Lasers are an integral part of any modern makerspace, and the Invention Studio at Georgia Tech is no different. We have 3 laser cutters operating throughout the semester, and they see consistent and relentless use during our workweek, evenings, and weekends. Laser cutters are really cool because they concentrate light to a fine point and then either cut or engrave a material with a high precision. These incredibly versatile machines are fairly easy to learn and use, and can run with minimal maintenance beyond lens cleaning and the occasional calibration.
But these incredibly popular and beloved machines come with a dark side: soot. When you use a laser cutter, you're literally burning away material that you don't want, which causes smoke and sooty residue to spread throughout the laser cutter. The better your ventilation is, the less residue gets trapped in the machine. The better trained your users are, the less likely they are to start fires in the machine. Even if you have both well-trained users and a great ventilation system, you're going to need to clean up your laser cutter. Soot and other flammable residues can block the ventilation system, get all over people's projects, and make your makerspace look grungy and unsafe.
Luckily, with a little elbow grease and the right equipment, you can deep clean your laser cutter. Deep cleaning your laser cutter can be a satisfying experience, and it brings your equipment back from a disaster zone to looking like-new! Today, I'll be illustrating my process through our semesterly cleanout of our Trotec Speedy 400.
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