Last edited: Rachel Lin (8/14/23)
Tool Lead: Yanis Yankauskas
Contact: ckwok520@ucsb.edu or flynnirvine@ucsb.edu

• Components Overview: CrystalMark DV-1, FlashCut CNC, camera, etching nozzle, part mount
• Safety: hot printheads & bed, moving components
• Job Setup
  • At FlashCut CNC and CrystalMark: Open air pressure valve → turn on FlashCut CNC → turn on CrystalMark DV-1 → plug camera into computer → fixture piece onto part mount
  • At the computer: export .dxf → Zeroing
  • After cut: inspect and remove piece → vacuum area
• Part Removal Cleaning
  • Vacuum
  • Sharps
• Rates

• Inhaling large aluminum oxide abrasive is hazardous. Wear a mask and safety glasses during use.
• Silicon and glass pieces may have sharp edges. Handle with caution.
• Keep hands clear of etching during operation. Press any key on the keyboard in FlachCut CNC to stop operation.

• DV1 not applying abrasive
  • Check to see if valve on air pressure tube is open (handle is parallel to tube)
  • Check to see if DV1 is switched on
• FlashCut CNC 4 app is not connected
  • Ensure FlashCut CNC is on and reconnect with FlashCut CNC 4 by going to the “Controller” tab and selecting “Connect…”

1. Open air pressure valve (to the left of FlashCut CNC)
2. Turn on FlashCut CNC
3. Turn on CrystalMark DV-1 (under table)
4. Plug in camera to computer (USB connection)
5. Fixture piece onto part mount

There are two ways to use the CNC: Etching with a .dxf file or manually etching: using .dxf file or manually

If .dxf:

1. At computer: Load .dxf into the “DXF to G-Code Converter” application:
   
2. For each shape in the display window, right click and select “Cutter Compensation” → select either “Right Compensation” or “Left Compensation” depending on whether you want the positive or negative compensation (the blue outline is the new cut path)
3. Select “Export” → “Optimize and Export Shapes” → save as .ngc
   1. There may be an error message displayed: “Z infeed null” This may be ignored.
4. open .ngc in “FlashCut CNC 4”:
   
5. open “DinoCapture 2.0” (Used to monitor operation):
   
6. Place the acrylic plate on the crystalmark mount
7. Jog the nozzle into the hole
8. “Set” → “Zero X and Zero Y”
9. Jog the CNC down to the surface of your piece
10. “Set” → “Zero Z”, be careful not to crash etching nozzle
11. After zero-ing the Z axis, move up in Z until Z is at 1.1 mm. This will be your cutting height.
12. Select “Jog” and jog CNC to where the .dxf origin should be on your piece
13. “Set” → “Zero X”, “Set” → “Zero Y”
14. Note that origin is displayed in “DXF to G-Code Converter” (You can modify the origin in the software your .dxf was created):
    
15. Use tape and/or turn on vaccum to fixture part (optional)
16. Begin etching : “G-Code” → “Start”
17. Monitor operation
18. Select any key while in “FlashCut CNC 4” to stop operation

If manual:

1. open “FlashCut CNC 4”:
   
2. open “DinoCapture 2.0” (Used to monitor operation):
   
3. Place the acrylic plate on the crystalmark mount
4. Jog the nozzle into the hole
5. “Set” → “Zero X and Zero Y”
6. Jog the CNC down to the surface of your piece
7. “Set” → “Zero Z”, be careful not to crash etching nozzle
8. After zero-ing the Z axis, move up in Z until Z is at 1.1 mm. This will be your cutting height.
9. Use tape and/or turn on vaccum to fixture part (optional)
10. Select “CrystalMark” switch and set to “on”
11. Let the Etcher create a through hole
12. Select “CrystalMark” switch and set to “off”
13. In “DinoCapture 2.0”, center the red lines about the hole
14. Jog X and Y to desired location, A hole will be made where the red lines intersect
15. Select “CrystalMark” switch and set to “on”
16. Monitor operation
17. Select “CrystalMark” switch and set to “off”

• Jog CNC up in Z axis
• Remove piece from mount
• Blow aluminum oxide off part
• Use ShopVac to vacuum excess aluminum oxide
• Dispose of excess sharps in sharps container
• Unplug camera, close air valve, turn off FlashCut CNC, turn off CrytalMark DV1

• Vacuum area before leaving.

You can record your cuts in DinoCapture

If the Crystalmark is not cutting, the abrasive canister may be empty. Please contact workshop staff to refill tool, email flynnirvine@ucsb.edu with the subject “Crystalmark Refill”

Solidworks files may close the software upon opening. If this occurs to you, follow these steps, ensuring automatic cutter compensation is off to start the file: Solidworks: DXF2GCode