a laser router

[The Lightning Stalker]

The heat is so much we may need to make a water jacket for psu AND laser head. The psu can be separated from the head. A water line to and fro the head can follow the power line to the diode laser head
That way the psu cooling can be separate from the diode head. The head will be moving around a 3 x 4 foot work surface

Liquid cooling shouldn't be necessary for the 20W
in the PSU and 16W in the head. I was able to get
the output down to 10V by swapping out the 500Ω
adjustment pot with a 2.5k one. Any lower and it
would cut out completely. I'm assuming there is an
undervoltage lockout that kicks in at around 10V.

 

[trussmonkey25]

Liquid cooling shouldn't be necessary for the 20W
in the PSU and 16W in the head. I was able to get
the output down to 10V by swapping out the 500Ω
adjustment pot with a 2.5k one. Any lower and it
would cut out completely. I'm assuming there is an
undervoltage lockout that kicks in at around 10V.

This wont sacrifice the output of the laser head will it ?

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

No, not at all. Every volt over about 7V does nothing
but produce waste heat according to V * I = W.

Found a heatsink that works

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

I have been programming the power management chip the past couple days and just flashed
the first firmware to test chip #1.

 

[RawPaul]

Here is what I'm talking about.

The backup is already in the works. :beer:

If you want to save the boogered up heat sink, you could always drill/bore that hole bigger to say 3/4" and then sleeve it by turning a piece on a lathe. If you don't have a lathe, then drill a hole in a block (1/4") and put in a bolt and tighten with a nut then put it in the spindle of your mill and a tool bit it your vise and turn your mill into a lathe. I've had to do this on a weird part before.

 

[trussmonkey25]

Looks exciting. Cant wait to commission the next project..the cobining of two of these beast diodes.

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

There has been some progress, but nothing to
really take a picture of. There are some holes
for the key switch, LED, and remote switch.
Parts are everywhere in various stages of being
soldered together. The last stages are going to
be a fight with the mood I've been in the last
couple days.

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

I might do a video later when I'm not so tired.

I made up a little board with the fan connector and wiring on it.

It's done.

 

[trussmonkey25]

Lets see her BURN! RELEASE THE KRAKEN!!
Ill send pp friday .

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

 

[trussmonkey25]

Now thats a laser. . Would it be harmful to put a glass window in front of lens to prtect it from smoke damage. As this bad boy will be put to work. :sold::lasergun:

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

It should be fine as long as it's angled to prevent
reflection back into the diode. Ideally, it would be
AR coated for laser service at 445-450nm. I was
also thinking to add a curved piece of meet shetal
on one side to duct the airflow from the fan around
to blow the smoke away at 90° to the optics.
THERE WILL BE SMOKE. Or you could add a
second fan to do the same. It's something that you
would need to do to tailor it to your particular setup.

 

[trussmonkey25]

I just recieved it in mail.. too bad Im out trucking . Ill do an unboxing at end of the month

 

[trussmonkey25]

I just unboxed it today. All looks well. There isn't a power cord !

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

Hehheh, it just takes a standard IEC power
cord like for a computer. I figured you
would have a few lying around. :beer:

 

[trussmonkey25]

No im a carpenter, not a computer guy.. mostly scrap wood and sawblades and drill bits. Lol. Ill get one from bestbuy