GCC C180II Laser Engraving and Cutting Machines User Manual

File Save Mode Page

Relevant Buttons
F1 (Back) F4 (Save) / Directional Start / Stop Auto Focus / Manual Focus Buttons

Function
Back to previous page Save your current settings Cycle File Save between YES / NO Back to Main Work Page Initiate the auto focus function Manually adjust the height of the work table (Zaxis)

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Save Position Function

Navigating to this page:
Main Work Page
press F4
Functions Page
Selectfrom the
Advanced Option Page
Selectfrom the
Save Position Page

The Save Position Function allows you to save the current X-axis and Y-axis positions of the laser carriage and sets this position to be the origin for subsequent jobs.
Tip
This is an excellent function to use when you are processing identical items or engraving relatively smaller objects positioned away from the default start position (top left) of the work table.

Recall Position

Navigating to this page: Main Work Page
press F4
Functions Page

Select by pressing F4
To recall the saved position, simply go to Functions page and press F4 again to recall the saved position. The laser carriage will be moved to the saved position.

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Vector Mode Page

Navigating to this page:
Main Work Page
press F4
Functions Page
Selectfrom the menu
Advanced Option Page
Selectfrom the menu
Vector Mode Page

The Vector Mode Page allows you to adjust and balance vector mode’s quality and speed settings based on your specific job. Speedy Vector Mode offers the highest output speed, sacrificing quality. Whereas Quality Vector Mode offers the highest quality, sacrificing output speed. Keep in mind that speed and quality are usually at a tradeoff. The system’s default is Production Vector mode.
· Modes: Quality, Production, Speedy [Slower speeds / higher quality ——————– Faster speeds / lower quality] The machine will reboot automatically after clicking button for the change.

Relevant Buttons
F1 (Back) F4 (Save)
/ Directional
Start / Stop Auto Focus / Manual Focus Buttons

Vector Mode Page
Function
Back to previous page Save your current settings Cycle Set Vector Mode between QUALITY VECTOR/ FINEVECTOR/ COARSE VECTOR/ SPEEDY VECTOR Back to Main Work Page Initiate the auto focus function Manually adjust the height of the work table (Z-axis)

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LAN Setup Wizard Page

Navigating to this page:
Main Work Page
press F4
Functions Page
Selectfrom the menu
Machine Setting Page
Select from the menu
LAN Setup Wizard Page

The LAN Setup Wizard Page allows you to connect the laser machine with ethernet to transmit files from computer to laser machine for processing jobs. When selecting the DHCP to , the network is set tup to dynamic IP address, the IP address will automatically retrieve from network; while DHCP is to apply static IP address, and you need to further enter the IP address, MASK, and GATE information. Using Left or Right directional keys under dynamic IP setting page to scroll between different columns to enter the address, and use Up or Down keys to change the numbers.
· DHCP: NO/ OFF
Please refer to Chapter 5.2.1 for ethernet connectivity setup in Windows driver.

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LAN Setup Wizard Page

Relevant Buttons
F1 (Back) F4 (Save) / Directional
/ Directional Start / Stop Auto Focus / Manual Focus Buttons

Function
Back to previous page
Save your current settings Cycle DHCP between NO/ OFF, or move between tabs on IP address settings Scroll between menu options, or change the numbers of IP address settings. Back to Main Work Page Initiate the auto focus function Manually adjust the height of the work table (Zaxis)

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Scaling Page

Navigating to this page:

Main Work Page
press F4

Functions Page
Selectfrom the menu
Machine Setting Page
Select from the menu
Scaling Page
The Scaling Page allows you to fine tune the laser machine output scale to precisely fit the original graphic file design scale when precision output is requried to your application.

Please reboot the machine after clicking button for the change.
Scaling Page

Relevant Buttons
F1 (Back) F4 (Save) / Directional / Directional Start / Stop Auto Focus / Manual Focus Buttons

Function
Back to previous page Save your current settings Adjust the X axis scaling numbers Adjust the Y axis scaling numbers Back to Main Work Page Initiate the auto focus function Manually adjust the height of the work table (Zaxis)

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Others Page

Navigating to this page:

Main Work Page
press F4
Functions Page
Selectfrom the menu
Machine Setting Page
Select from the menu
Others Page

The Others Page allows you to change various settings that correspond to the control panel. The Language setting will allow users to change available languages displayed on the control panel.
The Unit setting will allow you to change whether the units displayed by the control panel is in the metric or imperial system. The EOF (end of file) Alarm setting will enable or disable an audible notification when jobs are complete. The Air Delay setting allows you to specify the delay in seconds of the SmartAIR air-assist after the point of laser firing.
· Language: ENGLISH (others dependent on Firmware) · Unit: METRIC / ENGLISH · EOF Alarm: YES / NO · Air Delay: 1-100 seconds
Tip
Depending on the material you are engraving with, your laser settings, and the desired results, please experiment with the air delay to achieve your desired results.

Relevant Buttons
F1 (Back) F4 (Save) / Directional / Directional Start / Stop Auto Focus / Manual Focus Buttons

Others Page

Function
Back to previous page Save your current settings Scroll through the menu selections Adjust the value for that selection Back to Main Work Page Initiate the auto focus function Manually adjust the height of the work table (Z-axis)

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Reset Page

Navigating to this page:

Main Work Page
press F4
Functions Page
Selectfrom the menu
Machine Setting Page
Select from the menu
Others Page
The Reset Page will restore machine settings back to factory default. Press ENTER to confirm the change, and restart the machine.

Relevant Buttons
F1 (Back) / Directional Enter Start / Stop Auto Focus / Manual Focus Buttons

Reset Page
Function
Back to previous page Scroll through the menu selections Perform the selection Back to Main Work Page Initiate the auto focus function Manually adjust the height of the work table (Z-axis)

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SmartGUARD Page

Navigating to this page:
Main Work Page
press F4
Functions Page
Selectfrom the
Advanced Option Page
Select from the menu
SmartGUARD Page

After optional SmartGUARD hardware installation, please enter the function menu on the control panel to enable the SmartGUARD fire alarm. Note SmartGUARD fire alarm system is not a fire extinguisher, but an fire detecting and alarm system.

SmartGUARD Enable/ Disable:
Press directional key (Left or Right) to enable the SmartGUARD device or disable it.
Sensitivity
Press directional key (left or right) to set the sensitivity of SmartGUARD. There are five sensitivity settings (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 seconds) that can be selected. Sensitivity defines the delay time from when a fire is detected until the fire alarm alerts user, and automatically stop laser firing. For example, if the sensor delay switch is set to the 3-second position, the SmartGUARD will start an alarm and automatically stop laser firing after detecting a fire for 3 seconds.
Stow Carriage
This function will decide if the lens carriage stay in the last position (set to ) or move to the opposite direction (up or down) when fire alarm is initiated. The default is , the lens carriage will move to opposite direction when a fire detected.

