Newbie who has spent the last few hours trying to come up to speed and searching everywhere to see what's involved in adding a laser to my existing CNC. My CNC is a large commercial style. I'd like to be able to add etched details in my wood creations and sign the back of my signs and plaques with my business name and logo. CUrrently I do this with a branding iron - not the best solution.:banghead:
I've been building and repurposing things for years. What I was surprised was that I have been unable to find any simple add-on retrofit. :thinking: To me this means there is some issue I don't know. Since my CNC is well made I can hold a level (focus) laser no problem down to .001 inch. I can control the X and Y speeds and program the designs. I have no problem building a mouint on the carriage and I also have 220v single phase power. What I would like to be able to do with the machine is to:
1. burn or etch into wood or wood products.
2. Cut thin parts < 4mm to allow for fine inlays
So what type of laser could I mount on my cnc and do the job faster than a turtle but I don't need to go as fast as a rabbit.:yh:
A couple of problems:
Shielding the laser when it's on and operating.
removal of smoke and cleaning the air while it is operating.
:bowdown:So I know this group will get me headed in the right direction or shut me down.
Jim
A retired engineer trying to hack my through retirement one cool project at a time.
I've been building and repurposing things for years. What I was surprised was that I have been unable to find any simple add-on retrofit. :thinking: To me this means there is some issue I don't know. Since my CNC is well made I can hold a level (focus) laser no problem down to .001 inch. I can control the X and Y speeds and program the designs. I have no problem building a mouint on the carriage and I also have 220v single phase power. What I would like to be able to do with the machine is to:
1. burn or etch into wood or wood products.
2. Cut thin parts < 4mm to allow for fine inlays
So what type of laser could I mount on my cnc and do the job faster than a turtle but I don't need to go as fast as a rabbit.:yh:
A couple of problems:
Shielding the laser when it's on and operating.
removal of smoke and cleaning the air while it is operating.
:bowdown:So I know this group will get me headed in the right direction or shut me down.
Jim
A retired engineer trying to hack my through retirement one cool project at a time.
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