Building a CNC Laser Etching Printer / Ploter. Update: DONE!

Hey everyone. I'm working on a school project with a goal to build a simple two axis CNC machine using a pair of stepper motors controlled by an Arduino micro controller. I would like to have this CNC machine operate a laser that will be able to etch images into wood, plastic and paper.

I have no previous experience with lasers so I've been doing a lot of reading on this forum the past few days and I've found some very helpful information. I read that if I want to burn white paper I'd be best off using a 6x 200mA Blu-Ray laser. Something to do with the wavelength and how it reflects off of white surfaces.

Here are the parts I'm planning on using.

6x Blu-Ray Diode and Aixiz Module - $57: 405nm GGW-H20L 6x Blu Ray Diode in Aixiz Module +650nm LCC diode [GGW-H20L] - $56.82 : High Tech DealZ, Simplifying the LASER Hobby!

rkcstr Driver - $13: Micro-Drive V3 adjustable driver (assembled) - $13.00 : rkcstr.com, Micro-Drive and laser diode electronics

Heat Sink: I'll probably build my own heat sink of some kind that will integrate into the CNC housing.

I don't have too many questions right now, I more or less just wanted to get some of your ideas and thoughts on my process.

How fast can I expect to etch wood or paper with a 6x Blu-Ray? Does anyone have any videos or pictures of laser burning/etching paper? I'm interested to see the type of contrast I will be able to achieve.

Does anyone know where I could pick up a cheaper blu-ray diode? $57 is kind of expensive for our budget.

Thanks!
Steven

Re: Building a CNC Laser Etching Printer / Ploter

Be glad you can get a 6x diode for $57, not too long ago we were paying $40 for a PS3 diode that topped out at 15mW.... these laser diodes are extremely new to the market and it's amazing they can be gotten for as cheap as they are.

I can't offer much help as to how fast the diode will cut or burn paper but bluray is definitely the wavelength of choice for burning hard to burn materials. I've been wanting to make a CNC project of my own but I'm still waiting on another axis before I can start. I was going to use Mach 3 and LazyCam software, which is free and offers a full CNC interface. (you interface it using a parallel port)

Re: Building a CNC Laser Etching Printer / Ploter

MarioMaster said:

Be glad you can get a 6x diode for $57, not too long ago we were paying $40 for a PS3 diode that topped out at 15mW.... these laser diodes are extremely new to the market and it's amazing they can be gotten for as cheap as they are.

I can't offer much help as to how fast the diode will cut or burn paper but bluray is definitely the wavelength of choice for burning hard to burn materials.

Click to expand...

I've seen burning speeds noted, with paper, on here somewhere. If I remember right:thinking: it was around 10-12" IPM, counting the laser's duty cycle. Not fast enough for production work but good enough for demonstrating the principle.
For higher speeds you need CO2 or 2-3W of IR. For the CO2, you can multiply that $57 figure X10 at least, although.
IR doesn't do well on white paper, but cuts black (or dark colored) paper quick. It is cheaper then 405nm, but requires better optics to focus properly.
IR and CO2 are much, much more dangerous then 405nm, so that's something to consider.(you don't want to have to buy safety glasses for everyone in the class, do you?) Anyone within 6' needs them, with any wavelength, although.
Here's a thread on cutting paper W/pictures.
http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/built-xy-table-need-more-firepower-47137.html
Do a thorough search on this, there is much more info. on here, on this subject.(somewhere?)

Re: Building a CNC Laser Etching Printer / Ploter

A 6x blue ray at that price would be a GGW diode. A cheaper alternative would be to buy a SF-AW210 diode. It is still a 6x diode but at higher power levels it seems to be less capable of stable output. But at 200ma as you would like to run your GGW at.. you can expect stable and matched performance between the GGW and SF-AW210.

Here is a link to the SF-AW210 diode...
SF-AW210 6x blu-ray violet burning laser diode [SFAW210] - $28.99 : Modwerx Shop
You will need an Aixiz module which you can buy off modwerx as well for a couple of bucks..

Also if anyone is interested I have a 4 axis stepper motor driver for sale... It has direct parallel connection to pc and is powered by USB cable. Can be used with any commercial cnc software for example mach3 etc.. It is high quality with good quality parts and electronics. It has a big heat sink and has an onboard fan, so it can work for hours on end.