SmartGUARD Setting Page

Relevant Buttons
F1 (Back) F4 (Save) / Directional / Directional

Function
Back to previous page Save your current settings Scroll through the menu selections Adjust the value for that selection

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Machine Information Page

Navigating to this page:
Main Work Page
press F4
Functions Page
Select from the menu
Machine Setting Information Page

The Machine Information Page allows you to view information regarding the system such as the GCC logo, machine name, firmware version, and other information.

Machine Information Page

Relevant Buttons
F1 (Back) / Directional Enter Start / Stop Auto Focus / Manual Focus Buttons

Function
Back to previous page Scroll through the menu selections Perform the selection Back to Main Work Page Initiate the auto focus function Manually adjust the height of the work table (Z-axis)

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5.2 The LaserPro C180II Print Driver
With the LaserPro C180II print driver successfully installed, you will need to adjust the printer and page size default settings before you can begin editing and completing jobs. By doing so, you will be setting the work area in your graphics software to match the LaserPro C180II’s worktable area.
NOTE
Please make sure the LaserPro C180II is set to the default printer before proceeding to the page and layout setup.
Ensure that the LaserPro C180II has been selected as the DEFAULT PRINTER. You can do so by going into your Windows Control Panel Printers and Faxes. If LaserPro C180II is not selected as DEFAULT PRINTER, you may set it up through the graphics software as well. The following is taking Corel Draw as example of how to set up LaserPro C180II as the Printer.

1. From the primary menu, click FILE PRINT SETUP. 2) From the navigation bar Name, click C180II OK

5.2.1 Page Setup and Orientation
The first thing you must do before working with the LaserPro C180II Print Driver will be to make sure the page and layout settings are properly configured within your graphics software. You will need to access and edit the Page Setup or Layout page of your graphics software to set your graphics software’s page layout to match the LaserPro C180II’s work table’s dimensions and orientation.
From your graphic software’s Page Setup page: · Set the page orientation in the graphics software to Landscape mode. · Set page size horizontal length to 458 mm (18 inches) and vertical height to 305 mm (12 inches).

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CorelDRAW Example (Page Setup and Orientation)
The following is an example of how to set the Page Setup and Orientation in the graphics software. CorelDRAW is the designated graphics software used for this example. For other graphics software, you will need to access the corresponding Page Setup page.
3) From the primary menu, click LAYOUT PAGE SETUP. 4) From the navigation bar on the left, click DOCUMENT PAGE SIZE. 5) Ensure that NORMAL PAPER and LANDSCAPE are selected. 6) Ensure the Paper Width and Height dimensions match the LaserPro C180II’s work table dimensions
of 458 mm (18 inches) and 305 mm (12 inches).
7) Click OK to complete the paper size adjustment.
Tip
Instead of manually selecting the Landscape and setting the Paper Width and Height, you can simply click the Set From Printer function and CorelDRAW will automatically set the proper orientation and dimensions based on LaserPro C180II’s work table. (You MUST have the LaserPro C180II set as the default printer prior to doing this.)

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5.2.2 Color Management
LaserPro driver uses pen color settings to control laser engraver engraving and cutting parameters. In addition to having your Page Setup and Orientation properly set in your graphics software, you will also need to make sure Color Management is DISABLED prior to working with the LaserPro C180II Print Driver
From your graphic software’s Color Management page: Disable Color Management or set Color Management to Off.
CorelDRAW Example (Color Management)
The following is an example of how to properly disable Color Management in the graphics software. CorelDRAW is the designated graphics software used for this example. For other graphics software, you will need to access the corresponding Color Management page.

1. From the primary menu, click TOOLS COLOR MANAGEMENT and CorelDRAW’s Color Management will appear.
2. Under the Style pull down menu, select COLOR MANAGEMENT OFF. 3) Click OK to complete the color management adjustments.

5.2.3 Using the LaserPro C180II Print Driver
Now after you have properly set the Page and Layout and Color Management of your graphics software, you are ready to configure the details of your actual job through the LaserPro C180II Print Driver. The LaserPro C180II print driver allows you to adjust your engraving / cutting options. After you have setup your image, design, or text to be engraved in your software application, you can access the LaserPro C180II print driver by going to FILE PRINT PROPERTIES.

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NOTE
For this screenshot example, CorelDRAW was used as the software application.
The LaserPro C180II Print Driver consists of seven primary sections (pages) in which you will be able to choose various engraving / cutting options and settings:
· Option Page · Pen Page · Advance Page · Paper Page · Language Page · Raster Page (appears only in Black & White Mode) · Stamp Page (appears only in Stamp Mode)
Tip
The following sections describe the specific functions for each of the settings ound in the LaserPro C180II Print Driver. If you are new to laser engraving, it is recommended that you first familiar yourself with the general principals of the laser process in Chapter 6, especially the Vector Cutting and Raster Engraving concepts. This will make it easier to understand the various descriptions and terminology used in this section.

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5.2.3.1 LaserPro C180II Print Driver >> Option Page

Mode Setting (OPTION PAGE) [DEFAULT SETTING: Black & White] You can select four primary mode settings, depending on your application or results you would like to achieve.
Black & White: Select this mode when using clipart images or drawings with several colors, shades of gray, or many outlines. This mode outputs in a method similar to that of a black and white laser printer. The entire selected image will be engraved using a single set of power & speed settings (the black pen from the PEN menu. Please refer to the next section of the manual for details regarding the PEN functions). The LaserPro C180II print driver will interpret colored and shaded areas as different shades of gray by producing a halftone effect while engraving. Instead of engraving only solid lines, gray/halftone areas will be a collection of dots with varying density.
The resolution and depth of these halftone areas can be adjusted with the DPI setting found on the Options page. Please note that selecting the Black & White mode will add a new Raster page to the menu. The Black & White mode dithering settings can be changed from the Raster page. (Please refer to the Raster section below for details). Experiment with different dithering settings to attain the desired results.

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Tip
The Black & White mode interprets the processed image by the varying colors and shades. For the best results, we suggest you convert the image to a grayscale image with your graphics software prior to engraving in the Black & White mode.
NOTE
Selecting the Black & White mode will enable the Raster page on the LaserPro C180II Print Driver, allowing you to adjust advanced stamp-related settings.
Manual Color Fill: Specify laser type to different color pens. The GCC LaserPro print driver allows a maximum of 16 pen parameters to be set. It will help user to set different parameters easily in one file.

3D Mode: 3D Mode allows the naked eyes to visualize the curvatures of the 3D effect by applying 200 grayscale power level technology to create different depth of engraving.

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Stamp Mode: The stamp mode is one of the more dynamic functions of the LaserPro laser engravers by applying 200 power leve to create different steps.

NOTE
Selecting the Stamp mode will enable the Stamp page on the LaserPro C180II Print Driver, allowing you to adjust advanced stamp-related settings.

Raster & Stamp Mode: Select this mode when you would like to engrave image on stamps. The
Raster & Stamp mode combines the 256 level gray scale image processing technology and 200 power level stamp steps production requirement to create slopes.

