Thunder Laser DSP Gantry First Cut

This is how to complete your First Cut and Engrave with a Thunder Laser Nova or Odin Series CO2 Gantry Laser Engraver.

Before You Begin

Your first cut should be completed before you schedule your training and after you carefully followed the Cheat Sheet AND the Usual Suspects, otherwise you will not get all you need from the training.

Here are the links to the Cheat Sheet and the Usual Suspects, just in case:

• CHEAT SHEET - Important Preparation & First Steps
• The Usual Suspects and Preparing For Your 1 Hr. Training

The machine should be properly installed, set up, and configured as per the documentation referenced above.
If you run into issues, email tech support at the email address linked at the bottom of this page.

Safety First

Before you begin using your Thunder Laser Nova CO2 gantry laser engraver, it is important to read and understand the manual, especially the safety section(s). Laser engravers are powerful machines, and it is important to take precautions to avoid injury. Always wear laser safety glasses when doors are open when in use or being fired, and never leave the machine unattended while it is running.

Preparing Your Design

We have a few options on this. You may want to just run a Material Test File. Or you can use one example attached at the bottom of this article. Or you could design your own.

Preparing Your Material

The type of material you are cutting or engraving will affect the settings you need to use on your laser engraver. Be sure to consult the Thunder Laser Nova user references for recommended settings for different materials.

Setting Up Your Laser Engraver

Once you have prepared your material, you can begin setting up your laser engraver.

1. Turn on the laser Main Power.
2. Open the laser engraving software.
3. Load your design file into the software.
4. Position your material on the workbed.
5. Set the laser power, speed, and other settings according to the material you are cutting or engraving.

Making Your First Cut and/or Engrave

Once you have set up your laser engraver and design file, you are ready to make your first cut or engrave.

1. Move the laser head to the starting point of your cut or engrave.
2. Press the start button on the laser engraver.
3. The laser engraver will begin cutting or engraving your design.

Monitoring Your Cut or Engrave

It is important to monitor your cut or engrave while it is in progress. This will help you to identify any problems early on.

If you are cutting, watch for any sparks or smoke. If you see sparks or smoke, stop the cut immediately and inspect the material for damage.

If you are engraving, watch for any signs of over-engraving. Over-engraving can cause the material to char or burn. If you see any signs of over-engraving, stop the engrave immediately and reduce the laser power.

Finishing Your Cut or Engrave

Once the laser engraver has finished cutting or engraving your design, you can remove the material from the workbed.

If you are cutting, you may need to use a file or deburring tool to remove any rough edges from the cut.

If you are engraving, you may want to clean the engraved area with a damp cloth to remove any marking spray or residue.

If your own project doesn't have the resultant output that's expected, check and adjust speed, power, air, focus, etc... as required to effect the proper outcome.

If you are using the material test file, do not alter it in any way. If the results are not as intended, the material composition, thickness, focus, and/or air could be at issue, but settings will not be as they span a wide range of speeds and powers designed for all wattage machines and materials up to (and possibly beyond) 3/8".

Conclusion

Making your first cut or engrave with a Thunder Laser Nova CO2 gantry laser engraver is easy. Just follow the steps above and take precautions to stay safe. With a little practice, you will be creating beautiful and professional-looking cuts and engravings in no time.

Additional Tips

• Start with simple designs. Once you have mastered the basics, you can move on to more complex designs.
• Use scrap material for your first few cuts and engraves. This will help you to learn the machine and get a feel for the different settings.
• Experiment with different settings to find what works best for the material you are cutting or engraving.
• Keep your laser engraver clean and well-maintained. This will help to ensure that it performs at its best.