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DIY Laser Cutter Project
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Kizdawg
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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
AUD! free international shipping I assume! hehe
I want 16...
AUD! free international shipping I assume! hehe
I want 16...
Kizdawg
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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
are you going to use belts or screws?
are you going to use belts or screws?
Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
T5 16mm belts
You can probably get the rods cheaper in the US than here, as they are being shipped over to be resold anyway.
Made up a little stepper bracket mount, and turns out my rod supports are too close to the stepper, so have to move them back a bit. Hate having empty holes
Maybe I'll put some bolts in them with nothing attached to cover them up
Dan
T5 16mm belts
You can probably get the rods cheaper in the US than here, as they are being shipped over to be resold anyway.
Made up a little stepper bracket mount, and turns out my rod supports are too close to the stepper, so have to move them back a bit. Hate having empty holes
Maybe I'll put some bolts in them with nothing attached to cover them up Dan
Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
Well, Y axis is for the most part complete. Belt is on, limit switches are mounted and it runs like a charm
Drive side:
Idler side. The idler stepper (used a little stepper motor as it's easier to mount) is mounted up on 3 bolts to allow for belt tensioning:
Just waiting on some bearings, bearing mounts and I can complete the X axis too. I also need to order some more belt, as the lengths I already had aren't long enough. Belt is expensive though! $9.90/metre and I'm going to need around 5 metres of it
Video (Might not be processed yet)
Dan
Well, Y axis is for the most part complete. Belt is on, limit switches are mounted and it runs like a charm
Drive side:
Idler side. The idler stepper (used a little stepper motor as it's easier to mount) is mounted up on 3 bolts to allow for belt tensioning:
Just waiting on some bearings, bearing mounts and I can complete the X axis too. I also need to order some more belt, as the lengths I already had aren't long enough. Belt is expensive though! $9.90/metre and I'm going to need around 5 metres of it
Video (Might not be processed yet)
Dan
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Kizdawg
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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
hehe Looks like this may be a 'This Weeks Project!!'
Nice work! Great progress. What is driving this? I saw a 4 axis+laser driver on ebay for about 88$ (or was it 150$:thinking
hehe Looks like this may be a 'This Weeks Project!!'
Nice work! Great progress. What is driving this? I saw a 4 axis+laser driver on ebay for about 88$ (or was it 150$:thinking
Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
Anyone in Aus looking for a CNC/stepper driver, I have listed my current one on eBay:
Stepper Motor Driver CNC 4 Axis Mach3 Laser Mill Cutting Engraving Controller | eBay
It turns out the DSP isn't compatible with drivers under 1/8 microstepping, so I can't use that one anymore
Today I reinforced the angle alu side plates by doubling them up. I found that the belt tension was causing them to flex and wrecking my accuracy. There is still a small amount of flex, though only micrometers so I'm not overly worried.
Cheers,
Dan
Anyone in Aus looking for a CNC/stepper driver, I have listed my current one on eBay:
Stepper Motor Driver CNC 4 Axis Mach3 Laser Mill Cutting Engraving Controller | eBay
It turns out the DSP isn't compatible with drivers under 1/8 microstepping, so I can't use that one anymore
Today I reinforced the angle alu side plates by doubling them up. I found that the belt tension was causing them to flex and wrecking my accuracy. There is still a small amount of flex, though only micrometers so I'm not overly worried.
Cheers,
Dan
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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
Driver board has sold now New drivers on the way. Also bought a little temperature guage to monitor the CO2 cooling water, as well as a flow sensor so the DSP can check if the water is flowing or not.
I have started compiling this project on my website: NQLasers
Dan
Driver board has sold now
New drivers on the way. Also bought a little temperature guage to monitor the CO2 cooling water, as well as a flow sensor so the DSP can check if the water is flowing or not.I have started compiling this project on my website: NQLasers
Dan
Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
Made a few modifications (again). Mounted 2 more bars in and lowered the whole rail system, to allow me some room to run belts over the top.
Also got my new stepper motor drivers and tried them out on the Y axis. Have it pretty well calibrated now, and get basically 0.02mm accuracy/resolution, which is probably 1/8th the size of the laser beam, so it's great.
Measuring setup:
Dan
Made a few modifications (again). Mounted 2 more bars in and lowered the whole rail system, to allow me some room to run belts over the top.
Also got my new stepper motor drivers and tried them out on the Y axis. Have it pretty well calibrated now, and get basically 0.02mm accuracy/resolution, which is probably 1/8th the size of the laser beam, so it's great.
Measuring setup:
Dan
Kizdawg
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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
Seriously start putting together a parts list cuz I'm in!!! This is what I Dream about...
Seriously start putting together a parts list cuz I'm in!!! This is what I Dream about...
Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
Built the X axis drive today
Just need to mount the idler pulleys, and put spacers ontop so I have something to clamp the belt to. Then it's just a matter of installing all the electronics, finding a cutting bed and constructing a drop tray/funnel.
Dan
Built the X axis drive today
Just need to mount the idler pulleys, and put spacers ontop so I have something to clamp the belt to. Then it's just a matter of installing all the electronics, finding a cutting bed and constructing a drop tray/funnel.
Dan
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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
Epic Ultimate DIY :wave:
Epic Ultimate DIY :wave:
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Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
Well, both stages moved today!
Unfortunately the 445nm laser I was going to strap onto it died for some reason, never performed properly right from when I got it, so I had to strap my 445 handheld on, which has little battery life and a very short duty cycle. But, it made it's first drawing!
Dan
Well, both stages moved today!
Unfortunately the 445nm laser I was going to strap onto it died for some reason, never performed properly right from when I got it, so I had to strap my 445 handheld on, which has little battery life and a very short duty cycle. But, it made it's first drawing!
Dan
Re: My holiday project - DIY Laser Cutter
Well, some good news and some bad news!
Good news is, everything works!
Bad news is, it's not working very well
Due to the extreme weight of the X axis, I'm limited to VERY slow speeds, or all my lines end up bumpy from the entire machine wobbling!
Raster works fine, but actual cutting where the X axis has to move considerable distance, then stop and change direction isn't.
I have found a local supplier of the rectangular guided rail, and have emailed them for a quote. Not holding my breath as that stuff is usually very expensive, but if I can get it for a reasonable price, it would mean I could get rid of all the hunky steel rods and replace them with an aluminium beam and a single rail - how most other machines do it!
Dan
Well, some good news and some bad news!
Good news is, everything works!
Bad news is, it's not working very well
Due to the extreme weight of the X axis, I'm limited to VERY slow speeds, or all my lines end up bumpy from the entire machine wobbling!
Raster works fine, but actual cutting where the X axis has to move considerable distance, then stop and change direction isn't.
I have found a local supplier of the rectangular guided rail, and have emailed them for a quote. Not holding my breath as that stuff is usually very expensive, but if I can get it for a reasonable price, it would mean I could get rid of all the hunky steel rods and replace them with an aluminium beam and a single rail - how most other machines do it!
Dan
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