CNC laser engraver - its almost time

[Leodahsan]

Hey all
I'd like to tell everyone a good thing that happened in my life. Heheh :wave:

Where I study electronics, all are required to form students pairs and build from scratch a BIG project, electronics related.

business owners, big people watches the event, that will happen in around 1 year (don't know the exact day yet, maybe 5-dec)

There even a contest for the most interesting project (public vote) and the best project (internal, teachers, alumni, etc vote)

My teachers @ my electronics school approved my final project idea yesterday.

I'll be building a CNC laser engraver. Based on a XY table, with a laser for engraving, interfaced with a computer. It must be PIC microcontrolled based.

So, I'm just starting this and I'd like to thanks all from LPF... my laser knowledge really come from here. :wave:

When the project is ready (if all went out right) I'll engrave "LPF" and take pics of it. :wave:

Have someone built a cnc? Something similar? I'm looking for steppers motors and tips on the laser. Maybe a 9mm 445 would suffice? I have a flexmod p3 that I'll use btw.

Thanks all for reading. Any comment is welcome!

Leo

 

[Leodahsan]

Re: CNC laser engraver - project approved

Today, my project abstract was cited on a post-graduate meeting, in my college. I were so excited! Everyone looking at me... :eg:

I talked to the teachers (most post-doctoral at... telecom, image processing, dunno the official names in english :thinking) and they really liked my project, for some kind of heat-seeking / laser guided system. I don't know what it really is yet...

But thats a later talk. I need to get this project started!
I think I'll start searching for the steppers... and maybe do a drawing about the system.

IT OFFICIALLY Started!

The first phase is the X-Y positioning system (mechanical).

If everything goes out right I may approve as a official researcher @ my college. And thats a big step, at least for me... :wave:

I'll keep this thread as a diary, if any mod found any issues (mostly with quadruple posting ) we can sort out something... :thinking:

Oh well. Any suggestions people? I don't really know where to find some stepper motors lessons.

Any cooperation will be greatly appreciated :beer:

Cheers all.

 

[DTR]

Re: CNC laser engraver - project approved

There is a lot of good discussion in this thread.:beer:
CNC Laser Engraving 8bit Shades of Grey 445nm

 

[Things]

Re: CNC laser engraver - project approved

Post what you've got, I've DIY'd a CNC laser cutter/engraver before, I should be able to help .. except for the PIC programming

 

[Leodahsan]

Re: CNC laser engraver - project approved

I don't got anything yet... I'm planning the whole thing already.
We'll learn pic and programming @ the last semester (soon 2013 ~ half 2013).
I'm sorting things out yet but I can't figure out where to learn about steppers.

Lets say I'd use a 9mm 445 with TEC and big heatsinking. How do I know what stepper to get? Should I assume an weight? :thinking:....

 

[Things]

Re: CNC laser engraver - project approved

The size stepper you use actually depends more on your XY drive method, for example if you're using a leadscrew, you can get away with a low torque but higher speed stepper, or if you're using belts, you want to allow for a bit of torque, and not so much speed.

Steppers are usually rated in Oz-in, which is their torque. Small motors start from about 60Oz-in and below, while medium are up to about 400, and large (but not the largest) all the way up to 1200.

 

[DashApple]

Re: CNC laser engraver - project approved

good luck with the build

I made CNC using a arduino running grbl which is a G code interpreter , and two DVD drives for the X/Y with a 808nm laser to engrave wood/card ,

 

[Leodahsan]

Re: CNC laser engraver - project approved

good luck with the build

I made CNC using a arduino , and two DVD drives for the X/Y with laser to engrave wood/card ,

Thanks. Unfortunately, we need to use the PIC, because its on my course load...

IIRC Its the PIC16F877A.

By the way what were the power of your laser, and speed of engraving?? Did you had any problems with the wavelength being 808nm??

I'll have to sort the pic programming myself, so I can't use any downloaded engraver pre-made routines or programs...

 

[DashApple]

Re: CNC laser engraver - project approved

Thanks. Unfortunately, we need to use the PIC, because its on my course load...

IIRC Its the PIC16F877A.

By the way what were the power of your laser, and speed of engraving?? Did you had any problems with the wavelength being 808nm??

I'll have to sort the pic programming myself, so I can't use any downloaded engraver pre-made routines or programs...

Ah Okies , Id try and help but I suck a programing

The 808nm was fine engraving dark wood / black plastic and even light cardboard . the power was around 3-4 watts focused to a very small point , Speed was fast-ish , not fully sure on the actual mm/s , but if I went to slow the laser would burn the card .

 

[Leodahsan]

Re: CNC laser engraver - project approved

Old post

Date:08-20-2013 07:18 PM
Great. I need just to get some diode at <$80, and >3W. If I can't get a IR, I'll stick to a 445nm. Whatever.

News:
The teachers called me for a meeting tomorrow, around the actual time (6:16pm here in BR). Today we spoke about wavelength, laser physics... I'm so excited to see what comes out... We will experiment with some steppers, if the school can source some :wave:...
They asked me to show my laser collection... time to clean my lens and glasses!! :eg:

Hey all. After some time away (flooding as many should know) recovering from damage and etc, I finally kickstarted this project.

Related to the previous post: Someone else will build a CNC this year, so they chose to help those guys instead of me (tsk tsk... :tsk, but, who cares. The "physician" said common plastic (don't remember the material name) would block 445nm. I asked "is this material transparent?" he said "yes, but opaque to high power 445nm, because of the internal crystal structure, etc" :crackup:

Onto the news;
I bought some steppers from a friend (nine of them - 320mA @ 12v per phase), that seem to fit my project. I'm having some robotics lessons and the teacher said they *should* fit.
(Pics soon)

I'll stick to the mechanical part of the CNC, as mechanics is not covered by my electronics course... :beer:

I'll be downloading solidworks (or another CAD software) and make some simulations.

I'll be updating the thread whenever possible. :beer:

 

[Tmack]

Re: CNC laser engraver - project approved

Great to hear your focusing on the important things now! Finally really impressed your already back on track. Sound like a very interesting project. Ill be tuned in for updates.

 

[Leodahsan]

Re: CNC laser engraver - project approved

I'm taking some important decisions on this and I'd like to share here.

I'll be working with my teammate only. The college will not be involved anymore (they would source the parts, but they would keep the project :tsk.

The router should be no bigger than 40*60 centimeters (college rules).

This is some kind of goal list, ordered by importance.

1. [mech] 40*40 plot area
2. [soft] b&w bitmap to matrix conversor
3. [elec] 8-bit analog power control (power ctrl)
4. [firm] laser head temperature sensing (overtemp ctrl)
5. [firm] laser head thermoelectric chiller (cool ctrl)
6. [firm] radiant flux control (speed ctrl)
7. [elec] stepper current monitoring (health ctrl)
8. [elec] audible / visual alerts
9. [soft] Control software development
10. [mech] PBS laser combining (double power)

mech = mechanical, soft = computer software, firm = cnc firmware, elec = electronics

anyways I don't think I'll be using g-code here...

This is just tinkering. More to come soon....