DPI (Option Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: 500] DPI (dots-per-inch) represents the number of times the laser will fire over a one-inch path. This setting determines the image resolution and quality when performing raster engraving functions. Higher DPI settings result in cleaner and deeper engravings, but require a more time to complete. Lower DPI settings result in coarser and shallower engravings, but require less time to complete. The LaserPro C180II offers 8 DPI options: 125, 250, 300, 380, 500, 600, 760, 1000, and 1500 experiment with different settings to get your desired effect.
Below is a chart for your convenience detailing the Set DPI (your input setting) vs. Actual DPI (your output results).

Set

125

DPI

Actual

127

DPI

250

300*

380

254

381

381

500

600*

760

1000

508

762

762

1016

NOTE
Please note that when using Illustrator for output, the vector function supports a DPI range of 380 – 1500.

1500 1524

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Mirror (Option Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] Checking this box will automatically engrave your image with a mirrored effect. This setting will flip the image along the Y-axis from left to right and vice-versa.
Tip
When engraving a stamp, via the stamp mode, the stamp image needs to be engraved in reverse (mirrored) for the final stamp to be correctly laid out.
Invert (Option Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] Checking this box automatically inverts / reverses the color of your image (the white areas become black and vice versa). The Invert option is not available in disabled with Manual Color File mode selected.
Print Immediately (Option Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] Checking this will instruct the LaserPro C180II to immediately begin the laser engraving process, when you select Print from your graphic software program. If Print Immediately is not checked, then selecting Print will transfer the job file to the LaserPro C180II system and will need to be initialized from the LaserPro C180II control panel. SmartACT (Options Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] By eliminating unnecessary travel of the lens carriage at the expense of some quality, SmartACT reduces the acceleration area to save of time to process a job~!

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Tip
There is a greater performance gain when enabling SmartACT for designs that are vertically longer than they are horizontally wide, as the SmartACT optimization modifies the movement of the X-axis of the lens carriage.
Preview (Options Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] Users can use the Preview function to check a simulated output of the job. An estimated working time will also be shown. Please make sure to set the file printing option t o “print to file” in order to activate the Preview function. Below using GCC Spirit LS model as illustration.

A filename will be prompted.

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After entering the filename and pressing , the Preview screen will be shown.

The output file can be previewed and an estimated working time of the job is also displayed. The working time is only estimation which might be slightly different from the actual working time.
File Function (Option Page): The file function section allows you to manage various laser parameters. This section is useful when performing repeat jobs on a variety of objects, allowing you to save your frequently used laser parameters and load them in the future.
· History File: This section contains a list of the recent files you have recently created and worked. · SAVE: This function will save current print driver parameter settings to a file under the specified
location on your computer. (Saved parameter setting files will be tagged with the C180II extension)
· LOAD: This function allows you load a previously saved print driver parameters. · ORIGINAL: This function will load the print driver’s original factory parameter settings. · SAVE TO DEFAULT: This function allows you to save your current print driver parameters as
the default startup settings.
· DELETE: This function will delete the file you select from the History File section. Please note the delete function only removes the file from the history file section, it does not remove the .GL file from your hard drive, if you wish to completely remove the file from your hard disk, and you will have to manually delete the file from your operating system.)
NOTE
If you are using Windows 2000 or above as your operating system, then make sure you log in with an administrator or administrator-rights account in order to properly save laser parameter settings.

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Tip
LaserPro material database settings allow you easy to load the several parameters. If you are loading LaserPro parameter database as your operating parameter, please direct load from several build-in parameter folders.

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5.2.3.2 C180II Print Driver >> Pen Page
The LaserPro C180II incorporates the use of 16 different colors to represent 16 different laser power and speed settings when cutting and engraving. These colors are referred to as “Pen”. Think of each pen as a designated laser setting, rather than as a color. As an example, a black and white image will use only one power and speed laser setting (Black). An image that is made up of black, red and blue colors will be processed using the laser settings designated for each particular color. In order to utilize up to 16 different pens (laser parameter settings), make sure your graphics software can recognize and utilizes the 16 pen colors designated by the LaserPro C180II print driver.

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If you would like to specify your own colors to designate to a particular laser setting, then all you have
to do is to double-click on that particular pen color from the pen menu and a color manager window will open where you can select “define custom colors” to define your own color (shown in the picture below). This is useful when your image is composed of colors that are not part of the pen menu’s default color selection, and instead of modifying your image, you simply would like to assign the laser
settings based on the existing colors based on your current image.

NOTE
The LaserPro C180II print driver cannot store more than 16 pen colors or different laser parameter settings per file.
Speed (Pen Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: 40] The speed slider controls the laser’s speed during operation (engraving speed) with settings ranging from 0.1 ­ 100%.Only when moving in straight line with enough distance, the carriage can achieve 100% speed. On the other hand, the machine will automatically slow down when processing curves so the speed % indicator only presents maximum speed % that laser can achieve but not equal to actual laser carriage moving speed. It is exactly like driving a car on a straight road, you can driver faster and on a curve road you have to slow down.
Laser pulse frequency is controlled by the speed setting for vectors and it is opposite to pulse width, meaning higher speed setting for vectors, lower pulse width, and thus less cutting capability. Not only speed% setting affects actual processing time but also the job size, complexity of the graphic and the position of the graphic in the working area..
Power (Pen Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: 50] The power slider controls the laser’s power during operation (engraving/cutting power) with a range setting from 0 ­ 100%. The percentage setting represents the power for each laser pulse fired. The lower the power setting, the shallower it engraves or cuts, and vice- versa.

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Tip
Cutting / engraving depth are determined by a combination of power and spe ed. Slower speed at higher power will produce deeper cuts and engravings, whereas higher speeds at lower power will produce more shallow cuts and engravings.

PPI (Pen Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: 400] PPI (pulses-per-inch) represents the pulsing frequency of the laser pulse (fire) numbers within an inch exclusive for vector cutting. Higher PPI settings may cause more melting, burning or charring on the edges when cutting. Lower PPI settings may reduce this effect, but may result in a serrated looking edge. If you drag the PPI slider to the maximum, the value will change to X. This completely disables the PPI control and turns on the laser continuously without pulsing. This disables the power ramp functionality, which automatically controls the PPI depending on the speed of the laser carriage (such as vector cutting around the corner of a square).With PPI to X. the cutting corner with slower speed will generate over burn or melting.
Tip
1. When cutting thicker materials, suggest setting PPI to X and slow s peed setting to melt/cut through the material
2. When cutting thin material or do kiss-cutting, it is recommended to set the PPI value to 400 and slower speed setting to keep curve and line with consistent cutting result, no over burn in corner.

Raster / Vector (Pen Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Selected] Checking the Raster checkbox will process only the raster functions for the areas of your design that correspond to that particular “pen” color. Checking the Vector checkbox will process the vector functions for the areas of your design that correspond to that particular “pen” color.

As an example: a particular “pen” color may be assigned to areas in your design containing color fills (raster engraving) and very thin lines (vector cutting). By checking / unchecking the Raster and Vector will force the driver to process / ignore the color fills / thin lines.

