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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

DIY Laser Cutter Project

Things

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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Heres some angle alu:

DSCF2317.jpg


Pah, never gonna get anywhere with that crap, flexes too much!

DSCF2318.jpg


Ahh, much better! :)

On that same note, Y axis semi complete:

DSCF2315.jpg


DSCF2316.jpg


Just a lil' stronger than my old design I think ;)

Cheers,
Dan
 





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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Getting a bit further with it. Mounted the CO2 laser "table", and had a much around with the optic mount positioning etc

I have a few L brackets for the optics on the way, should make alignment much easier.

I've also been granted permission to use the schools CNC machine to cut parts, so I'll be cutting some CO2 tube mounts from 12mm thick acrylic hopefully this week. I should be able to have some burning by next weekend if I have time, but a few last assignments due (End of year 12 yay! :D), so maybe not for another week or 2 yet once they're all over.

DSCF2516.jpg


All my optic mounts will be on L brackets, just put it there to see.
 

Things

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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Got some time to make up some CO2 tube mounts on the schools CNC machine, they work quite well :)

DSCF2529.jpg


DSCF2531.jpg


Still waiting on my damn L brackets though :(
 
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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Glad to see this project is still alive!
I'v been following all the ins and outs from the start and love what I'm seeing.:beer::beer:
Thanks for keeping us all posted on your progress!
 

Things

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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

L brackets arrived today, did a bit of work on the laser "platform", like mounting the CO2 tube on, mounting one of the optic mounts etc:

DSCF2536.jpg

DSCF2537.jpg
 

LaZeRz

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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Wow! That things coming along beautifully! Can't wait to see the finished result!

Just one question though... how are you going to be placing your ZnSe lens?, More specifically, where?

Cheers :beer:
 
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Things

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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

ZnSe goes where the yellow oval is, inside the tube :)

It's an adjustable lens mount, extends to 40mm.

DSCF2539.jpg
 
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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

I like your acrylic Laser mounts... very professional looking.
I've been watching this thread to see this come to fruition...
You do some nice work...


Jerry
 

LaZeRz

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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Aah nice. I was thinking it went somewhere around those mounts :)
 

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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Well, I was getting excited as I'm now at the point where the alignment is only off by a few mm! But I discovered something that is gonna put a hold on this even further :(

I noticed that the Y axis would actually be aligned fine at one end, go out of alignment at the middle, then come back into alignment at the other end. Well, turns out the 10mm diameter rods I'm using for the Y axis are too weak, and are flexing very slightly in the middle :(

This means I'm probably going to have to upgrade to 16 or 20mm (Same as the X axis), but I've run out of money at this point in time :(
 

HIMNL9

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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

This can be solved in a pair of different ways, for "long" carriages ..... using 2 (or 3, at angle) 20mm bars, or adding a sort of "rail" and rollers for support the weight of the focusing holder.

Both the systems have advantages and disadvantages, and depending from the structure of your supports, can require some extra work and the placement of some diagonal reinforcers.
 
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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

IMHO the system guidance of your y-axis arm, with those 2 bars so thin for this distance, is not a good choice.

A much more rigid, precise and safe to avoid excessive tolerances in the path of the arm, it would be something like this.

yaxis2.jpg


yaxis.jpg
 

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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Yeah, I've seen that diagram, but since I'm using the vertical optic mount, it'd have to be mounted vertically. Also, I can't really get access to those parts here in Australia. A single 1 metre piece of t-slot is $40! :(
 

HIMNL9

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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

If you cannot modify too much the original design, but can get some "L" shaped and "U" shaped alu bars, there is a possible alternative solution ..... not the better one in absolute, but it can work.

Going to eat now, when i come back, i try to draw some examples using a pair of your pics ..... in these cases, images are always better than words ;)
 

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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Haven't done an update on this for a looonnnggg time. I recently just moved down with my dad, who is a mech engineer. He seems very interested in getting the laser cutter up and running, as he wants to cut out some model aircraft parts to which he can attach a motor and actually fly them.

We are working on getting all my stuff here to the new house, so then we can hopefully get it running once and for all.

I've decided i'm going to aim to get a DSP controller, as mach3 doesn't seem to want to play ball with me :(
 




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