Unusual 40W laser cutter DIY project =D

[SMIDSY]

No I did not make a 40W laser cutter.

Decided to use the college laser cutter (im the only student there who is allowed to use it unsupervised/ whenever I like )

I made this enjoy

Its made from 3 layers of 3mm acrylic, 1 layer of 9mm see through acrylic and 9mm of plywood! Total design and assembly time >10 hours

 

[SMIDSY]

oh and at night it does this :

 

[SMIDSY]

In all its piratey glory

and the pics really dont do it justice :'( it looks amazing even if I do say so myself.

oh and yes it is infact a clock

please post your thoughts I can take better images if you wish me to

 

[jamilm9]

very nice

 

[SuicideKing]

How does the laser cut the plastic without scortching or melting the egdes?

 

[potatorage]

Well, it does burn away the plastic :
More information-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_cutting

 

[SMIDSY]

]Well, it does burn away the plastic  :
More information-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_cutting

he is right it completely melts the plastic away creating a completely consistent perfectly finished edge. I f I were to cut that by had then there would be dust and it would have needed finishing. The laser cutter is incredible!

I hate to think how long that would have taken by hand....

 

[SMIDSY]

How does the laser cut the plastic without scortching or melting the egdes?

oh also if you use the wrong settings (which I have done) the laser cutter WILL set fire to the plastic/ wood. e.g. i set it to cut 'acrylic' when the plastic was actually PVC. It set it alight. In my defense i didnt get to look at the plastic the teacher told me to use those settings...

 

[Switch]

That is awesome! And it's awesome that you get to use that thing I was actually listening to the pirates of the carribean soundtrack when I clicked on this thread ;D

 

[SuicideKing]

That is cool.

I wish I had a water jet cutter though...

 

[phoenix77]

That would be awesome if you were an OAKLAND RAIDERS Football Fan

 

[SMIDSY]

well if anyone wants any PRECISION pieces cut out on the laser cuter Im more than happy to do it for them- maximum thickness is about an inch and a bit for acrylic and more for plywood.

SMIDSY.