Raster Checked
Raster Unchecked

Vector Checked Processes both Vector and Raster functions for that particular color
Processes only the Vector functions for that particular color (Raster functions ignored )

Vector Unchecked
Processes only the Raster functions for that particular color (Vector functions ignored)
Does not process Vector or Raster functions for that particular color

Auto Focus (Pen Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] This checkbox sets the Auto Focus for that particular job. With the Auto Focus button checked, the LaserPro C180II will automatically initialize the auto focus procedure before starting the job. This will ensure the focal distance is properly set based on the particular material you are working with and the focal lens you have installed.

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Air (Pen Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] This checkbox controls the SmartAIR air-assist function (if you have the optional air compressor installed). By selecting a pen color and checking this box will enable the SmartAIR air-assist function for that particular pen color. As an example, if you are performing a combination of both surface raster engraving job and deep vector cutting on a material such as acrylic, you may want to enable the SmartAIR air-assist for the vector cutting sections to get the cleanest cuts. To do this, you would simply need to select the pen color that you have assigned to the sections to be cut and select the Air checkbox for those particular pen colors.
5.2.3.3 C180II Print Driver >> Advance Page

Scaling (Advance Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: 0] In some cases you may find a slight output inaccuracy in the actual output compared to what you have set in the computer. This margin of error or offset is extremely small (approximately 1/300). What this means that there may be a 1-unit offset for every 300 unit increments. As an example, if you engrave a 300 mm straight line, it may end up measuring only 299 mm or 301 mm in the final output. In this case, you will want to set the scaling setting to +1 / 1000 or -1 / 1000, respectively to compensate. A general rule of thumb is for every 300 unit increment, you will want to adjust the slider by +1 if the final output is 1 unit increment shorter or -1 if the final output is 1 unit increment longer than your graphic design setting.
Position Modes (Advance Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Home] These selections allow you to control the positioning of the laser head after each job completion and before the next subsequent job.
· Home: Resets the positioning of the laser head to the “home position” (upper-right) before and after each job.

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· Without Home: The laser head will start the next job based on its position from its graphic application software setting, from the last position of the previous job. Upon completion of the current job, the laser head will remain at the last position of the previous job.
· Relative: This mode sets the current laser head position to correspond to the origin (top left) position of the graphic software. Therefore, the laser head will process the job from its current position relative to its setting in the graphics software.
· Center: Sets the current position of the laser head as the center point for your subsequent job. As an example, if the subsequent job is to vector cut a circle and you have the Position Mode set to Center, then the C180II will vector cut a circle around the initial position of the laser head.
· SmartCENTER: The SmartCENTER function is a quick and easy way to precisely locate the center point between two points or four points.
Tip
It is highly recommended you enable the red dot laser pointer when setting / adjusting the Position Modes, as this makes accurate positioning of your laser carriage for your particular jobs much easier.
Image Output Direction (Advance Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Top To Bottom] These selections allow you to control the direction in which the system processes an engraved image.

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· Top To Bottom: Selecting this will force the system to process the current task by moving the laser carriage from the top to the bottom of the image (rear end to front end of the work table). · Bottom To Top: Selecting this will force the system to process the current task by moving the laser carriage from the bottom to the top of the image (front end to rear end of the work table) (Normally, the LaserPro C180II engraves from left to right, top to bottom. Selecting Bottom Up will force the machine to start from the bottom and work its way to the rear of the working table.
Tip
In situations where the material you will be working with may produce a lot of dust byproducts and you are utilizing the optional Fume Extraction system, it is recommended you select the Bottom To Top image output direction option. This will minimize the amount of dust byproducts lodged in the engraved sections as the Fume Extraction system is vented from the rear of the machine, the same direction as the image is processed.
Border (Advance Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] In cases where you are working with a negative image (negative outline areas of your image are engraved, rather than the positive areas), you may wish to include a border around your image. To properly add a border, you will first need to Invert your design from the Option Page, then check Use Border and specify a value for the thickness of the border you would like to add to your design. This mode is useful for engraving rubber stamps, as it allows you to create the outline around your stamp image.
NOTE
If you wish to use the Border and Cluster function simultaneously, then the Border Thickness value must be less than the Distance value specified in the Cluster setting.
Vector Function (Advance Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Normal] · Normal: This selection will not apply any special advanced vector function to your job. This is
the default Vector Function setting. · All Raster Output: This selection will instruct the print driver to process your entire image as a
raster engraving. Any vector lines within the image will be treated as raster data and outputted as a raster engraving, similar to a dot-matrix printer.

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· Inside-Out Cutting: This setting will always automatically direct the laser to cut from the inner most vector shape and move outwards.
· Optimization Sorting: This is a setting that will minimize your process time. When selected, the print driver will analyze your image and automatically determine the most efficient processing path to process your image.

Use Cluster (Advance Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] This setting allows you to change how the LaserPro C180II interprets and processes individual / independent areas of an image in order to minimize job-processing times. The Cluster function is only applicable when multiple areas of an image are broken down and isolated from each other (areas not touching each other, blank space in-between). Another condition that must be met for the Cluster function is that these individual areas of your design must have some X-axis overlap, meaning that they should be somewhat side-by-side with empty space between them. The distance value can be set by the user and represents the limit or cutoff point in which side-by-side objects will be processed in Cluster mode or not. If the distance between side-by-side objects is greater than the set distance value, then the individual areas will be processed in Cluster mode. Conversely, if the distance between side-by-side objects is lesser than the set distance value, then the individual areas will be processed normally (not via Cluster mode). An example of an image that would benefit from the Cluster function would be: 2 squares to be engraved, side-by-side on the X-axis with a 20 cm gap in between them. In this scenario, you would want to enable the Cluster setting and set the distance to a value less than 20. By doing so, the laser will completely process one square and “leap-frog” to the second square, rather than processing both squares simultaneously. The result: you shorten the processing time by minimizing the unnecessary travel distance the laser head needs to make across the X-axis in between squares, if they were to be processed simultaneously.

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NOTE
If you wish to use the Border and Cluster function simultaneously, then the Border Thickness value must be less than the Distance value specified in the Cluster setting.
Enhanced Vector Mode (Advance Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] This setting allows you to improve the cutting quality at the expense of speed. Your engraving speed will be dropped 50%, to maximize the cutting power. We recommend you enable this function when cutting thicker materials.
True Image Mode (Advance Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] This setting allows you to improve the engraving quality by reordering the line by line output sequence and by doing so masking the banding problems. This feature is only suitable for engraving large sized graphics. Note: The overall working time will be increased.
True Image is a function that will shuffle the normal engraving sequence to produces a nicer engraving output by reducing possible banding occurrences.

