Dremel DIGILAB LC40 Operating/safety Instructions Manual

IMPORTANT

Read Before Using

Operating/Safety Instructions Consignes d’utilisation/de sécurité Instrucciones de funcionamiento y seguridad

IMPORTANT

Lire avant usage

IMPORTANTE

Leer antes de usar

DIGILAB LC40 Laser Cutter

P.O. Box 081126 Racine, WI 53408-1126

Call Toll Free for Consumer Information & Service Locations

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Llame gratis para obtener información para el consumidor y ubicaciones de servicio

1-844-4DRML3D (1-844-437-6533) www.dremel.com

For English Version

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Safety Symbols

The definitions below describe the level of severity for each signal word. Please read the

manual and pay attention to these symbols.

This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to potential personal injury hazards. Obey all safety messages that follow this symbol to avoid possible injury or death.

DANGER indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.

WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.

CAUTION, used with the safety alert symbol, indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in minor or moderate injury.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-7

Safety Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

General Safety Warnings . . . . . . . . . .3-4

Laser Cutter Safety Warnings . . . . . . .4-5

Additional Safety Warnings . . . . . . . . . .5

Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

FCC and IC Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Information on Intellectual Property . . . . .7

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9

Material Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Glossary of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-13

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Tools & Supplies Needed for Setup . . . .13

Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Kit Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Getting to Know Your Laser Cutter . .16-18

LCD Touch Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19-38

Laser Control Software . . . . . . . . . . .39-44

Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45-60

Locate & Cut Zip Ties . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Install Honeycomb Sheet . . . . . . . . . . .46

Remove Camera Lens Cap . . . . . . . . . .46

Attach Water Tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Attach Air Tube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Attach Hex Box™ Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Attach Exhaust Shroud . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Exhaust Connection . . . . . . . . . . . .50-55

Attach Power Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Test GFCI Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Turn On the Laser Cutter . . . . . . . . . .57

Get Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Fill Hex Box™ with Distilled Water . . . .58

Connect a Computer to the

Laser Cutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Network Setups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60-61

Tests & Alignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62-69

Mirror Alignment Overview . . . . . . . . .62

Tools & Supplies Needed for

Tests & Alignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

4 Corner Mirror Alignment Test . . .63-64

Mirror Alignment Procedure . . . . . .65-69

Tube Guard Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Operating the Laser Cutter . . . . . . . .71-81

Prohibited Uses & Restrictions . . . . . .71

Create a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82-84

Shipping & Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Serviceable Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Firmware and Open Source Software . . .87

Dremel Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . .88

GENERAL SAFETY WARNINGS

Read all safety warnings, instructions, illustrations and specifications

below may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.

SAVE ALL WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered

or dark areas invite accidents.

Do not operate laser cutter in explosive atmospheres, such as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases or dust. Laser

beam may ignite the dust or fumes.

Set up and operate the laser cutter in a wellventilated area. Place laser cutter on flat nonflamm able surface and away from flammable material. Provide at least 8 inches of unobstructed spacing around laser cutter to allow ventilation. Laser cutters may create

fumes that irritate eyes and airways. Obstructing airflow into or out of laser cutter may result in serious personal injury.

Always use a properly configured, installed, maintained, and operating fume/smoke exhaust system as recommended by the manufacturer when operating the laser cutter. Caustic fumes and smoke from the

cutting and en gra ving process mus t be extracted from the laser system and exhausted outside or properly filtered to reduce the risk of personal injury.

Always keep a properly maintained and inspected fire extinguisher in the area.

Typically, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) chemical fire extinguishers should be used.

Laser cutters must be operated only by persons familiar with their operation and manufacturer’s instructions. Operation of

laser cutters by persons unfamiliar with their operation and manufacturer’s instructions can result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.

Do not allow unsupervised children and bystanders to interact with the laser cutter while it is operating. Persons unfamiliar with

the operation of the laser cutter may change its setup, which may increase the risk of electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.

Laser cutter plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug in any way. Do not use an y adapte r pl ugs w ith earthed (grounded) laser cutters. Unmodified plugs

provided with this laser cutter. Failure to follow all instructions listed

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS

Work Area Safety

and matching outlets will reduce risk of electric shock.

While operating the laser cutter, avoid body contact with earthed or grounded surfaces, such as pipe s, ra diators , ran ges and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of

electric shock if y our body is eart hed or grounded.

Do not expose laser cutters to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a laser cutter may

increase the risk of electric shock.

Before every operation of a water-cooled laser cutter, make sure that the coolant connections and laser tube are leak-free.

Water leaks may increase the risk of electric shock.

Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for carrying, pulling or unplugging the laser cutter. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges or movi ng parts . Damaged o r

entangled cords increase the risk of electric shock.

Do not opera te laser cutter s in damp location s. U se of lase r cutters in damp

locations may increase the risk of electric shock.

Personal Safety

Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating a laser cutter. Do not use a laser cutter while you are tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol or me dication. A mome nt of

inattention while operating laser cutters may result in serious personal injury.

Use personal protective equipment. Always wear eye protection appropriate for class of laser engraver. Protective equipment such as

heat and cut resistant gloves used when work pieces are hot or have sharp edges will reduce personal injuries.

Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing

Electrical Safety

or jewelry. Keep your hair, clothing and gloves away from moving pa rts. Loose

clothes, jewellery or long hair can be caught in moving parts.

Be careful removing work pieces from the laser cutter. Cutting with a laser increases

GENERAL SAFETY WARNINGS

the temperature of the work piece and the temperature of the work piece may remain high after laser cutter stops operating.

Touching hot work pieces before they cool down may result in burns.

Do not let familiarity gained from frequent use of laser cutters allow you to become complacent and ignore laser cutter safety principles. A careless action can cause severe

injury within a fraction of a second.

Laser Cutter Use and Care

Prevent idle laser cutter from being used by children and do not allow persons unfamiliar with the laser cutter or these instructions to operate the laser cutter. Laser cutters can be

dangerous in the hands of untrained users.

Maintain l aser c utt ers. C hec k for misalignment or binding of moving parts,

LASER CUTTER SAFETY WARNINGS

Never expose yourself

to the laser beam since it ma y ca u se physica l bu r ns a n d ca n cause severe eye damage. Proper use and

care of this laser cutter system are essential to safe operation.

Neve r o per ate the lase r cut ter syst em without constant super v i s i o n of th e cutting and engraving process. Exposure

to the laser beam may c ause ignit ion of combustible materials and start a fire.

Never use PVC or other nonconductive duct materials for the exhaust system.

Static charges may build up and may cause a risk of fire or explosion.

Alway s use fire r ate d rigid or flex ible metal or metalized ducting in the exhaust system. Non-fire rated exhaust ducting may

increase the risk of fire.

Always inspect the exhaust fan and duct work for obstructions and ensure proper air flow exists before each use .

Unobstructe d and properly maintained exhaust fan and duct work will reduce the risk o f fire and effecti vely extract caustic fumes and smoke.

breakage of parts and any other condition that may affect the laser cutter’s operation. If damaged, have the laser cutter repaired before use. A poorly maintained laser engraver

may result in a risk of shock, fire and/or serious injury.

Use the laser engraver in accordance with these instructions, taking into account the working conditions and the work to be performed. Use of the laser engraver for

operations different from those intended could result in a hazardous situation.

Service

Have yo ur laser cutter serviced by a qualified repair person using only identical replacement parts. This will ensure that the

safety of the laser cutter is maintained.

Never engrave or cut any unknow n material. Only e n g r av e mat e r i a l s recommended by the manufacturer. The vaporization/melting of many materials, in c l uding b u t no t li m i ted to PV C an d polycarbonates, can give off hazardous fu mes. Alwa ys refer to the Sa fety Data

Sheet (SDS) from the material manufacturer to deter m i n e the r e s p o nse of any w o r k material to extreme heat (burning/fire hazard) to prevent hazards.

Always use th e air assist as recommended b y t h e m a n u f ac t u r e r, especially wh i l e c u t t i n g . C u tt i n g movements are relatively slow and apply an extremely large amount of heat to the work piece. Avoid the build-up of heat in

order to reduce the risk of fire.

Keep the i n t e r i o r of t h e laser c u t t e r, including the table tray, clean and free of debris. Clean the laser. A build-up of cutting

and engra v i n g r e s i du e a nd d e br i s is dangerous and may increase the risk of fire.

Never look into the beam of the alignment laser. Eye injury can result.

LASER CUTTER SAFETY WARNINGS

Never operate the alignment laser without

he focus lens or other optical elements of

t laser cutter in place. The unfocused beam

may b e refl ect ed o ut of the c hassis and increase the risk of eye injury.

Do not operate the laser machine with any of the panels removed. Remember that the laser beam is invisible! Exposure of the

laser beam will greatly increase the risk of injury and/or fire.

Before using the laser machine, test the grou nd fault circ uit inte rru pte r ( GFC I) provided with the supply cord to insure it is operating correctly. A properly operating

GFCI reduces the risk of electrical shock.

Do not attempt to modify or defeat the safety interlock system for any reason.

This could result in exposure to hazardous laser radiation.

