DIY Laser Cutter Project

[AnthoT]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Bought a heap of steel, cut it all to length and started welding, but got a cold and feel like $h!t so didn't get too much done. Should have something picture worthy tomorrow. All I know is this thing is going to be ridiculously huge

Nice cant wait to see it

 

[Things]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Wellp, after a day of sore legs, coughing, sneezing, constant headache and sniffly nose, I have something to show

You can see the old frame in the background (On wheels):

This thing is stupidly huge, no idea where I'd put it if I ever had to move into a unit or something

 

[MotionCAM Design]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Hey Dan,
Question:
What are the specs are the pulleys(pitch, diameter etc) and belts(width) please.


Kevin

 

[Things]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Hi Kevin,

Was a bit difficult to measure with belts on the pulleys, but I came up with:

Drive pulleys (Ones on the actual belt): 18mm diameter, 20 teeth
Reduction pulleys: 35mm diameter, 38 teeth

Belt is 15mm width. Pulleys on the steppers appear to be the same as the drive pulleys.

Dan

 

[MotionCAM Design]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Thanks...

Your builds looking good. Like the XY frame looks good quality.

I have the X & Y axis all setup on my machine. Now looking at the belts/pulleys for it. Once I get these I can then start to mount the steppers.
Think Im going to go with a DSP control after all. Looks the best way to go.

Kevin

 

[Things]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Hey Kevin, do you still have a CNC capable of aluminium? I'm really looking to get a few parts made up to finish this machine, but don't have a huge budget. Please let me know if you do & whether you'd may be able to help me out

Did a bit of work today and on the weekend, been slow going due to an ankle injury, but I'm at the stage where the cutter is almost functional (except the cutting bed). I should be able to have the CO2 laser and all optics in tomorrow, and maybe even alignment and the first CO2 run

Already partial alignment through the 2nd bounce mirror:

Used some silicone tubing cut in hald to hold the tube in, need to buy some big rubber bands instead because silicone tears too easily:

First bounce mirror mounted on a hugely overkill steel pate, but it's all I've got

Dan

 

[MotionCAM Design]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Hi Dan,
Yes we do still have a cnc but it depends on what the parts are.

I have a question for you.
Does it matter on what size mirrors and lenses you use? (20mm or 25mm mirrors etc etc)


Regards Kevin

 

[Things]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

I have sent you a PM with a bit more info on the parts.

As for the mirrors, no, it doesn't matter. Only that the larger mirrors will be a bit easier in terms of alignment, and also if you have a large gantry, they could cater for the beam divergence.

Dan

 

[MotionCAM Design]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Hi Dan,
Looked at the parts.
My CNC I built is really only suitable for plastics, wood and thin aluminium say like control panels fronts etc.. It isn't rigid enough for thicker ali.

Sorry I'm not able to help.

Kevin

 

[Things]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

No problems Kevin.

Got almost all of the electronics in today, as well as the watercooling pump

A video a little before that pic:



EDIT: The wiring mess has begun

 

[Things]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Well, it made it's first cut with the CO2 laser today

Unfortunately I forgot how little water was in my sealed water cooling loop, the water heated up and started steaming, and popped the glass barb off the laser where I had glued it last time!

So that's back on gluing now and I've put in a big bucket of water until my radiator arrives.

Unfortunately due to the size of the beam by the time it gets to the lens, I think I am losing a bit of power in the last mirror, but my alignment could also still need a little tweaking also.

Dan

 

[Things]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Well, here we go!

Stuff is still a little wobbly and doesn't come out completely sometimes because my cutting bed is a sheet of MDF balanced ontop of a camera tripod, but it works

Getting focus right is also a pain in the @ss, so I'm glad I opted for an adjustable Z bed. Will get onto that soon.

 

[Things]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Bit more playing around:

Can't have a laser cutter and not try engraving food

Something a little more apt:

It was a pain separating those little "rays" from the inner material, the heat tends to make them curl over a bit. Now I need a giant one for my wall with LED edge lighting

Dan

 

[HIMNL9]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

.....
Now I need a giant one for my wall with LED edge lighting

Dan

Please be "coherent" ... with LASER edge lighting ... :na: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:

 

[Things]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Yep, everyone suggesting that

Though 10 blue LED's is a little cheaper than 10 blue lasers

Dan

 

[Things]

Re: My (16 month ) holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter

Just did an inverse version of the knife party logo, actually looks really cool (left version). You can hold it up into the light and it projects it, too.