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Trotec Tool Guide - Flat Cutting and Engraving

Trotec Laser Speedy 300

Manuals:

JobControl-Manual-EN.pdf

Handbook-for-engravers.pdf

The Trotec Laser can cut and engrave a variety of materials from a digital file in fine detail.
Projects

Usageup Highlights

to
Bed21"x17" sizewill isfit 21in xthis 17" 
laser.

SAFETY

CARE

CLEANUP

1. Always keep the lid closed, do not tamper with the safety switches on the lid.

1. Do not force the lid open higher than the shocks allow.

1. Vacuum up small parts, clean catch tray when numerous small parts have fallen between the honeycomb.

2. Cut and engrave approved materials only.

2. Handle the honeycomb table carefully, bent surfaces cause cuts in the underside of the materials.

2. Place the rotary tool back in the storage cabinet.

3. Be sure both fans are operating.

3. Submit a maintenance request when needed.

3. 


Personal Protective Equipment

  • Noise cancelling headphones
  • Clothing and closed-toed shoes of natural materials that will not melt to skin (i.e. cotton, denim, leather) if they catch fire.
  • Gloves may be useful to keep hands clean and avoid cutting skin on sharp edges.

Tool Anatomy

Trotec_Diagram.png

  1. Power Switch - on/off switch, located on the back left of the machine

  2. Lid

  3. Lens carriage

  4. Gantry
  5. Bed

  6. Control panel

  7. Desktop computer

  8. Exhaust switch - activate the power strip to pull smoke from the bed to outside

CONTROL PANEL

Tool Safety

Common Hazards

  • The lid of the machine protects against stray emissions and eye damage. The lid should always be shut when in use, there are switches to automatically turn the laser off when the lid is opened. Immediately report any problems with the lid.
  • Ventilation: Make sure the fan is on before cutting.
  • Flames: Watch for flames and pause the laser and use spray bottle with water if a flame develops.
  • Cuts: Bodily hazard of being cut by your own sharp material.
  • Toxicity: Only use approved materials on the machine to avoid creating toxic gas. 
  • Noise: The combined sound of the Trotec motors and the Rabbits is LOUD! Noise cancelling headphones recommended.

PROHIBITED MATERIALSMaterials

Many

materials can emit or emit toxic cut materials list before and power settings as
Material
Danger!

Chlorinated plastics (PVC/plastic #3, vinyl, artificial leather, Moleskin notebooks, polymer clay, Sculpey)

Emits chlorine gas

Polycarbonate/Lexan

Cuts poorly, absorbs laser, discolors, maymelt, catch fire

fire,
fumes

ABS

when 		with

Emitsa cyanideCO2 gas,laser. melts,

Consult burststhe into flame

HDPE (plastic #2/milk bottle plastic)

Catches fireallowed and melts

prohibited
cutting

Polypropyleneor foamengraving (plasticnew #5,materials, foamcore,and styrofoam)

Catches fire

Fiberglass

Emits dangerous fumes

Coated carbon fiber

Emits dangerous fumes

Pressure treated wood

Emits dangerous fumes

Galvanized metal

Emits dangerous fumes

Mirrored surfaces, including uncoated metal

Will not cut, reflects laser beam, potentially damaginguse the lens.

speed
on

Mysterythat material

page 		Refera tostarting the Materials Safety Datasheet MSDS or Safety Data Sheet (SDS)point for anythingyour notproject.

listed above. 

File Setup

Using ADOBE Illustrator

  1. You can use any vector based software to design your artwork as long as it can export files using file types .svg or .ai. Save your file to a USB thumb drive and bring that to the computer. 

  2. Open Adobe Illustrator on the desktop computer. 

  3. New from template> Desktop > Template Trotec*. This template contains the palette below as well as the Graphic Styles palette where red and black are already set up.

  4. Copy and paste your artwork into this document.

  5. The software that this machine is picky about the line types it can use. Make sure your cutting lines are 0.001 stroke width and the colors are as listed as in the chart below for them to be read. 

  6. Print - Job Control will start 

Using Corel Draw

    1. Save files as svg

    2. Open Corel Draw
    3. Check line weights for cutting are 0.001 and any other colors are the same as the chart below.
    4. Print - Job Control will start.

Document color setup

The TROTEC JobControl allows the selection of 16 different colors in the material templates to specify 16 different power levels during cutting or engraving. When using this function, the colors in the graphics program must match exactly the colors listed in the TROTEC JobControl (on using Corel draw make sure that color management is OFF). In some graphics programs these Basic colors are already predefined, with other programs, you must define each color separately with its RGB components first. If the 16 driver colors are not automatically available in the software, use the values in the following list:

* This set of colors can be found in the Trotec template on the desktop. Corel Draw RGB defaults to these. (double check) 

Screenshot 2025-11-10 at 3.20.42 PM.png

Machine Initial Setup

SETUP CHECKLIST

  1. Be sure the bed is clean and level (as much as possible for a warpy old bed) 
  2. Open your file in a vector draw program and check for duplicate layers, correct size for your material, and the correct colors. Remove any clipping paths, bounding boxes, stray paths.
  3. Ensure your material is not on the list of Prohibited Materials posted on the top of the lid.
  4. Turn on the switch at the back of the machine.
  5. Switch on the exhaust fan at the side of the computer table.

Job Control

The Job Control software functions more like a driver for a desktop printer, in other words, you can't open files directly in Job Control, they need to run through a vector draw program "Print File" dialog boxes. There are three levels to this:

  1. Print, click on the "Preferences" button.
  2. You will see Printing Preferences, size will be "User Defined" or Bed Size" 
  3. (Optional) Material Setup (also available in Job Control, the two will talk to each other)

advanced driver.png

Materials Settings: Use a thickness and material that best matches.

materials list.png

Click OK, then the JC Button, Then JC on the original screen. Job Control will start.

