Connecting Your Network
To set up your network on the machine's touchscreen, follow these steps:
- Select the Wi-Fi Button: Tap the Wi-Fi icon on the touchscreen to view the three setup options.
Option 1: Hotspot Setup
- Activate Hotspot: Press the Start button to enable the machine's hotspot.
- Connect Mobile Device: On your mobile device, connect to the hotspot named FSL-Setup.
- Scan QR Code: Once connected, scan the QR code displayed on the touchscreen with your mobile device. This will show you the available Wi-Fi networks your machine can connect to.
- Input Wi-Fi Credentials: Enter your Wi-Fi password and select Connect.
- Confirm Connection: A prompt will appear stating “Success.” Press the Connect button on the machine's touchscreen to finalize the setup.
Option 2: QR Setup
- Access QR Setup: On your mobile device, go to re4.fslaser.com/qr.
- Enter Wi-Fi Information: Input your Wi-Fi SSID and password, then click Submit.
- Position QR Code: Ensure your QR code is clearly visible and hold your phone beneath the laser’s camera.
- Capture QR Code: Select Capture.
- Adjust Laser Head if Needed: If the QR code is not detected, adjust the laser head using the CNC tab on the touchscreen with the up and down arrows labeled “Z.”
Option 3: Touch Setup
- Enter SSID: Input your Wi-Fi network name (SSID).
- Enter Password: Input your Wi-Fi password.
Connecting to Your Machine
Now, let’s connect to the machine's software (RE4). Follow these steps:
- Verify Network Connection: Ensure that the computer you are using is connected to the same network as your machine.
- Access the Software: Open your web browser and go to re4.fslaser.com.
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Enter Laser Access Code:
- In the top right corner of the software, click the dropdown arrow next to your username or email address.
- Select Enter Laser Access Code.
- Input the laser access code displayed in the bottom left corner of your machine's touchscreen.
- Check Machine Connection: Your machine’s MAC address will appear under “Manage Your Lasers” once the code is entered.
- Refresh the Page: Refresh the RE4 webpage to confirm your connection.
- Verify Status: Scroll to the bottom of the page, where you’ll see “Laser” and “Gantry” statuses. Both should read “IDLE” to confirm a successful connection.
Focusing Your Laser
Understanding base focus is essential for precise engraving:
- Base Focus: The base focus on your machine is set at 0mm. This means the laser is perfectly focused on the base plate when the Z position is at 0mm.
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Material Focus:
- If you’re engraving on a material that’s 10mm thick, you need to adjust the laser to focus on that thickness.
- Open the jog controls in the top right corner of RE4.
- Switch from Gantry movement to CNC movement using the toggle switch.
- Enter your material’s thickness into the Z movement box and select "Move." This will adjust the laser to the correct focus height for your material.
By following these steps, your laser will be properly focused on the material, ensuring precise engravings.
Import Design
To import a design for engraving, follow these steps:
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Select the Design: Choose the file you wish to engrave, whether it’s from your editing software or an image saved on your computer.
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Importing into RE4:
- File Import: Go to File -> Import -> Image.
- Drag and Drop: You can drag the file directly into the RE4 workspace.
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Photo Icon: Click the photo icon to place your image in the workspace.
- The arrow next to the photo icon allows you to select specific import properties. If you prefer to be prompted each time when importing, do not save any settings.
Adjust Object Properties
Once the design is imported into RE4, you can modify its properties using the toolbar on the right-hand side:
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Adjusting Size:
- The size of the image can be changed using the Width and Height sliders.
- To maintain proportional sizing, activate the white oval toggle. When the white oval is selected, the width and height will scale together.
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Modifying Power and Speed:
- Power: The power setting is expressed as a percentage (with 100% being full power). For a 50W (MOPA) or 10W (UV) laser, it’s recommended to start your first engraving at 50% power and adjust based on results.
- Speed: The speed ranges from 10 to 1200. Adjusting speed impacts the laser’s movement across the material.
- Passes: The number of passes ranges from 1 to 999. Running multiple passes increases project time and may heat up the material, so adjust cautiously.
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Frequency:
- The laser frequency controls how frequently the laser pulses. Adjust frequency in small increments, as it affects the heat generated during the engraving process. Higher frequency increases the energy output, making the material hotter.
Fiber and UV Settings:
The Power of the machine will depend on the wattage chosen. The power setting is set in terms of percentage with 100% being full power. If you purchased a laser of 50W (MOPA)/10W (UV) or higher we recommend performing your first engraving below 50% and then adjusting based on results.
