Laser
Zing Laser Check-in and Reservations
Our Laser Engraver/Cutter Area at Pikes Peak Makerspace (PPM) consists mostly of Level 3 equipment.
Additional PPM training and then PPM certification is required to use any of our Level 3 equipment.
Links to related PPM Wiki pages:
Safety First
Members must know the following information:
- In case of emergency, call 911.
- Our physical location is:
- 735 East Pikes Peak Avenue
- Colorado Springs, CO 80903
- use this when ordering pizza or an ambulance
PPM Fire Escape Plan
- Fire Escape Plan maps are posted throughout the Makerspace.
- There are 7 fire extinguishers on the fire escape plan map. Review the PPM Fire Escape Plan for locations.
First Aid
- There is a FIRST AID Supply Cabinet in our Kitchen Area.
- FIRST AID Kits are available in four areas: the Kitchen, Metal Shop, Wood Shop and CNC Room.
Eye Wash Stations
- Emergency Eye & Face Wash Stations are mounted in four areas: the Kitchen, Wood Shop, CNC Room and Vented Room.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Wear protective equipment in all Wood and Metal Shop Areas.
- Wear gloves when using Isopropyl Alcohol and other cleaners.
Hazardous Chemicals
- All hazardous chemicals must be stored in the yellow hazardous chemical storage cabinet located in the Vented Room.
- Review the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) information of unknown products before use.
- SDS information is available via the QR code on the hazardous chemical storage cabinet or this spreadsheet.
- Do not bring dangerous chemicals to the makerspace.
- Spray paint, stains, and other approved items must be stored in the hazardous chemical storage cabinet in the Vented Room.
- Please DO NOT paint indoors.
Impairment
- The use of PPM equipment requires you to be alert, attentive, and focused.
- Do not use any PPM work area, or any PPM tools, if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Classes
- The Zing Laser Certification class is offered on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
- If this time or date does not work with your schedule, please Contact Us
- Some instructors offer one-on-one training that we can help schedule.
- PPM announces its Upcoming events, including classes, on Meetup
Training
Epilog Laser
DO NOT cut materials with PVC on either laser, this will release chlorine gas which is toxic.
- ALWAYS ensure the work area interior and exterior is clean before and after your work.
- The maximum bed size for vector cutting or raster etching is 16” x 12” or less.
Laser Cutting Material Table
Laser Cutting Acrylic
The following pages contain historical information. The pages are provided for reference only.
Introduction to the Zing Laser
Equipment Lists
Zing LASER
Picture | Item | Manufacturer/ Model |
Resources |
zing 30 Watt
CO2 Laser Cutter/Engraver |
Epilog Laser
10000 Laser System |
zing manual (pdf) | |
Equipment Reservations
- Reserve 24 Hours in Advance to Guarantee Equipment.
- Unreserved equipment is first come first serve.
- Reservations are given up after 15 minute no show.
- Use this form to sign in (No more paper)
If you don't have a reservation:
- Be sure your job does not run longer than an upcoming reservation or you are expected to stop your job.
PPM Benefits
- PPM members enjoy discounts at the following local merchants:
- (bring proof of membership)
Company | Website | Benefit | Directions to |
Woodcraft of Colorado Springs | 10% discount | 4438 Austin Bluffs Parkway | |
CO Lumber Specialties | 10% discount | 3636 Stone Avenue | |
GENERAL AIR | 10% discount | 3031 N Nevada Ave. | |
ACE Hardware Uintah Gardens | 10% discount | 1830 W Uintah Street | |
- Map of stores that provide PPM member discounts
- Map of helpful local resources curated by our makers
- At home LightBurn subscriptions can be purchased at a discounted rate for being a PPM member.
- The discount code is saved as a Pinned Message in our 'laser-cutter' channel in Slack.
PPM Policies
Materials
- DO NOT cut materials with PVC on either laser, this will release chlorine gas which is toxic.
- Avoid reflective material. (Avoid cutting or engraving compact discs, for example.)
- Donate for "Wood Sheet for Laser" via PayPal: bit.ly/ppmstuff
- Or, leave donations in a black payment box, or use a QR code.
Red Tags
- If equipment needs repairs, place a Red Tag on it and report it via the Pikes Peak Makerspace Slack channel #red-tags-issues
- This advises others on the malfunctioning equipment and ensures that actions can be taken to service/repair the equipment.
Related Software
Design Software
Printing Software
- Adobe Acrobat
Member Showcase
- For even more member projects, visit our #showcase channel on Slack.
Hand-Curated Links
Links to member-recommended external sites:
- ImagR — Prepare your image for laser engraving
- Boxes.py — Cut out boxes and other stuff with a laser cutter
- MakerCase — web-based application for designing boxes
- Homebrew CO2 Laser Page — by John Doran (Epilog's VP of Engineering)
Additional Help
- Use the PPM Slack channel #laser-cutter
- List of all PPM Slack channels
- Note that we have a Slack channel (#job-board) for members to post, discuss, or accept job opportunities either within PPM or from the community.
Search the PPM Wiki — include Content pages as well as Multimedia.
Contact Us if you cannot find your answer here on our Wiki or if you notice any information that is outdated.