Do not use laser cutter with extension cords. The GFCI on the machine power cord

will not prevent electrical shock from the extension cords.

Always use provided work piece support structure. Fabrication without honeycomb

support may lead to fire or release of stray radiation.

Do not use irregularly shaped work piece.

Risk of stray radiation or fire.

Do not stack work pieces. Stacking work

ieces increases the risk of fire.

Us e onl y reco m m e n ded ac c essories.

Follow i n s t ru c t i o n s that a c c o m p a ny accessories. Use of improper accessories may cause hazards

Ensure tools and parts such as spacer puck, wrench, debris, etc. are removed from the honeycomb plate before starting a laser job. Objects or debris may interfere

with th e laser he ad and le a d to st r a y radiation or risk of fire.

Do Not Block exhaust fan. VOCs created by the l a s e r en g r a v e r pro c e s s must be properly vented to help prevent personal injury.

This product is provided with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) built into the power cord plug. If replacement of the

plug or cord is needed, use only identical replacement parts.

Do not try to clean exhaust ducting. The high co nc e n t ra t i on of partic l e s may become airborne and create inhalation exposure.

Do not spill water on the Hex Box™ unit.

Damage to electronics may occur.

ADDITIONAL SAFETY WARNINGS

Use of controls or

adjustm e n t s or pe r f o rmance of pro c e dures o t h er th an those s p e c i f i e d h e r ei n may re s u l t i n hazardous radiation exposure.

Do not tap o r scra t c h

LCD scre en with sha rp objects. T h e LCD sc r e e n may be c o m e

damaged.

Do not m ove th e laser

head b y h a n d wh e n locked. Moving a locked laser head by hand

may result in damage to the gantry system.

SAVE ALL WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

Use care when removing the tube guard. The LED

lights may be damaged by contact with tube guard edges.

Never remove the

mirrors for cle a n i n g !

Take extra caut i o n t o n o t m o v e t h e orientation of the mirrors as this will affect laser beam alignment and would require time intensive laser beam realignment.

SYMBOLS

IMPORTANT: Some of the following symbols may be used on your LC40. Please study

them and learn their meaning. Proper interpretation of these symbols will allow you to

perate the tool better and safer.

Symbol Designation / Explanation

Volts (voltage)

Amperes (current)

Hertz (frequency, cycles per second)

Diameter

Alternating current (type or a characteristic of current)

Alerts user to read manual

Earthing terminal (grounding terminal)

Warns of laser radiation. Avoid direct eye exposure. Class 3R laser

product.

Warns of high voltage. Contact with high voltage can cause death or

serious injury.

This fire warning icon calls attention to fire risks that are present while

operating the laser.

This symbol designates that this tool is listed by Underwriters

Laboratories, to United States and Canadian Standards.

FCC AND IC COMPLIANCE

FCC COMPLIANCE

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to pr o v i d e rea s o n a b l e protecti o n agains t harmful i n t e rf e r e nc e in a r e s id e n t ia l in stal lati o n. Thi s equip ment ge nera t es, us e s , and c a n radiat e radio f r e q u e n c y ener gy and, if not inst alled and used in ac c o r d ance w i t h th e ins t r u c tions, may cause h a rm f u l inte r f e r e n c e to r ad i o co m m u n ication s . How e v e r , th e r e is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or televis i o n r e c e pt i o n, w hi c h ca n b e determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• R e o r i e n t o r re lo c a te t he r ec e i v in g

antenna.

• Incr e ase the se p arat i on b e twee n th e

equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on

INFORMATION ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Con sul t t he deale r o r an e xpe rie nce d radio/TV technician for help.

Changes and Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer or registrant of this equipment can void your authority to op e r a t e this e q u i p m e n t under Federal Communications Commission’s rules.

INDUSTRY CANADA (IC)

This device complies with Industry Canada’s licence-exempt RSSs. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

(1) This device may not cause interference;

and

(2) T h i s dev i c e must accept any

interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

The device meets the exemption from the routine evaluation limits in section 2.5 of RSS 102 and compliance with RSS-102 RF exposur e , us er s can ob t a i n Can a d i a n informa t i o n on RF e xp o s u re and compliance.

Th e Dr e m el LC 40 is in t ended for las e r cutting / e n g r a v i ng material s to cr ea t e objects using digital files and digital designs that you create or own, or have the right to use when you operate the Dremel LC40. When cutting/engraving materials to create objects using the Dremel LC40, it is your responsibi lity to e nsure that you do not infringe any third party intellectual property right s or v iola te a ny applic abl e laws or regulat i o n s , s u c h a s U . S . o r f o r ei g n intellectual property laws.