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5.2.3.4 C180II Print Driver >> Paper Page

Paper Size (Paper Page)
The paper size represents your total work area. Ensure that the paper size is never set greater than the C180II’s worktable area of 18″ x 12″ (458 mm x 305 mm). The X value represents the length and the Y value represents the width.
NOTE
When using the optional rotary attachment system and with the Rotary Fixture option checked, the X value represents the length of your working piece. The Y value will be changed to Diameter, which represents the diameter of your working piece (at the position you wish to engrave).

Unit (Paper Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Metric (mm)] Here you can set your preferred measurement standard in which you would like use with the C180II print driver. You can choose between metric or imperial standards.
Image Tuning (Paper Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: 0] In the event that you are processing extremely fine and detailed designs requiring near-microscopic edge-to-edge precision, you will need to adjust the image tuning setting. To adjust this setting, we recommend you engrave a small black square design as a sample and apply a magnifying glass to the engraved results.

When you look at your engraved test square under a magnifying glass, you may notice the edges of

your square may be slightly offset, with every consecutive engraved even or odd line protruding past

the square’s ideal edge. This occurrence may occur on the left or right side of the square and can be

compensated for by the image tuning setting. In the diagram below, the arrows refer to the direction

the laser head is moving to generate that engraved line. If the first and every other line protrude to the

left of the square’s ideal edge, you will want to set the image tuning to a negative value. If the first and

every other consecutive line protrude to the right of the square’s ideal edge, you will want to set the

image tuning to a positive value. The further the protruding lines are from the square’s ideal edge, the

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larger you will need to set the Image Tuning value to compensate.

Square’s Left Edge

Square’s Right Edge

The following is an example that has the proper image tuning, and demonstrates this significance when engraving fine, small, intricate text. The following two pictures show engraved text magnified with no image tuning (left picture) and image tuning enabled (right picture).

Rotary Fixture (Paper Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] NOTE
This option is only to be used with the Rotary Attachment optional accessory properly set up. For instructions on how to set up the Rotary Attachment, please refer to Chapter VII of this manual.

You will need to select the option when processing a job with the optional rotary attachment system to engrave on rounded or cylindrical objects. When you have your material and rotary attachment properly set up:

1. Check the Rotary Fixture function and notice the change in the Paper Size fields. Under Paper Size, the X value represents the length of your work piece. Enter the length of your work piece in this field.

2. Under Paper Size, the Diameter value represents the diameter of your working piece (at the position you wish to engrave). Enter the diameter of your work piece in this field. Again, remember the proper diameter value would be the diameter location, at the point of engraving on your work piece.

3. Under Rotary Parameter, the Offset value represents distance from the open end of your

work piece to the base of the padded rubber wheel. This value will be displayed on the

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C180II’s LCD panel. Enter the proper offset value in this field.
.2.3.5 C180II Print Driver >> Language Page
This page allows you to specify the language displayed by the C180II Print Driver. Available language options include: English, Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Remember to select “Save to Default” on Options Page to save the specified language.

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5.2.3.5 C180II Print Driver >> Raster Page
NOTE
The Raster Page is only available when Black & White Mode Setting is selected from the Option Page, this page offers a number of advanced Raster Engraving output options.

Contrast (Raster Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: 0] A quick and easy way to immediately adjust the contrast of an engraved image. Moving the slider to the Dark setting will increase the contrast levels of the engraved output, whereas moving the slider to the Light setting will decrease the contrast levels of the engraved output.
Tip
There are other ways to adjust an engraved image’s contrast such as: adjust the power / speed settings or simply adjusting the contrast of the image in software with the graphic software application.

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Halftone (Raster Page) [DEFAULT SETTING: Dithering] This option controls the way a raster-engraved image is processed. The “digital image to engraved output” process can be processed via two methods: Dithering or Error Diffusion. Each offer additional output options yielding different output effects, style, and quality.
·Dithering: Interprets and outputs the raster engraving via the dithering method. This mode will allow you to select the Pattern Type and Dithering Matrix, and Enhanced Dithering.
·Pattern Type: Dot, Bayer, Corner, 45 Degree [DEFAULT SETTING: Dot] Each pattern type uses a different shape and arrangement of dots to compose the shading effect of a raster image. The following diagram is an example of the raster effects when using the different pattern types.

·Dithering Matrix: Variable depending on the Pattern Type selected. [DEFAULT SETTING: 8 x 8] This controls the resolution (dot size) and the number of dots the image is broken
down into for the dithering process. As an example, selecting 2 x 2 will shade with a 5-grade halftone, where as an 8 x 8 Dithering Matrix will dither with a 65-grade halftone. The following diagram is an example of the raster effects when using the different dithering matrices.

2 x 2 Dithering

8 x 8 Dithering

2 x 2 Enhance Dithering

8 x 8 Enhance Dithering

Enhance Dithering [DEFAULT SETTING: Unselected] Selecting this will produce a finer dithering output.
· Error Diffusion (Raster Page): Interprets and outputs the raster engraving via the error diffusion method. This mode will allow you to select from three diffusion types: Floyd, Stucki, and Jarvis.

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· Diffusion Type: Floyd, Stucki, Jarvis [DEFAULT SETTING: Floyd] Each diffusion type presents the shade of image as different spread halftones instead of dots to compose a raster image.
The following diagram is an example of the raster effects when using the different diffusion types.

Floyd

Stucki

Jarvis

Tip
There is no “correct” or “best” setting when using the Raster options. The most appropriate settings will be based on a variety of factors: your design, the material you are engraving on, the results you wish to achieve, etc. Please take some time to experiment with the multitude of raster options to get the one you feel is the best for your piece. This is where much of the fun in engraving is…. experimentation!

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5.2.3.6 C180II Print Driver >> Stamp Page
Producing stamps require different operational steps than your standard engraving or cutting jobs. The Stamp page offers dynamic options allowing you to customize your stamp production process.
NOTE
The Stamp page will only appear and be accessible when you have selected the Stamp Mode from the Options Page.
Tip
Functions located on the other pages that are useful when making a stamp: Set Shoulder, Pitch, Border, Invert, and Mirror.
Ridge: contact area of the stamp
Slope of ridge (shoulder level)
Base of ridge (pitch)

Pitch (Stamp Page)
Your stamp will be a reversed image composed of engraved depressions and ridges. Think of these ridges as the “contact sections” of the stamp. If the ridges of these contact sections are too thin, they may break. The Pitch setting allows you to increase the width of the ridge base, hence creating more stable “contact sections” and longer lasting stamp. The pitch value setting allows you to adjust the base width of the ridge. Broad pitch gives the maximum amount of support for each ridge. Experiment with different pitch value settings in order to produce the stamp that is best suited for your application.

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Adjustment Bar / Power Level (Stamp Page) Another important aspect of creating a stamp is setting the slope level of the shoulder. The shoulder is the section from the “contact section” of the stamp to its base. This function allows you to adjust the slope for the shoulder sections of your stamp. By sliding the sliders or directly input of power levels, you will be able to change the slope of the shoulder.
NOTE
The visual representations of the Pitch and Shoulder Levels in the C180II driver are an exaggerated representation to allow for easy visual guidance and precise input. Remember we are working with distances less than 1 mm here.