Speed ranges from 0 to 5000mm/sec while passes range from 1 to 999. The machine can run multiple passes however it is important to keep in mind that adding more passes increases the project run time and may heat up the material.
The machine’s frequency should be adjusted by minor increments as a result. Frequency is the rate at which the laser pulses. It is essentially how much energy is let. Subsequently frequency will control how hot the material will get.
Deeper Understanding Of Frequency and Pulse Width (Mopa Lasers)
On a MOPA (Master Oscillator Power Amplifier) fiber laser, frequency and pulse width are two critical parameters that affect how the laser interacts with materials during marking, engraving, and cutting.
1. Frequency (Pulse Repetition Rate)
- Definition: Frequency refers to the number of laser pulses emitted per second, measured in kHz (kilohertz). For instance, a frequency of 45 kHz means the laser emits 45,000 pulses every second.
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Effect: Frequency affects the density of energy applied to the material. Higher frequency results in more pulses per second, which can lead to smoother, more continuous marking. Lower frequencies result in fewer pulses and often produce rougher, deeper marks.
- Low Frequency (e.g., 45-65 kHz): Useful for deep engraving or cutting applications where high peak energy in each pulse is needed.
- High Frequency (e.g., 100-500 kHz): Better for surface marking, especially for metals like stainless steel or anodized aluminum. It can produce finer, smoother results and is ideal for marking with less heat impact (i.e., "cold marking").
2. Pulse Width (Pulse Duration)
- Definition: Pulse width refers to the duration of each individual laser pulse, typically measured in nanoseconds (ns) or microseconds (µs).
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Effect: Pulse width controls how long the energy is applied to the material during each pulse. A shorter pulse width means the laser delivers a high peak power in a short time, while a longer pulse width reduces the peak power but extends the interaction time.
- Short Pulse Width (e.g., 4-10 ns): Creates higher peak energy, which is ideal for marking delicate materials or reducing thermal effects. This is useful for high-contrast marks or working on sensitive materials like plastics.
- Long Pulse Width (e.g., 50-200 ns): Delivers less intense but prolonged energy, which is more suitable for deeper engraving or removing material. This can cause more heat input and a wider heat-affected zone.
Interaction Between Frequency and Pulse Width:
- Lower pulse width with lower frequency = high peak power, suitable for precise marking and deep engraving.
- Higher pulse width with higher frequency = lower peak power but more continuous energy, which is great for smooth and fast marking with less material removal.
Camera Capture
With the laser focused and parameters set, you're ready to perform a camera capture. It's important to ensure that your laser is perfectly focused on the material before capturing, as this guarantees accuracy.
- Start Camera Capture: Select the camera capture button.
- Wait for Refresh: Allow the capture to refresh and display the current view.
- Position Your Design: Once the capture is complete, position your design over the desired location on the material as seen in the camera capture.
Laser Preview/Perimeter
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Before starting your engraving, you can preview the workspace and job area to ensure everything is correctly aligned. Here’s a breakdown of the available options:
- Capture Workspace: Takes a photo of the current workspace.
Clear Last Workspace Capture: Removes the previously captured workspace image.
- Preview Contour of All Objects: Shows an outline of all objects in the workspace.
- Show Bounding Perimeter of All Objects: Displays the exact space your job will occupy.
- Run Job: Begins the engraving process.
Previewing Your Design
To preview your logo or design, you can use either Option 2 (Preview Contour) or Option 3 (Show Bounding Perimeter). Both options use the tracking diode to indicate where the laser will fire within the workspace.
- Track the Laser: While the preview is running, observe where the laser will mark, allowing you to make any necessary adjustments to the position of your design.
- Final Adjustments: Move your object as needed to match the laser's preview.
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Start the Job: Once everything is properly aligned, stop the preview, close the machine lid, and press "Play" to start the engraving.
By following this guide, you’ll be ready to complete your first job with your new laser.
Still having Issues?
Please create a Support Ticket by using the button below or sending an e-mail to support@fslaser.com stating you've done all previous troubleshooting steps.
- When submitting via an e-mail you may attach any pictures, videos and project files needed for support to see.
- When submitting a ticket using the button below please either respond to the automated generated email stating we have received the ticket with your pictures, videos and project files or upload these to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder and include this link within the support ticket "Your Issue" dialog upon creation.