The rotary axis allows you to engrave on round objects using the GCC Spirit GLS Engraver.

The rotary axis screws into the stainless steel bed of the machine.  Since we usually have the honeycomb bed installed, this must first be removed.

The honeycomb bed is held in place by two thumb screws, marked in red circles on the photo.

Remove these screws and pull the honeycomb bed out the front door of the machine.

The rotary axis screws into the two holes in the stainless steel bed marked in red on the following photo.

Lower the bed completely and turn off power to the machine, it’s now time to attach the rotary axis.

Place the rotary axis on the stainless steel bed and line up the holes.  There are two hex head screws that will screw into the bed and secure the rotary axis.  Lightly tighten them with the allen wrench.

The machine is still off, right?  It’s time to plug the rotary axis into the machine.

Plug the serial cable in to the port under the top-front-right lip of the machine.  This is easily accessed when the front door of the machine is open.

Now that the tool is attached, you are free to power the machine on.

The machine should detect the rotary tool and asks you to confirm the style.  We are using the rotary attachment here, not the chuck, so scroll left to “Attachment “on the machine control pad and click “Save.”

Now that the printer is set up, it’s time to set up the software.  For this tutorial we’ll be using CorelDraw with the GCC Driver installed.

First you’ll have to measure the piece you’ll be working on.  We’ve chosen a drinking glass, and we’ll be measuring the diameter and the height.  

The height is your X paper size in Corel.  The diameter is multiplied by Pi to calculate your Y paper size.

These values are pictured here.  The height of the glass is 4.4”, the circumference of the glass (d=3.4”, Pi=3.1415”, Pi*d= 10.68”) is 10.68”.

Now that your piece is all measured, you can insert it into the attachment.  Raise the red lever, open the part holder as far as necessary and hold the open end of your piece up to the conical end of the attachment.  Snug the tailpiece up to your workpiece and lower the red lever until it clicks in place.

Here you can measure your Offset. This is specified as the distance between the open end of your workpiece to the inside of the rotating (conical in this example) disk, though it seems to behave a little funny.  I’ve measured about 0.3” here.

Now go to “File -> Print Setup” Change the printer in the box to “Spirit GLS-4.01-03” and click “Properties”  It should bring up the following box.

Click the “Paper Tab”  In the paper tab, uncheck “Extend” if it has a check mark next to it, and check “Rotary Fixture.”  You are then allowed to enter your workpiece measurements from before.

a) Under Paper Size, the X value represents the length of your working piece. Enter the length

of your work piece in this field.

b) 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 on your work piece you

will be engraving.

c) 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

Spirit’s LCD panel. Enter the proper offset value in this field.

Enter your values and click “OK” twice.

Back to the machine: you can now manually focus the laser on your workpiece.  Use the left/right arrows on the GCC display to move the lens over the workpiece where you will be engraving.

Insert the manual focus tool and raise the Z axis until the tool touches your piece.  Remove the manual focus tool.  The lens should now be focused. If your workpiece is curved, be careful to not focus so low that the lens would hit the rotary tool box when the lens returns home.  

Now you can design or import your file.  I’ve chosen to use the text “TEST” towards the bottom of the glass.  I’ve also rotated it so that it will be viewed vertically when the glass is upright.

From here you are basically using the laser cutter as normal, except movement along the Y axis rotates the glass instead of moving the lens.

You can hit “File->Print” and go to “Properties” to adjust your power and speed settings as usual.  I’ll be rastering this at settings of Power=100, Speed=70, PPI=400.  Be sure that air assist is on and auto-focus is off.

Click OK and click Print.

Press Start on the machine to begin running your file.

If all went well, you just engraved something round!

Please shut off the machine, remove the rotary axis, and replace the honeycomb bed when you are finished.