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6
Chapter 6
Engraving and Cutting Techniques
Raster Engraving Vector Cutting Vector and Raster 3D Tips To Modified Image Settings of a Picture for Better Engraving Quality

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6.1 Raster Engraving
A laser engraver can process text, scanned image, digital picture, or design by “laser firing” grids / dots of individual pixels into a raster image. Think of this as simply “printing” your job onto any particular material. An example of a raster engraved piece would be a photo engraving on tile, as shown in the picture below.
6.2 Vector Cutting
A laser engraver can process text, design, and images composed of lines through continuous-firing of the laser to cut out various shapes. When performing vector cutting operations, imagine the laser head as a pair of scissors cutting out the lines specified in your design. An example of a vector cut piece would be a customized dining mat, as shown in the picture below.

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The LaserPro C180II Print Driver determines which sections should be raster engraved or vector cut based on the outline width of that particular area or section of the design. In order to prep a particular section for vector cutting, you will need to set that object’s fill color to white and set its outline thickness between 0.001″ (0.025 mm) to 0.004″ (0.1 mm) via the graphics software.
Below is an example of how to prep an area (in this case, we will use a section of text) for vector cutting. CorelDraw will be used as the selected graphics software.

1. With the text function, create a string of characters and select those characters by clicking on the text.
2. Change the text fill color of the selected characters to white by left clicking on the white color from the CorelDraw Color Palette (located on the right hand side of the screen).
3. Change the outline color of the selected characters outline by right clicking on the desired color from the CorelDraw Color Palette.
4. Change the selected characters outline thickness to the thinnest width by right clicking on the selected text select Click on the tab and change the Width to its thinnest dimension. Click on “OK” to apply the changes.
5. Now your string of characters has been properly designated as an area to be vector cut. Simply “print” your job (output the file to the C180II) and watch as your string of characters is vector cut.
   6.3 Vector and Raster
   In some cases, you will want to process both raster engraving and vector cutting tasks within a single project. For example, if you wanted to engrave a design onto a particular material and then cut a particular shape around that engraving. The picture below is an example of an engraving on a piece of cork, which has then been cut out with a square shape:

In these situations when there are raster engraving and vector cutting operations on a single project, the LaserPro C180II driver will interpret between raster sections and vector sections by the types of lines and line widths of your design. Areas of your design with line widths set between 0.001″ (0.025 mm), 0.004″ (0.1 mm) will be designate for vector cutting, and the other areas will be designated for raster engraving.

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6.4 3D Tips
3D Mode is one of the functions of LaserPro laser engraver. Instead of traditional two dimensional graphic processing, 3D Mode allows the naked eyes to visualize the curvatures of the 3D effect by applying 200 power levels technology to create different depth of engraving. Although it is easy to produce 3D samples with LaserPro Engraver, production of the 3D graphic can be a hassle for our users.
NOTE
In case you don’t want to create the 3D graphic file by yourselves, you can try to search for the ready 3D graphic files. One of the company we would recommend is Gantry Company from U.S. who accepts online business. Find details at http://www.gantryco.com/patriotic-3d-laser-engraving.html
Principle for 3D production by laser
3D processing uses degrees of the gray level to adjust the output energy of the laser. Take the figures below as an example. When the color of a certain block is set as 100% black, the laser output energy for processing will be at 100%. The processing depth will be fairly deep. When the gray level is set as 50% black, the laser output energy will be adjusted to a smaller value accordingly so that the processing depth is not as deep. By specifying the degrees of the gray level in this way, various energy output is achieved and the 3D effects are produced.

By specifying different levels of black in design software, the corresponding laser power energy will generate different depths of engraving result.
Introduction to software for 3D graphic production
Many ways to produce 3D graphics are available. If you are familiar with or frequently use one of the 3D software in the market like Laser Type, EngraveLab, 3D Studio etc., you may use it for the production of 3D graphics. After completion, save the 3D images as one of the formats that is compatible with the Laser Engraver (such as JPG or BMP) and let the machine begin the engraving. If you are not familiar with any 3D software, some editing software specific for laser in the market also have 3D mode functionality, which could be a handy tool for you to produce 3D objects. Of course, you may also use Photoshop or CorelDRAW, which you might be using on daily basis, for the production of 3D objects. Ways to produce 3D graphics with these software are not the same. In the following section, we will give you simple illustrations with respect to how these software work.

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Laser Professional AP
Currently, quite few laser professional application softwares like Laser Type, 3D studio, EngraveLab are available in the market. You can not only create all kinds of vector images with these AP but also convert these vector images into 3D module, which is a great way to produce 3D graphics. As illustrated in the figure below, all you need to do is to choose the direction of the vector and then set the length and shape of the convex or concave surface. The software will automatically generate the 3D graphic for you.
Concept illustration of 3D graphic production with Laser Professional AP
After the graphic is completed, you can output the 3D graphic directly to the laser machine through GCC LaserPro driver, which is very handy. Or you can also export the 3D graphics as JPG or BMP format and edit with frequently used CorelDRAW or Illustrator software, then output the graphic to GCC laser system.
Photoshop & CorelDRAW
The way to produce 3D graphics with Photoshop and CorelDRAW is very similar. Fill in the desired gray level colors to each of the drawn figures, and proceed with further arrangement and combination. Then you may output the 3D graphic to the laser for the production of the 3D object. Take the figure below as an example. After producing two graphs in gray level, proceed with the arrangement and combination. Then you may let the laser proceed with 3D mode.

Both Photoshop and CorelDRAW may produce 3D graphics in the manner of combination.
A way to produce 3D graphics
For the production of 3D graphics, in addition to the requirement of having great familiarity with the software, a significant amount of time is required to design and arrange the layout. Thus, we use a relatively simple graphic for illustration so that you would understand how to produce 3D graphics better.

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Take the graphic above as a production example. CorelDRAW is used for the production of the 3D graphic. Step 1. Produce the gray level background

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LaserPro requests your attention

If you need to produce circular 3D graphics, you only need to select Radial as the gray level type in the pull-down

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menu of Type. Then, a circular 3D graphic may be produced. Step 2. Produce three-dimensional characters

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Step 3. Edit the characters for the website

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Step 4. Combine the 3D images After finishing the production for each of the objects, you may proceed with the combination of the objects. The combined graphic may be output with the laser engraver.
Output the 3D graphic
After selecting the graphic to be output, set the Mode as 3D Mode in the driver. After setting the engraving parameters, output the 3D graphic.

Tips for engraving 3D graphics
LaserPro Application Lab provides a few reminders that may require your attention during the 3D engraving in order to improve the result of the engraving.
Turn on the Air Assist function
When the engraving is done along with Air Assist, the depth of the engraving would be deeper. Set Air assist inside the driver by checking the box.

Polish
Dust will accumulate during the engraving when acrylic is engraved. The acrylic may be polished with Polish after the engraving. After the processing, don’t remove the engraved object. Use the Control Panel to lower the

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platform (for about 7~8 mm) and then engrave once again to achieve the better finish.
After engraving the wooden objects, please use a toothbrush with some clean water to remove the dust on top of the object.