The Dremel LC40 may not be used to create objects using digital files or digital designs protected by intellectual property rights owned by third parties without such third parties’ permission to use such digital files or digital designs for the creation of such objects. Using the Dremel LC40 to do any of the following, which are provided to you as examples and must not be viewe d as an exhaustive list, may require the permission of third parties: to create a duplicate or

facsimile (in whole or in part) of any digital de sign not ow n ed b y yo u, t o cr eate an object from a digital file you do not own, or to make an object from a scan of a physical object that you did not create. It is your responsibility to obtain such permission. In some cases, you may not be able to obtain such permission. Where such permission cannot be obtained, you must not create such objects. You must not modify, reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Dremel LC40, except as pe r m it t e d by applicable law.

If you use the Dremel LC40 in any way other than as rec omm ended and describ ed in these Operating/Safety Instructions, you do so at your own risk. Using the Dremel LC40 to m a k e obj e c t s that i nf r i n ge any intellectual property rights owned by third pa r ties cou l d result in civ il o r cr i mina l prosecution and penalties, and you could be liable f o r m o n ey d am a g e s, f in e s , o r imprisonment.

SPECIFICATIONS

LASER SYSTEM

Laser Type: Sealed CO2 Laser Tube

Laser Power: 40W

Laser Classification: IEC 60825-1 Class 3R

Beam Size: 6.5 mm diameter @ 1.2 m

Working Current: 20mA

Wavelength: 10.6 μm

LASER CUTTER WEIGHT & DIMENSIONS

Dimensions: 32” x 20” x 8.25” (812.5 mm x 508 mm x 209.55 mm)

Weight: 63.3 lbs (28.7 kg) (without Hex Box™ or accessories)

Shipping Weight: 100 lbs (45 kg)

HEX BOX™ WEIGHT & DIMENSIONS

Dimensions: 7.25” x 11” x 7.25” (184 mm x 279 mm x 184 mm)

Weight: 10 lbs (4.5 kg)

Total Water Capacity: 35 oz (1 liter)

ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS

LC40 input rating: 120V, 60Hz, 6 A

Hex Box™ rating: 12V DC, 4.7 A

SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEM AND SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS

Compatibility: Mac & PC

•Apple® Mac® OS® X v10.9 or later

(Mavericks)

•Microsoft® Windows® 10

•Microsoft® Windows® 8.1

•Microsoft® Windows® 7 SP1

Browser Compatibility: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, & IE

Min Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768 Pixels

Ability to Connect Through Network (Ethernet or Wireless) without Internet Connection

Wireless connection frequency: 2.4 GHz

OPERATING CAPACITIES

Engraving Area: 18.4” x 12” (467 mm x 304.8 mm)

Cutting Area: 20” x 12” (508 mm x 304.8 mm)

Max Engraving Height: 1.25” (32 mm)

Max Cutting Height: ¼” Wood and Acrylic (6 mm)

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

Recommended Environmental Temperature: 60-85F (16-29C)

Sturdy, flat, and level workspace that holds weight of the Laser, material, and Hex Box™.

For indoor use only.

10” (254mm) Min.

8”

(203mm)

Min.

8”

(203mm)

Min.

WALL

30”

(762mm)

Laser Cutter

8”

(203mm)

Min.

8”

(203mm)

Min.

Hex Box™

SPECIFICATIONS

LASER CUTTER & HEX BOX™ CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

MATERIAL USAGE

Table 1

Acrylic

†

LC40 Commonly Used Materials

Aluminum, anodized

Plywood*

†

Cork

Cardboard

Cotton fabric

* Must be California 93120 Phase 2 & TSCA Title VI compliant for formaldehyde

Table 2

ABS

Beryllium oxide

Carbon

Chlorinated plastics

Coated carbon fiber

Coated materials

Epoxy based or phenolic resins

Fiberglass

Fluorine based plastics:

PTFE (Teflon) Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP)

Galvanized metal

HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene)

Leather, Artificial or Treated

Materials containing:

• Astanine

• Bromine

• Chlorine

• Fluorine

• Formaldehyde (including wood)

• Flame-retardants

• Halogens

• Iodine

Mirrored surfaces

†

Birch Plywood and Acrylic are available from Dremel.

LC40 Prohibited Materials

Denim fabric

Felt (wool)

Glass

Leather, unstained

Maple, solid

Mat board

Nylon

Painted material, varnished materials

Particleboard, paneling

Polycarbonate

Polychloroprene (CR or chloroprene rubber, marketed under the brand name of Neoprene)

Polypropylene foam, Polypropylene sheet

Polystyrene foam

Polyurethane, Polyurethane foam

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Found in many common products such as but not limited to; flooring, siding, piping, roofing membranes, credit cards, toys, flexible tubing.

