Collaborate, Build, Learn

Greyfin A2 Laser cutter

Key Features

600mm x 400mm cutting area
The laser cutting area holds a sheet of A2 card.
1,360mm x 880mm x 1,070mm machine size
The Greyfin will fit through double doors and is a good compact size. Connectors for air assistance and water cooling are to the right side of the machine with extraction at the rear.
60W laser tube
The 60W laser will typically cut through 3mm laser ply at 20mm/s.
100mW Red dot alignment
The red visible laser dot is particularly helpful if you want to squeeze large items onto the sheet material or to realign the work after removing it from the laser cutter.

Technical Specification
Laser power:
60W
Maximum cutting area:
600 x 400mm
Body dimensions:
1,360 x 880 x 1,070mm
Repeatability:
± 0.05mm
Power source:
AC 110 – 220V ± 10%, 50 – 60Hz
Total power:
<1,000 W
Operating temperature:
0 – 45 °C
Humidity:
5 – 95%
Minimum character size:
2mm Chinese character alphanumeric 1mm
Corresponding data format:
BMP, PLT, DST, DXF, and AI
Operating system:
stepper motor
Cooling system:
water-cooled
Control system:
DSP control system
Weight:
170kg


Banned materials

Some materials are very bad for the cutter and some are very bad for you. For example normal MDF wood contains a high amount of glue and when it burns it leaves a residue on the mirrors and optics. This reduces the cutting power and means a lengthy cleaning process. Other plastics are prone to melting into a gooey mess or catching fire. But that’s not the worst of it. Some types of plastic release potentially deadly hydrogen chloride gas. It’s really bad for the optics, it’s wreaks havoc on the electronics and could do a really good job of messing up your lungs forever. Basically all materials are banned that are not on the allowed list. Ask first!

Explicitly banned

  • Wood which isn't explicitly laser-grade (laser contamination, fire risk, emissions) Alan Scrase has contacted Wicks and comfirmed their Plywood is not suitable.
  • Food (laser contamination, fire risk, emissions)
  • Body parts
  • Plastics containing PVC (laser contamination, emissions)
  • Plastics containing ABS (laser contamination, fire risk)
  • Fibreglass (laser contamination, fire risk, emissions)
  • Circuit boards (laser contamination, fire risk, emissions)
  • Polycarbonate (laser contamination, fire risk)
  • All metal (except engraving anodized aluminium)
  • Polystyrene foam (laser contamination, fire risk, emissions)
  • Polypropylene foam (laser contamination, fire risk, emissions)
  • HDPE (laser contamination, fire risk, emissions)
  • Carbon fibre (laser contamination, fire risk, emissions)
  • Shuttering ply (laser contamination, fire risk, emissions)
  • Latex (laser contamination, fire risk, emissions)

Allowed materials

Woods

  • Laser-grade plywood*
    • Birch ply (max 6mm)
    • Poplar ply (max 6mm)
  • Balsa wood
  • Paper (cutting only)
  • Card/Cardboard (cutting only)
  • Laser-grade MDF - (engraving only) - Please avoid if possible as even the Laser grade is mucky stuff

Plastics

  • Acrylic (max 6mm cutting)
  • Foamcore (non-PVC variety)
  • Correx (Genuine non PVC)
  • Depron foam (Fire risk, must be closely monitored)

Textiles

  • Cloth/felt/hemp/cotton (Not plastic-impregnated fabric)
  • Polar Fleece
  • Leather (vegetable tanned?)

For engraving only

  • Stone
  • Ceramic tile
  • Non-resinous wood IE hardwood
  • Glass
  • Anodized Aluminium

If you have questions or problems with the laser cutter, please speak to one of these people:

  • Ben (plexer) - Head laser monkey
  • Toby - Padwan laser monkey