{"id":17904,"date":"2024-09-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/support.epiloglaser.com\/staging\/laser-machine\/fusion-pro\/getting-started\/wood-square_mini-helix\/"},"modified":"2025-04-01T14:26:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T20:26:52","slug":"wood-square_mini-helix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/support.epiloglaser.com\/staging\/laser-machine\/mini-helix\/projects\/wood-square_mini-helix\/","title":{"rendered":"Wood Square"},"content":{"rendered":"

Setting Up Your Page<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ll start by creating a new file in CorelDRAW. Click File in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Then select New from the drop-down list.<\/p>\n

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Now enter your page size. Enter 4.5\u201d for the page width and 4.5\u201d for the page height. Then click OK.<\/p>\n

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Importing and Resizing a Graphic<\/h2>\n

Now we\u2019re going to import a graphic onto the page. For this example we will use trees.wmf <\/i><\/a>, but you can use any graphic you prefer.<\/p>\n

Start by clicking File at the top of the screen, then select Import from the dropdown menu.<\/p>\n

Navigate to the file you\u2019d like to Import and select the file, then click the Import button.<\/p>\n

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Now, click anywhere on the page to place your graphic.<\/p>\n

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To center the image on the page, select Object from the menu bar.<\/p>\n

Then select Align and Distribute, then Center to Page.<\/p>\n

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Now we\u2019ll click and drag on the bottom right sizing handle to resize the image, and make it smaller. By holding down the shift key then clicking on the handle and dragging, we can keep the proportions of the image the same.<\/p>\n

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Next we\u2019ll reposition the image by moving it up by about 1\u201d on the page by clicking on the graphic and dragging it up.<\/p>\n

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Importing a Second Graphic<\/h2>\n

Now let\u2019s import another image. Go to File > Import, and we\u2019ll choose the deer file (deer.wmf <\/i><\/a>). Then Press the Import button.<\/p>\n

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Click anywhere on the page to place the graphic.<\/p>\n

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This time we\u2019ll use another way to resize the deer. Click the lock ratio button to keep the dimensions the same as we resize the graphic.<\/p>\n

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Enter 10% as the scale factor and press Enter to resize the image to 10% of its original size.<\/p>\n

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We\u2019ll position the deer image to the bottom left side of the trees.<\/p>\n

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Adding Text to the Artwork<\/h2>\n

Now we\u2019re ready to add text. Click on the text tool in the tool bar on the left.<\/p>\n

Create a text box by clicking and dragging a rectangle next to the deer.<\/p>\n

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We\u2019ll enter our text \u201cThe poetry of the earth is never dead.\u201d Then press Enter and type \u201cJohn Keats\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Select the pick tool, select the text, and then change the font size to 8 pt.<\/p>\n

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Next select the right justify option to align the text to the right side of the text box.
\n8 pts. is a little small so we\u2019ll go ahead and change that to 10 pts.<\/p>\n

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Before we move on let\u2019s make the text box a little smaller. Select the Pick Tool, then click on the text box. Now click on the bottom middle sizing handle and drag it up to make the text box a little smaller.<\/p>\n

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Selecting, Grouping, and Resizing<\/h2>\n

Press Ctrl and A to select everything on the page.<\/p>\n

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Next we\u2019ll group the items so they all stay together when we make changes. Click Object in the menu bar, then Group, then Group Objects.<\/p>\n

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Now we\u2019ll center the images. Click Object, Align and Distribute, Center to Page.<\/p>\n

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Creating a Cut Line<\/h2>\n

Now let\u2019s create a cut line. Click the rectangle tool, and then click and drag a rectangle around the image. We\u2019ll center the box we\u2019ve drawn by using the shortcut of pressing the letter P on the keyboard. This will center the box to the page.<\/p>\n

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Now select the pen tool drop down box at the top of your screen to set the line thickness. We\u2019ll select \u2018hairline\u2019 from the dropdown menu. This is important; to laser cut a line you need to set the line width to under .004\u201d. In Corel, hairline thickness will always cut.<\/p>\n

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Printing to the Laser<\/h2>\n

Next we\u2019ll print the file to the laser. Select File, then Print from the drop-down menu.<\/p>\n

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Set your Mini\/Helix laser as your printer and then click the Preferences button.<\/p>\n

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In the print driver, first set your resolution to 500 dpi.<\/p>\n

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Since we have both engraving (raster) and cutting (vector) parts of this file, choose combined as the job type.<\/p>\n

Now we\u2019ll set up the speed and power settings. You can find the suggested settings for your wattage in your manual\u2019s appendix. We\u2019ll set the speed to 40%, then set the power of the laser to 100%.<\/p>\n

Next set your cutting speed and power. Use the 1\/8\u201d wood vector settings in your manual. We\u2019ll set the speed to 30% and the power to 100%<\/p>\n

Next, set the frequency to around 500. This is the pulse rate of the laser and a lower pulse rate is preferable for wood cutting to achieve less burning on the edge of the wood.<\/p>\n

Set the piece size to match your page size. We\u2019ll set the horizontal size to 4.5\u201d and the vertical to 4.5\u201d as well.<\/p>\n

Make sure Send to Laser is checked, and for this example, we\u2019ll go ahead and uncheck the Job Manager option. Then click the OK button.<\/p>\n

The print preview should now look like our Corel file.<\/p>\n

Finally, click Print to send the job to the laser!<\/p>\n

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At the Laser<\/h2>\n

At the laser, we\u2019ll place the 4\u201d square wood piece into the top left corner of the work area.<\/p>\n

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Hang your manual focus gauge on the optics assembly. Then press the Focus button on the keypad to bring the manual focus gauge out over the work area.<\/p>\n

Now press the Up Arrow on the keypad to move the table up and bring the material into focus.<\/p>\n

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Once you\u2019ve focused for your material, press the Reset button.<\/p>\n

Now we\u2019re ready to start the job. Press the Go button on the keypad to begin your laser engraving and cutting job.<\/p>\n

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Once the laser is finished, use a damp sponge or towel to remove any leftover residue or debris.<\/p>\n

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And then you\u2019re done!<\/p>\n

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