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a laser router

trussmonkey25

trussmonkey25

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Nov 12, 2011
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I had a modicum of success. I block clamped a laser pointer to a Pantagraph made for routers. It did well copying the letter template untill the batteries got tired and the duty time of the laser expired... can anyone her build a laser head that I could plug in. I need about 5 watts and adjustble focus.. the device needs to fit where a routher would. I used a 2 1/2 watt pointer for my project

I made a rig including a block clamp and a s8mple lens... this made nice fine lines. Id like to find a more powerful module that hase a cooling system.
 
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your best bet is watercooled co2 laser.

trussmonkey25 said:
I had a modicum of success. I block clamped a laser pointer to a Pantagraph made for routers. It did well copying the letter template untill the batteries got tired and the duty time of the laser expired... can anyone her build a laser head that I could plug in. I need about 5 watts and adjustble focus.. the device needs to fit where a routher would. I used a 2 1/2 watt pointer for my project

I made a rig including a block clamp and a s8mple lens... this made nice fine lines. Id like to find a more powerful module that hase a cooling system.
Click to expand...
 
swamidog said:
your best bet is watercooled co2 laser.
Click to expand...
I tried that. Too bulky. I just want to do light etching in wood or leather. I figure the diodes head could be made more compact. Plus I dont want to deal with dangerous high voltages. If I could combine two beams and adjustble focus that would work well.
 
trussmonkey25 said:
I tried that. Too bulky. I just want to do light etching in wood or leather. I figure the diodes head could be made more compact. Plus I dont want to deal with dangerous high voltages. If I could combine two beams and adjustble focus that would work well.
Click to expand...

i built a co2 system a while ago. it is bulky, but the HV is quite easy to manage.

if you're just doing wood/leather, i'd try one of thoe ~1W 405nm diodes and good heat sinking.
 
I was looking at doing the same type of setup. Back in the day we used to use an Engravograph machine that had a small electric motor and block print that use to be copied onto wood, plastic or metal. My idea , which was similar to yours was to exchange the motor for a laser. I only also wanted to do wood , leather or plastic . My idea was to use some type of pot switch or variable driver/ power supply setup to manually increase or decrease the power, much like the volume control on a radio. In this way the burning power could be controlled and with practice , it would be a joke to figure out what power for what materials.
 

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ru124t said:
I was looking at doing the same type of setup. Back in the day we used to use an Engravograph machine that had a small electric motor and block print that use to be copied onto wood, plastic or metal. My idea , which was similar to yours was to exchange the motor for a laser. I only also wanted to do wood , leather or plastic . My idea was to use some type of pot switch or variable driver/ power supply setup to manually increase or decrease the power, much like the volume control on a radio. In this way the burning power could be controlled and with practice , it would be a joke to figure out what power for what materials.
Click to expand...


It will be three fold.. the focus , power and speed you are burning..if you stay too long on one spot you burn through or ruin design
 
trussmonkey25 said:
I just want to do light etching in wood or leather. I figure the diodes head could be made more compact. Plus I dont want to deal with dangerous high voltages. If I could combine two beams and adjustble focus that would work well.
Click to expand...

Check out this thread over @ PL. Lot of great info on engraving using 445nm and 405nm laser diodes.:beer:
CNC Laser Engraving 8bit Shades of Grey 445nm
 
Here I am only using myself to control the laser router, Not a computer. I dont want the sterile look. If I did I would have ordered a cnc long time ago.
 
Perhaps YOU should build a laser to fit that panta.
405 diodes focus real sharp and they do burn!
Don't be an appliance operator!
HMike
 
Exactly, it is analogue I am talking about. You trace out the letters and symbols. Power of laser and focus by hand!
 
Well, trussmonkey has commissioned me to do the build. They have decided to go with the
new 3.5W NDB7A75 diode and a large fan cooled heatsink for long runtimes. Here is the
progress so far.

Tooling arrived yesterday. We located perfect center and a pilot hole was drilled in the
heatsink. Man I wish I had a bigger mill!

Laser%20Pantograph%201.jpg


Diode and G2 lens also arrived yesterday from DTR and were integrated into a DTR 12mm
copper module for their protection and safe keeping until the heatsink is finished
A GitD lens cap was put over the front of the lens to protect that end as well.

Laser%20Pantograph%202.jpg


We are also waiting for a sewing machine style foot switch to arrive from China.
 
Who is the other part of "we"? Do you have a partner you build with? Can't wait to see this fired up and lpmed :-)
 
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