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6.5 Modify Image Settings of a Picture for Better Engraving Quality
1. Connect your digital camera to the computer by USB cable. 2. Download the picture from the digital camera to the computer 3. Select the picture that you want to engrave. 4. Import the image from the folder where the picture is located by selecting File/Import

5. Convert the image to Bitmap by selecting the image and click on Bitmaps/Convert to Bitmap

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6. Change the Bitmap settings by setting “Color” to Grayscale (8-bit) and “Resolution” to 300 dpi and click OK.
7. Finally, Invert the image by selecting Effects/Transform/Invert

8. Now you are ready to output the modified image by clicking File/Print 123

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NOTE
This instruction is a simple example for general use. There are many tips and tricks to achieve a good engraving quality. It takes a lot of practice and experience to achieve a good engraving quality. Different picture may need different modifications and different material may need different parameters.

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7
Chapter 7
Optional Items
Fume Extraction System Option Air Compressor Option Items Honeycomb Table Option Focus Lens Option SmartAIR Nozzle (Fine/Ultra) SmartGUARD Fire Alarm Option Rotary Attachment Option

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When purchasing the LaserPro C180II from your local authorized GCC distributor, you will be provided a chance to purchase optional items to enhance your experience with your system. If anytime after the purchase of your LaserPro C180II, would you like to purchase any optional item, please contact your local authorized GCC distributor.
7.1 Fume Extraction System Option
To properly remove dust, vaporized materials and chemical smoke from the working area and machine, it is necessary to install a suitable Fume Extraction system. The Fume Extraction system and other components are readily available from your local authorized GCC distributor or you can elect to purchase and install one yourself with compatible models found at your local industrial supply store.
LaserPro’s Fume Extraction Systems are specifically designed to prevent personnel from inhaling hazardous fumes and dust generated by the laser process. Available for all LaserPro engravers, the LaserPro Fume Extraction System represents the latest in fume extraction and odor reduction technology for all types of applications. Quiet operation, high vacuum capacity, compact design and long life expectancy are but a few outstanding features. Each LaserPro Fume Extraction System is powered by a maintenance-free, continuous- running turbine. In order to ensure personnel safety and legal compliance, the LaserPro Fume Extraction System is CE-compliant. To purchase a LaserPro Fume Extraction System, contact your local authorized GCC distributor.
7.1.1 INSTALLATION (Self-Assembled Unit)

1. Purchase an exhaust system with 4″ exhaust port at your local industrial supply store, we recommend you to have a contractor install the exhaust system is a centralized exhaust system is preferred. We highly recommend you to use movable exhaust systems with filter systems.
2. Mount the exhaust system in an obvious and accessible location, not too far from the C180II, so it can be routinely switched on prior to laser engraving. The maximal distance you should mount the exhaust system away from the C180II depends on the blower’s vacuum capacity. We recommend you consult with the vendor regarding the unit’s vacuum force, maximal distances, based on the available models.
3. Connect rigid and smooth walled tubing such as PVC or sheet metal with a 4″ diameter to the ventilation opening located on the rear side of the LaserPro C180II. Try to keep this tubing as straight as possible as bends reduce the exhaust efficiency. Use the appropriate sized tube clamps and sealants to ensure a tight and secure attachment.

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7.1.2 Fume Extraction exhaust adjustment bar

Fume Extraction exhaust adjustment bar

Back view
C180II added fantastic adjustment function for air exhaust system.
When user pull the bar to the left side “Bottom Suction” will increase gradually; on the contrary when user pull the bar to the right side, the “Top Suction will increase. User can adjust the bar according to the application. The top ductwork is suitable for dust, smoke generated on material surface when doing laser engraving, which will reduce residue left on material surface; while the bottom ductwork is recommended for laser cutting jobs. Optimum down vacuum is critical for clear cutting edge when laser cutting materials.

Top view

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7.2 Air Compressor Option
Specifically designed for laser engravers, the air compressor utilizes an oil- free diaphragm. The air compressor helps eliminate harmful and potentially damaging moisture from the laser optics, maximizing laser optic life. In addition the air compressor provides the optimal air flow to the SmartAIR nozzles to minimize flaming, suppress working temperatures, and blow away dust and particle byproducts generated from the laser process.

Power Cord B

1/4″ Air Inlet Tubing

Power Cord A

INSTALLATION:

1. Remove the plugs on the air compressor to expose the air inlets.
2. Fasten the included air tube fastener valve to the outgoing air inlet (indicated by 2a) and the air filter into the ingoing air inlet (indicated by 2b).

2b
2a

Plugs

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3. Connect a ¼” tubing to the air tube fastener valve on the air compressor.
   NOTE
   It is important that the ¼” air tubing has clean, straight cuts on each end. Jagged or slanted cuts will not produce adequate sealing capabilities.

4. Take the unattached end of the ¼” air tubing (other end already connected to air compressor) and connect it to the air tube connector on the air assist valve. Make sure you press down on the air tube fastener when inserting the ¼” air tubing, to form a tight, secure attachment as indicated in the diagram below.

Air Flow Regulator: Turn Clockwise to increase airflow
Turn Counter- Clockwise to decrease

Air Tube Fastener Air Tube Connector

5. Both the Air-Assist Valve and AC Power Sockets are located on the rear side of laser system.

Air Assist Valve

Power Socket

6. Plug the air compressor’s power cord A into the AC internal power socket.
7. Plug the female end of power cord B to the AC power socket on laser system and the male end to
   an external power outlet.

Congratulations, you have finished setting up the air compressor. Make sure you have the proper SmartAIR nozzle installed (depending on your application), before you turn on and utilize the air compressor.

OPERATION:
Switch on the air compressor unit and make sure that the airflow regulator on the air assist valve is opened (turn clockwise to increase the airflow, counter-clockwise to decrease the airflow). The air nozzle under the laser head should emit a steady flow of air.

With the SmartAIR nozzle and air compressor properly installed and operating, all configurations and settings relating to air-assist functions are controlled through the LaserPro print driver and hardware control panel. Please refer to the LaserPro Spirit GLS PEN page on print driver section of this manual for details on how to enable and configure air-assist functionality.

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7.3 Honeycomb Table Option
Honeycomb tables are important to tune out a beautiful output when working with cutting operations. The C180II has a very easy to install honeycomb table. Simply lay it on top and against the upper left corner of the working area for use.
7.4 Focal Lens Option
GCC offers four different focal lenses namely the 1.5″, 2.0″, 2.5″, and 4.0″ for different applications. The number description, 1.5″, 2.0″, 2.5″, and 4.0″ signifies the distance of where passed through beam will converge. For example, when a laser beam passes through a 2.0″ focus lens, the beam will converge at a 2.0″ distance resulting in a concentration of energy at that spot.
The resulting spot size from the different focus lens are also different and the following chart shows the different spot sizes achieved from the different lenses.
1.5″ Lens: The 1.5″ lens is best when used for engraving of very fine details
2.0″ Lens: The 2.0″ lenses are good for normal engraving and cutting of up to 10mm thick acrylic

Thumbscrew

Unscrew the three thumb screws on lens carriage to remove the carriage panel. Take out the lens carriage and insert the optional one for different applications.