I have had it for a while now and I want to get rid of it to have a some spare $... PM me if you are interested.. any reasonable offer will not be refused, shipping is free as long as your offer is a reasonable.

Hope that helped!! -Adrian

Re: Building a CNC Laser Etching Printer / Ploter

Greenmechanic said:

I've seen burning speeds noted, with paper, on here somewhere. If I remember right:thinking: it was around 10-12" IPM, counting the laser's duty cycle. Not fast enough for production work but good enough for demonstrating the principle.
For higher speeds you need CO2 or 2-3W of IR. For the CO2, you can multiply that $57 figure X10 at least, although.
IR doesn't do well on white paper, but cuts black (or dark colored) paper quick. It is cheaper then 405nm, but requires better optics to focus properly.
IR and CO2 are much, much more dangerous then 405nm, so that's something to consider.(you don't want to have to buy safety glasses for everyone in the class, do you?) Anyone within 6' needs them, with any wavelength, although.
Here's a thread on cutting paper W/pictures.
http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/built-xy-table-need-more-firepower-47137.html
Do a thorough search on this, there is much more info. on here, on this subject.(somewhere?)

Click to expand...

Wow, that guy's project is virtually identical to what I was looking to do. Thanks for the link. I sent that guy a message with some questions.

Do they sell laser shielding glass that I could use to create a safety surround for the machine?

bobhaha said:

A 6x blue ray at that price would be a GGW diode. A cheaper alternative would be to buy a SF-AW210 diode. It is still a 6x diode but at higher power levels it seems to be less capible of stable output. But at 200ma as you would like to run your GGW at.. you can expect stable and matched preformance between the GGW and SF-AW210.

Here is a link to the SF-AW210 diode...
SF-AW210 6x blu-ray violet burning laser diode [SFAW210] - $28.99 : Modwerx Shop
You will need an Aixiz module which you can buy off modwerx as well for a couple of bucks..

Also if anyone is interested I have a 4 axis stepper motor driver for sale... It has direct parrallel connection to pc and is powered by USB cable. Can be used with any commercial cnc software for example mach3 etc.. It is high quality with good quality parts and electronics. It has a big heatsink and has an onboard fan, so it can work for hours on end.

I have had it for a while now and I want to get rid of it to have a bit more $ for my new TV... PM me if you are interested.. any resonable offer will not be refused, shipping is free as long as your offer is a resonable.

Hope that helped!! -Adrian

Click to expand...

I might have to go with that cheaper diode then.

I'm ok on stepper motors. We have to use the Arduino microcontroller anyway. Thanks though.

Re: Building a CNC Laser Etching Printer / Ploter

Hey guys. Just figured I'd update everyone on this project. I finally got some time to put together a video of the final machine. It was completed in May for a semester project. It turned out really well. Thanks to the help of this website and several members!

YouTube - DIY Blu-ray Laser CNC Machine

thats really good. it's good to see somebody come here for help and actually come back with their finished result.

michael

Nice work!!! Glad you came back and posted the outcome. Very high quality of construction. You could of course change the 6x diode (and driver) for a 445nm 1W diode and get lots more power so you could speed up the machine. Also, you could build a sheet metal enclosure for it with a loading door. This way, goggles are not needed by everyone present. This would become a Class I device, like a DVD burner. The laser cannot be seen when running, safety interlocks disengage the laser if the machine is opened while running.

chipdouglas said:

thats really good. it's good to see somebody come here for help and actually come back with their finished result.

michael

Click to expand...

Thanks! I figured better late then never.

billg519 said:

Nice work!!! Glad you came back and posted the outcome. Very high quality of construction. You could of course change the 6x diode (and driver) for a 445nm 1W diode and get lots more power so you could speed up the machine. Also, you could build a sheet metal enclosure for it with a loading door. This way, goggles are not needed by everyone present. This would become a Class I device, like a DVD burner. The laser cannot be seen when running, safety interlocks disengage the laser if the machine is opened while running.

Click to expand...

Thanks! Yeah, there would be few things to change to speed it up. The lead screw would need to be changed to an quality ACME screw, along with some better stepper motors. Right now the speed limitation for burning images (not cutting paper) is limited by the stepper motors.

There are lots of things I would improve upon if I could make another one. Maybe next year...

Well, if you do modify it or make another one, please post the results and a video.

Those designs you burned into the back of that notebook were pretty neat

Damn nice workmanship ! Impressive results. +1

HMike