POM Delrin/acetyl.

Rubber

Styrofoam

Wood that has been:

• Coated

• Fumigated

• Pressure treated

• Stained

Oak, solid

Paper

Rubber, laser grade

Walnut, solid

While the LC40 can cut and etch a variety of materials, some materials such as most metals, cannot be marked and will give less than desirable results. Other materials may not have acceptable finish quality.

RESOURCES

Resource Description Location

Quick Start Guide

Provides an illustrated walkthrough of how to un-box the laser cutter and start a job.

Printed version is located in the box with the laser cutter. It is also available on digilab.dremel.com/support/ laser-support

Laser Cutter LCD Interface

Dremel LC40 Control Software

Dremel Website

DigiLab Website

Dremel Customer Support

Term Definition

Air Assist

Provides step-by-step instructions for setting up the laser cutter. Also allows control of the laser head, run recent jobs, and adjust machine settings.

Provides the interface for setting up, saving, and sending cutting and engraving jobs to the laser cutter.

Access project inspiration and downloads, Dremel product information, and customer support.

Access information about Dremel DigiLab products, education projects, and more.

Contact Dremel for product support, maintenance, and service.

Air delivery system that helps to control flareups. Air is supplied by the Hex Box™.

On the laser cutter machine

Enter the IP address of the laser cutter into the browser.

dremel.com

digilab.dremel.com

1-844-437-6533 dremel.com/digilab-support

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Alignment Laser

Auto Array

.bin File

Cut

Design Software

An additional laser diode whose beam results in a red dot that is used to help align the mirrors.

A software function that creates a grid of the desired size by repeating the selected image.

A binary file format used to save and load workspace projects to and from a computer.

Also called "vector", used for cutting through work piece. This function requires a vector, or line file to execute.

Graphics editing software used to create and manipulate images for laser cutting and engraving.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Engrave/Etch

Exhaust Hose

Exhaust Shroud

Exhaust Port

Firmware

Greyscale

Hex Box™

Honeycomb Plate

Job A project that is sent to the laser for fabrication.

Laser Head

LC40 Control Software

Function, also called "raster", used to darken or remove the surface of a material, rather than cut through it. This function requires an image file to execute.

Duct that is connected to the laser cutter unit to vent byproducts outside or into a filtration unit or to outside ventilation.

A metal tubing connection that is screwed onto the rear of the laser cutter unit over the exhaust vent fan.

An opening on the rear of the laser unit that allows the vent fan to draw air out of the workspace.

Software that is embedded on the computer hardware of the laser cutter and controls its operation. Updates to the firmware will be provided by Dremel and applied to the laser cutter directly over the internet.

Also called "dither", takes a black and white image and assigns different densities of dots to visually create a number of different shades of grey. Darker areas of the image will have more dots, while lighter areas will have less dots.

A separate and interconnected part of the laser cutter system that integrates the water circulation and air assist functions of the laser cutter.

An aluminum tray that rests on the bed and supports the work piece as it is cut and engraved.

An assembly of components, including a mirror, lens, and cone, which the laser passes through before making contact with the material.

The laser control software that is provided on the machine and accessed by a computer through the network connection.

Laser Tube A glass tube located at the rear of the laser unit that generates the laser beam.

Lens

Material The substance of which the work piece or work is composed.

Material Library

Mirrors

Project

Raster Digital art composed of horizontal and vertical rows of pixels.

Score

Spacer Puck

A glass lens in the laser head that focuses the beam of the laser for optimal cutting and engraving.

A listing of materials for which suggested laser settings are predefined in the Dremel LC40 Control Software.

A set of mirrors that direct the laser beam of the laser from the tube to the work piece.

A planned piece of work created in the Dremel LC40 Control Software which can be sent to the laser engraver as a job.

Function used to make a mark on the surface of the material when you want to emphasize the outline of text or an object

A small cylinder that is placed between the work piece and laser head to assist in focusing the laser.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Touch Screen Touch activated full color display.

Vector Art

Vent Fan A fan located in the exhaust port that helps draw air out of the workspace.

Work piece

Workspace

X-Axis Guide Rails

Y-Axis Guide Rails

Art created using vector illustration software programs, such as Adobe Illustrator

Also called "work" or "material". It is the object to be cut or engraved with the laser.

a) The area inside of the laser unit that is open for work piece placement and the movement of the laser head. b) A screen in the Dremel LC40 Control Software where a job is created. It provides a graphical representation of the intended job and its position relative to the general boundaries of the laser working area.