  1. To see an actual preview of your job on the bed, click the WYSIWYG button  (Ctrl + I)
  2. Set the speed/power settings for the material & line colours in the Material Templates window 


  1. Your artwork will appear on a panel on the right hand side in the “Jobs” panel. Click and drag to add it to the bed. The art can be placed on any of the intersections of the crosshairs or directly on center.If the 


Add more here! 


Common

COMMON SETTINGSSettings

Settings for this machine are stored in an internal database.database that is editable by members.

It's recommended to look up the desired material and thickness in the
 

allowed

Addand more here! 


CONSUMABLES

Some approvedprohibited materials canlist onlyto bemake etchedsure power, speed, and notother cutsettings usingare thiscorrectly machine. You may purchase your own material, purchase from our consumables store, or use material from the laser scrap bins.

Material

Allowed for cutting

Allowed for engraving

Plywood

Up to .25”  thickness

yes

Acrylic

Up to .25”  thickness

yes

Paper

yes

yes

Cardstock

yes

yes

Cardboard

yes

yes

Leather

ugh, Okugh, Ok if you really have to!

Metal

no

Will etch anodized aluminum or Ceramark coated light metals, but not engrave.

Stone

no

yes

Glass

no

yes

Natural fiber fabric (cotton, wool felt)

yes

Same as Rabbit guidelines

   



set.

Basic Operation

OPERATION CHECKLIST


  1. Power on the machine

  2. Power on the exhaust fan

  3. Connect the machine and computer

  4. Add your material

  5. Level the bed

  6. Move the head to your origin

  7. Close the lid

  8. Cut using Job Control



OPERATION BREAKDOWN

  1. Power on the machine. The switch is on the back of the machine on the left side, near the circuit breakers.

  2. Power on the exhaust fan by turning on the power strip on the front left leg of the desktop computer table.

  3. Connect the machine and Job Control by clicking the USB port button in the bottom right corner.

  4. Add your material. Open the lid and place your material on the bed. You can secure the material using wood clips. This bed is made of aluminum and therefore is both delicate and not magnetic.

  5. Move the head over the material. Hang one of the focus measuring pieces on the laser head and raise the bed slowly until the piece falls off. 

  6. Move the head to your origin

  7. Close the lid

  8. Cut using Job Control

  9. Watch your job to make sure it goes smoothly. If you notice a problem, you can:

A. pause the job with the pause button on the control panel. 

B. Pause using the Job Control Software. (the pause button on the machine panel will not allow a restart of the job, using pause in the software will let you finish where you left off.

If your material catches on fire, pause the job and use the water spray bottle to extinguish it.

Cleanup

CLEANUP CHECKLIST


  1. Power off the Laser

  2. Reset any modified computer settings to default

  3. Vacuum the interior so material does not build up beneath the honeycomb

  4. Note any maintenance needs or concerns on the tag and at protohaven.org/maintenance

  5. Recycle or dispose of waste in the single-stream scrap bins or trash can

  6. Return the rotary tool to the cabinet.


Scrap

SCRAP BREAKDOWNBreakdown

There are two black scrap bins reserved for laser waste. Maintaining these is a shared, communal responsibility.

When you notice the scrap bins are full, it’s time to take it to the dumpster out back. Feel free to enlist a helping hand. 

If you notice valuable material while emptying the bins, use your judgment to selectively save a few pieces or take it home for your personal use. 

MAINTENANCE REQUESTS

  1. Update the physical Maintenance Tag at the machine

    • Yellow can be used with caution

    • Red cannot be used without hazard to either the user or the equipment

     

  2. Record issues at protohaven.org/maintenance. This notifies our staff and volunteer maintenance crew of any issues


Troubleshooting


Common Issues

Possible Causes

Resolutions
Job control WSIWYG doesn't show all lines in a cut or engraving Not using the correct line weight or colors. Use the Illustrator template "Trotec Template"
The honeycomb bed doesn't show up in JC, I see the rotary tool The last setup was for the rotary tool. Go to Settings/Options/accessories and uncheck rotary tool, check honeycomb bed.**Valerie check!
My parts don't fit in the JC engraving area The last setup was for the rotary tool 

Print setup + + +**Valerie check!

Set to "Bed Size"










Special Setups

Rotary tool

The Trotec can engrave on cylindrical materials - thistumblers, isglasses, apipes, separateetc.

class

Read the Trotec Rotary Tool Guide for details on how to set up and clearance.

Additional Resources

Where can one find materials, tools, or other consumables (either local or online vendors)?


What helpful video tutorials are there where one can dive deeper into operating this tool?



If this is a CNC tool, where can one learn more aboutuse the CAD,rotary CAMtool or CAD software?




attachment..

Staff-Use

AUTHORIZED MAINTENANCE CREW ONLY

If you are part of the maintenance group please log on to the #maintenance channel of our Discord server to:


  • Perform a Maintenance Action

  • Request a Maintenance Purchase

  • Review complete Maintenance Logs for each machine

  • Generally chit-chat about maintenance


Hippocratic Oath


  • Start with the Manual

  • Ask questions

  • Do no harm

  • Know your limits

  • Document your actions


What preventative maintenance areas does the manual indicate? For example, a regular oil schedule, how often to tension belts/blades, and when to change a filter.


This is the area to simply name the topic, frequency, and page number where more information can be found in the manual.

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