Laser Cutting Entry

 The Improved SOP

    

This SOP is a very detailed work procedure as we went in-depth about the start-up of the equipment like the air compressor, laser cutter, and fume extractor. We also did a step-by-step explanation of how to use Coreldraw and import the file into the system so we can get it printed for laser cutting.

In the end, our team did not manage to get the mass production printing of our models but our test print of the model can be shown below.

What I have learned from the test print is that to compensate for kerf, we had to keep decreasing the length of the gap so that is what we did for the bottom piece. On the 2nd attempt, the main laser cutter we were using was in use, so we had to use a different laser cutter where not only the power of the laser is higher but we were also using a different material(acrylic), hence the kerf compensation we did from the first test was outright useless. After that attempt, we decided to keep to the same material we used before which is plywood. In the last attempt, we managed to compensate for the kerf till the gap was about to be tight but with a light force added upon the model, the part came loose. In summary, we will be able to get the part to fit tightly so long as we had sufficient time.

Overall, despite coming late for the practical and not going through the briefing the lecturer gave as I was late. I managed to pass my individual competency test and I am now more confident than ever to operate the laser cutter to make prototypes in the future. I also know how to compensate for kerf by using parametric which was taught by the lecturer.

The picture below show the test my team and I done with the test prototypes.

The embedded files below are the parts that are made for our model