A set of rails at the rear of the laser bed that allow movement of the laser head to the left or right side of the workspace.

A set of rails on either side of the laser bed that allow movement of the laser head to the front or rear of the workspace.

or Corel Draw®.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the world of Dremel Digilab. Our mission is to mentor you through the digital fabrication process and share best practices for bringing your ideas to life.

Lase r c ut ti ng and e n gr a vi ng are proc e s s e s that wi l l invok e expe r i m e nt at io n a n d pe r s i s te nc e. Thankfully, the Dremel experts are here to make your job easier with online tips, documentatio n, and live support. T he Drem e l L a s e r C u t te r b r i ng s ro b u st func t i o n al it y such as n e t w or k connectivity, recommended settings for

co mmon ly used materi als, and mul tisensor checks. To get started with the La s e r Cutter fol l o w the in i tial se t u p routine on the touch screen to guide you through the hardware and software setup of the machine.

You can register your Laser Cutter and crea t e a user profi l e by goi n g to dremel.com/support/product-registration. Your profile gives you access to a variety of laser projects and support. Once setup and regi stratio n is complete , you are ready to start making.

TOOLS & SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR SETUP

Distilled Water Funnel Scissors Screwdriver

UNPACKING

Box 2

Tote Bag & Box 1

LC40

1 2

3 4

Box 3

Straps

Two pers o n l i f t

laser cutter alone may result in personal

requ i r e d .

injury.

Lifting the

Crea te a wor kst ation. Prep are a fl at, sturd y tab l e or work b e n c h t h a t c a n support the weight of the Laser and Hex Box™. The workstation should be close to an e le c tr ic a l ou t l e t an d allo w for necessary ventilation described in the SETUP sectio n "Exhaust Connec tions" page xx.

Open the top of the box.

1. R e mo ve Re u s a bl e T o t e B a g f r o m packaging and pull out box 1. Open lid to reveal the project sample material and the Honeycomb Plate.

2. Remove Instructional Manual, Water Hoses, Air Tube, Screws, Hex Box™ Cap, Hex Key W rench, S pacer Puck from box 2.

3. R e mo ve f oa m t o rev e a l t he La s e r Cutter. Use two people to lift Laser Cutter out of box by straps and place on workstation. After the Laser Cutter has been taken out of the box, hook straps to the Reusable Tote Bag. DO NOT CUT STRAPS.

4. Open the lid of the Laser Cutter to reveal box 3 with Hex Box™, Exhaust Duct, and Exhaust Shroud.

Note: Sav e the D remel Digi Lab Las er Cutter packaging for future transport and storage.

KIT CONTENTS

DIGILAB LC40 Laser Cutter

For English Version

See page 2

Version française

Voir page 37

Versión en español

Ver la página 73

IMPORTANT

Read Before Using

IMPORTANT

Lire avant usage

IMPORTANTE

Leer antes de usar

1-844-4DRML3D (1-844-437-6533) www.dremel.com

P.O. Box 081126 Racine, WI 53408-1126

Operating/Safety Instructions Consignes d’utilisation/de sécurité Instrucciones de funcionamiento y seguridad

Call Toll Free for Consumer Information & Service Locations

Pour obtenir des informations et les adresses de nos centres de service après-vente, appelez ce numéro gratuit

Llame gratis para obtener información para el consumidor y ubicaciones de servicio

The LC40 laser cutter is shipped with the following included parts and accessories:

Reusable Tote Bag Project Sample

Material

Operating/Safety

Instructions

Ethernet

Cable

(2) Hose Clamps Hex Box™

Connector Cord

Honeycomb Plate Quick Start Guide

Water Hose

(1 blue & 1 clear)

Hex Box™

Air Tube

(black)

Hex Keys

Water Tank Cap

Lens Cleaning Wipes Spacer Puck Alignment Paper Laser Cutter

Hex Box™ Exhaust Hose Exhaust Shroud

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LASER CUTTER

21 3

Fig. 1

LC40 Laser Cutter

1. Lid

2. Touchscreen

3. Start Button

4. USB Port (for service only)

5. Ethernet Port

6. LED Lights

7. Laser Tube Shroud

8. Honeycomb Plate

9. Gantry

10. Mirror 1

11. Beam Combiner Lens

12. Mirror 2

13. Laser Head a. Mirror 3 b. Focus Lens c. Air Nozzle

d. Laserhead Knob e. Wide Angle Camera

14. Power Switch

15. Power Cord

16. Hex Box™ Power Outlet

17. Air Inlet

18. Exhaust Shroud

19. Water Outlet

20. Water Inlet

Hex Box™

21. Water Tank Cap

22. Water Tank

23. Power Inlet

24. Air Outlet

25. Water Outlet

26. Water Inlet

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LASER CUTTER

”