Engraving effects achieved with the different lenses

Cutting edges achieved with the different lenses 130

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7.5 SmartAIR Nozzle (Fine/Ultra)
The optional SmartAIR Fine Nozzle is recommended for engraving or cutting thin materials such as textile. The smaller caliber nozzle is positioned closer to the object for a concentrated blast directed over a small area to eliminate burning on the cutting edge. The perfectly-vertical design of the SmartAIR Fine Nozzle produces a concentrated airflow to blow away dust and unwanted residue, leaving a clean product surface. The Ultra Nozzle is recommended for the need of even stronger airflow for applications such as deep cutting.

7.6 SmartGUARD Fire Alarm Option
Laser cutting and engraving operations using the SmartGUARD device protects the operator, machine, produced and the work products from potential fire hazards. During the engraving process, flame s may be produced when working with combustible or easily-flammable materials, such as paper or wood. The SmartGUARD is an optional item that can be set to notify the operator t hrough audio warnings and automatically shut down the laser firing as a safety precaution. Note that SmartGUARD fire alarm is a fire detecting and alarm system, not a fire extinguisher.
INSTALLATION:
If you have purchased your system with SmartGUARD, then no installation is required, as your system will arrive with SmartGUARD pre-installed. For system owners that did not initially purchase this option, but would now like to add the SmartGUARD, they will need to contact your local authorized GCC distributor to have this great feature installed.

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Lift the top cover and remove the rear plate covering the Y motor and rear panel of the working area
Insert the SmartGuard cable through the opening
Connect the cable shown

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OPERATION MENU:

Navigating to this page:
Main Work Page
press F4
Functions Page
Selectfrom the
Machine Setting Page
Select from the menu
SmartGUARD Setting Page

After hardware installation, please enter the function menu on the control panel to enable the SmartGUARD fire alarm.
SmartGUARD Enable / Disable:
Press directional key (left or right) to enable the SmartGUARD device or disable it.
Sensitivity:
Press directional key (left or right) to set the sensitivity of SmartGUARD. There are five sensitivity settings (1,3,5,7,9 seconds) that can be selected. Sensitivity defines the time from when a fire is detected until the fire alarm alerts user of fire and automatically shuts down the laser from firing. For example, if the sensor delays switch is set to the 3-second position, the SmartGUARD will start an alarm and automatically stop laser firing after detecting a fire for 3 seconds.

SmartGUARD Setting Page

Relevant Buttons
F1 (Back) F4 (Save) / Directional / Directional

Function
Back to previous page Save your current settings Adjust the value for that selections Adjust the value for that selections

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7.7 Rotary Attachment Option
The rotary attachment option provides the C180II with the ability to engrave on cylindrical or spherical objects. In addition to the standard X, Y, Z axis, the rotary attachment allows for a fourth axis which rotates your object 360° to allow for engraving on cups, wine glasses, and even spherical objects.

Work Piece Limitations

Maximum Length

250 mm (10 inches)

Maximum Loading Weight

3kg (6 lbs.)

Minimum Diameter (Small conical fixture)

12mm (0.5 inches)

Maximum Diameter (Small conical fixture)

50mm (1.9 inches)

Minimum Diameter (Large conical fixture)

90 mm (3.7 inches)

Maximum Diameter (Large conical fixture)

125 mm (5 inches)

Exchange the Conical Fixtures:
Depending on the shape of work piece, you can exchange different designs of front and back fixtures to fit the materials as below illustration.

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Follow the procedure to exchange fixtures: 1) Remove the two screws holding the fixtures.
2) Detach the large conical/ small conical /flat pads by moving it in the arrow direction as indicated below.

3. Insert the required large conical/ small conical /flat pads onto the rotary attachment as shown below.

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4. Tighten the screws to complete the rotary attachment fixtures setup.

NOTE

Align the origin point to the flat top of shaft then tighten the first screw against it, following to tighten the second screw.

Flat Top

Origin Point

1. Align the origin to flat shaft, then tighten this screw against it

2. Following to tighten the second screw

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INSTALLATION:

1. Turn off the power of the laser engraver 2) Open the front panel of the machine, lower the working platform to its bottom 3) When placing the rotary attachment on the working table, the rotary attachment can only apply the
   small conical fixtures to work with small objects of diameters. 4) If working with bigger objects are required, remove the working table by releasing the four
   thumbscrews towards the sides and place the rotary attachment on the bottom tray. Under this condition, Rotary Attachment can use either the small or large conical fixtures 5) Line up the rotary attachment to the left hand side of the working area and towards the mid-section of the working area. 6) Connect the rotary attachment cable to the rotary attachment port located inside the machine (shown in the picture below). 7) Close the front door panel. 8) The rotary attachment is now properly installed. Power on the LaserPro C180II and the rotary attachment will be automatically detected and the engraving table will automatically move to its lowest position
   Rotary Attachment Port

NOTE
For machines without the built-in SmartBox, the rotary attachment is positioned on the
working table and the max. diameter of the object is 0.5″-1.9″. For machines with built-in SmartBox, the rotary attachment can be placed on the base of the SmartBox and used with the large conical fixtures to engrave objects with larger diameter up to 3.7″-5.0″.

OPERATION:

1. Use a ruler to measure the diameter (at the point on the work piece you will be engraving) and length of the work piece you will be engraving. Make a record of this.
2. Load the work piece onto the rotary attachment a) First lift the rear-end lever of the rotary attachment to release the adjustable end of rotary attachment. b) Load the work piece by centering its open end against the front fixture and slide the adjustable end to fit the bottom of work piece firmly. c) Lower down the lever to secure the work piece with the rotary attachment.
3. Manually move the laser carriage to the proper X/ Y location on the work object where you will do laser engraving or cutting. Hit the Auto Focus button on control panel and the laser machine will now properly focus at the location to be laser engraved or cut.

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CAUTION
If your work piece is small, please apply 4″ focal lens for operation to prevent the lens carriage from colliding with the rotary attachment.
4) Prepare the graphic you would like to engrave with the rotary attachment, and print it to GCC laser print driver, and go to “Paper” page of the Print Driver.

5. At the Paper Page, the first thing is to check the “Rotary Fixture” option. The Paper Size and Rotary Parameter will change to allow for proper

References

• eCut for CorelDRAW - Main
• Amazon.com
• 3D Laser Engraving Gallery | Patriotic Laser Artwork
• GCC: Laser Machines Leader Since 1989
• GCC Laser Engraving and Cutting Machines
• GCC LaserPro Unveils SmartPRINT™ - Direct Print Solution for MAC | GCC Laser Engraving and Cutting Machines
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