Identify the HALOTRON fire extinguishers in the laser room before starting work.
2. Power On
Power on the machine. Ensure the lid is closed and the chiller (if applicable) is running. The red light on the control panel will flash if there is a problem (lid open, chiller off).
3. Focus
Use the 3D-printed focus tool (labeled "Pearl" but works for both machines) to set focus. Align the focus tool to the screw on the laser head and adjust the Z-height to meet your material surface.
Do not use the white focus button on the machine or adjust focus in the software. These are calibrated by authorized personnel only.
4. Prepare Your File
Color Conventions
Blue uses a color-based system to control laser operations:
- Red lines — cut all the way through
- Blue or green lines — etch (vector engrave)
- Grayscale images — raster (darker = more power)
Power, speed, raster/vector mode, PPI, and Z-depth can be set independently for each color (Black, Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow). The laser processes colors in that order — useful for cutting small or springy parts after etching.
File Preparation
Make your drawing in CorelDraw or import an SVG from Inkscape. Vector lines must be hairline weight (0.001" or thinner) or they will be interpreted as raster fills.
Set your artboard to 32"×18" to match the machine bed.
For Illustrator Users
- Change stroke units to inches: Edit → Preferences → Units → Stroke = Inches
- Set all vector cut lines to 0.001" stroke width
- Print settings: Media size = DEFINED BY DRIVER; Orientation = PORTRAIT (recheck each time you visit Setup — Illustrator may reset this); Placement = CENTER, X=0, Y=0; Scaling = DO NOT SCALE
- Verify placement in the Preview window before sending
5. Set Power and Speed
In the ULS Setup window, configure speed, power, and PPI per color layer. Refer to Laser Cutter Materials or Blue Laser Cutter Settings for tested values.
6. Send Job and Run
Send the job from your design application. Confirm it appears correctly in the ULS control panel preview. Press Start. Monitor the machine for the entire duration of the job.
Cleanup
Universal Cleaning Guide
- Return the equipment to neutral.
- Sweep up debris around the tool, your table, and the floor.
- Clear the floor of tripping hazards such as power cords.
- Empty trash cans and dust collectors that are halfway full or more into the Asmbly dumpster.
- Leave the shop 110% better than you found it.
Tool-Specific Cleaning Guide
- Remove material scraps and debris from the bed and surrounding area.
- Vacuum small debris from inside the machine — avoid pushing debris into the honeycomb.
- Inspect the lens before and after your job. If it appears dull or greyish-brown (rather than golden-yellow), fill out a problem report by scanning one of the red QR codes in the space. Do not operate with dirty optics.
- Power off the machine.
- Return the focus tool to its storage location.
Resources
Software
- ULS Print Driver (installed on the laser room PC)
- CorelDraw and Inkscape available on the laser room PC
- ULS Materials Library
Discourse Links
Manuals
- PLS Installation Manual
- PLS User Guide
- Print Driver — Advanced Manual Control
- UCP — Universal Control Panel
External Resources
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red light flashing | Lid open; chiller off; front door sensor tripped | Close lid fully; turn on chiller; check front door sensor |
| Job not cutting through | Dirty optics; focus off; power/speed settings wrong | Inspect optics; verify focus; check material settings |
| Job shifted or off-center | Origin not set; wrong artboard size; Illustrator orientation set to Landscape | Re-check artboard (32"×18"), orientation (Portrait), placement (CENTER X=0 Y=0) |
| Job disappeared | Placement not set to CENTER in Illustrator | Set Placement = CENTER, X=0, Y=0; re-send |
| Laser not firing | Machine not powered; lid not closed; chiller issue | Check power; close lid; check chiller |
| Burning smell or smoke not clearing | Exhaust not running | Check blower/exhaust; pause job; do not continue without exhaust |
Dirty Optics
If the laser is cutting poorly, inspect the lens using the mirror and lamp kept on top of the machine. Carefully place the mirror onto the vector table underneath the cutting head and shine the lamp down onto it to illuminate the underside of the head:
When it's dirty, it looks dull and greyish-brown like this:
The lens should appear golden-yellow (the lens is coated with a thin layer of gold).
- Do not operate the laser with dirty optics at high power — heat from the dirt can permanently ruin the gold coating or crack the lens.
- Do not attempt to clean optics without specific training. The procedure is described in Cleaning the Laser Cutter, but should not be undertaken without hands-on instruction — the optics are fragile and easily damaged.
- Fill out a problem report by scanning one of the red QR codes in the space — this notifies the space stewards. Do not use the machine until cleared by authorized personnel.
When in doubt, contact a steward or submit a problem report.
Maintenance
This tool is owned by Asmbly Makerspace for the use of its members. Please submit a problem report if maintenance is required.
Replacement lens: ZnSe lens, 19.05mm diameter, 2.0" focal length, for IR laser cutters. Search eBay for "ZnSe Lens 19.05mm".
Maintenance
This tool is owned by Asmbly Makerspace for the use of its members. Please submit a problem report if maintenance is required.