8 9

Fig. 2

’

’E

18 19 2017

’

Fig. 3

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LASER CUTTER

REAR VIEW OF LASER CUTTER

REAR VIEW OF HEX BOX™

Fig. 4

LCD TOUCH SCREEN

192.168.1.115 v1.0.0

LASER

HOME

JOG SPEED

FAST

TEST FIRE

OME JOB HISTORY TOOLS NETWORK

Observe all provided warnings and safety instructions when using the Dremel LC40. Failure to do so may result in fire, equipment

damage, property damage or personal injury.

Do not tap or scratch LCD screen with sharp objects. The LCD screen may become damaged.

The LC40 touch screen allows control of the basic functions of the laser without the need to connect to a computer.

St a t u s Ba r — D i s p l a ys in f o rmation about selected conditions of the LC40.

Menu Bar — D ispla ys the icon s a nd names of the Touch Screen menus.

Co ntr o l I n ter face — Inform atio n or additional action pertaining to selected menu item.

IP Address — A unique number used to connect t h e L a s er C u tt e r over a network to a web browser.

Firmwar e Ve r s i o n — Di sp l a ys th e currently installed firmware version.

HOME JOB HISTORY TOOLS NETWORK

LCD TOUCH SCREEN

Status Bar

Status Icon Name What it means

Ethernet

Wireless

Water

Cooling

Vent

Fan

Air

Assist

Lid WHITE: Lid is closed. RED: Lid is open.

Note: Water Cooling. Vent Fan and Air Assist icons will only update in real time. (When the Hex Box is activated by the LC40).

Menu Bar

LC40 is connected to a computer or a network router via Ethernet Port. The icon will disappear when there is no Ethernet connection.

LC40 is connected to a computer or network router via wireless. The icon will disappear either when there is no wireless connection or when the Ethernet icon is active. When LC40 is connected with both Ethernet and Wireless, only the Ethernet icon will display.

WHITE: Cooling system functioning normally. RED: Cooling system needs attention.

WHITE: Vent fan functioning normally. RED: Vent fan needs attention.

WHITE: Air assist functioning normally. RED: Air assist needs attention.

HO M E — Acc e ss to la ser h e a d po sitio n controls and to test fire the laser.

JOB HISTORY — Lists previously run jobs and provides option to re-run them.

When necessary, the LCD touch screens will offer options to return to the previous screen or advance to the next screen.

Tap to return to previous screen.

Tap to proceed to the next screen.

TOOLS — Information about the unit and settings.

NETWO RK — Inf orma tio n and acces s to network connection settings.

HOME > UNLOCKED

192.168.1.115 v1.0.0

LASER HOME

JOG SPEED

FAST

TEST FIRE

HOME JOB HISTORY TOOLS NETWORK

LCD TOUCH SCREEN

LASER HOME – Moves the laser head back to its origin location. Button will flash when homing is necessary.

JOG SPEED – Toggles between fast and slow laser head movement speed. Fast is default speed.

TEST FIRE – Enable the laser to fire for a sh o r t period to identi f y its lo c a t i o n relative to the material.

Directional Arrows

Moves the la ser hea d in di rect ion of arrow.

Laser Head Locked (default)

Do not move the laser

head b y hand w h e n

locked. Moving a locked laser head by

hand may result in damage to the gantry system.

A cl osed lock icon indicat es that the lase r head is loc ked and c an only be move d us in g th e di re ct io n al ar r o w buttons.

Pres s i n g the l o ck butt o n toggl e s between locked or unlocked laser head setting.

192.168.1.115 v1.0.0

ASER

OME

OG SPEED

AST

EST FIRE

HOME JOB HISTORY TOOLS NETWORK

HOME > LOCKED

LCD TOUCH SCREEN

Laser Head Unlocked

An open lock icon indicates th at the laser head can be moved by hand.

Note: When Laser Head is unlocked the Dire cti onal Arrows and Speed v irtual buttons are nonfunctional.

JOB HISTORY

This tab displays jobs received by the laser cutter.

As received from the factory, this list is empty. The Factory Reset opt io n will clear J ob His to ry . Job creation is explained in the Software Section.

Once a job is sent from the software to the laser, it will appear in the job history tab.

NAME — the name of project job(s) within the Job History list.

RUN TIME — required time to complete project.

Tap to preview the job and open the submenu for the job.

JOB HISTORY

LCD TOUCH SCREEN

This screen displays options for the Job selected from the list.

DELETE – Delete files from the Job History list.

RUN PERIMET E R – Exec u t e s t h e r u n perimeter.

NEXT – Changes the text to LOADING. The Job will prepare to start.

Note: If a job is rerun, the system safety checklist will appear (see page XX Operation Screens).

TOOLS > MENU SCREEN

LCD TOUCH SCREEN

This screen displays available tools for mangement of the laser cutter.

ABOUT — Displays laser cutter information su c h as m o d e l nu m b e r , se r i a l nu m b e r , firmwar e versio n , usag e , and ne tw o r k information.

FACTORY RESET – Remove all information stored o n L C40 and r etu rn it to fact ory defaults.

SETTINGS – Shows language and display settings.

HELP - Displays service menu with customer service contact information.

TUTORIALS – Displays short tutorials on operation of the laser.

TEST FILES – Displays and allows execution of test files to verify proper operation of the laser.

UP D A T E SER V I C E – D i s p l ays av a i lable service updates from Dremel. Updates are pushed to t h e unit a n d cann o t be re q u e s t e d . The u s e r has t h e option to accept or ignore the update.

LI CEN S ES – Displ ays the lists of OP EN SOURCE software licenses associated with the unit.

PR I V ACY P O LICY – Di s plays a w e bsite address for further detail s on Dremel privacy policy.

LCD TOUCH SCREEN

TOOLS > ABOUT THIS DEVICE

TOOLS > FACTORY RESET

This sc ree n disp lay s l aser cutt er hardw are and software information.

MODEL NUMBER — Displays unit model number.

SERIAL NUMBER — Displays unit serial number.

FIRMWAR E NUMBE R — Dis p l a y s th e curre n t l y installed firmware version.

USAGE — Displays total hours of time that jobs have been run.

WIRED IP — Displa y s Et h e rn e t IP ad d r e s s , if connected.

WIRELESS I P — D is plays IP address assigned b y wireless router.

MAC ADDRESS — Displays unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller.

FCC ID — Displays FCC ID

IC ID — Displays IC ID

This screen allows for verification of factory reset selection.

BACK – Tap to can cel factory rese t a nd return to Tools > Menu Screen.

RESET – Tap to perform factory reset.

NO TE - T he fol lo win g act ions o ccu r when F act or y Re se t i s performed:

• EULA screen will appe ar on next power up and needs to be accepted.

• Country and Language selection will appear on next power cycle.

• Job history on the LCD software Interface will be cleared.

• Default material settings will be restored for the Laser browser interface software.

• User custom material settings will be cleared.

• Network configuration will be restored to default with all custom settings cleared.

• Saved wireless network and password will be cleared.

• Ve ntilati on setting will re vert back to default of EX TERNAL FILTRATION/VENTILATION SYSTEM.

TOOLS > SETTINGS

LCD TOUCH SCREEN

This screen displays available settings

LANGUAGE – Displays a sub-menu where LCD me n u w a r n in g s la nu a g e c a n b e selected.

LIGHTS – Disp l a y s a sub-me n u whe r e cabinet LED lights can be turned “ON” and “OFF”.

VENTILATION – Displays a sub-menu screen where ventilation type can be selected.

PRIM E WATER P UMP – Disp lay s a submenu with water pump controls.

TOOLS > SETTINGS > LANGUAGE

This screen displays and allows selection of different languages.

Note: Choosing the language on this screen does not set the software language on the computer, only the LCD warning screens are affected.

LCD TOUCH SCREEN

TOOLS > SETTINGS > LIGHTS

This screen displays the option to turn ON or OFF the LED lights that illuminate the workspace.

LED ON/OFF — Turns “ON” and “OFF” LED lights. LED lights are “ON” by default. If the main power switch is cycled, the light setting will return to the default.

TOOLS > SETTINGS > VENTILATION

This screen provides an option to select between the internal vent fan and external ventilation systems such as a booster fan, a standalone filtration system, or an external fume ventilation system.

To assure proper removal of fumes produced during operati o n o f Dremel L C 4 0 laser c u t t e r , th e ventilation selection must match the actual fume extrac tion set up. Dremel LC40 must be set up according to instructions provided in the Exhaust Connections chapter of the Setup section on page XYZ to assure proper ventilation.

ONBOARD FAN — Select when only the vent fan in the laser cutter is used to exhaust workspace fumes.

EXTERNA L SY ST E M — Se l e c t if la s e r uni t is connected to a booster fan, standalone filtration system, or an external fume ventilation system.

+ 61 hidden pages

Dremel DIGILAB LC40 Operating/safety Instructions Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual