Laser Cutter/Engraver

[Vinny]

(12-14-2022, 11:01 AM)rubes Wrote: So you like the diode better than the CO2? I have one of those K40 type CO2 ones that I haven't even set up yet.

The diode is easier but not as strong as the K40 which equates to much slower. One thing the diode has going for it is a larger work area. The K40 is 12x8 (although I did get a little more out of it by removing the table from it. But I ended up putting in a powered Z table in it so I'm back to 12x8. The diode I have (Ortur Aufero) is 390mm x 390mm. They have an extension kit for it to take it to around 600 x 390.

For either a diode or CO2, an air assist is a must! I tried one of those 45L/m aquarium style pumps on both the diode and K40, it almost works ok, keeps the fire blown out (usually) but have since gone to shop air, a local water separator and a good regulator.

Lastly, if you can, vent outside. I have a 230 CFM inline exhaust and it's not quite enough so I'll be changing that out real soon. I have that going to a dryer vent.

[Hawkeye]

I just got into the laser world over the last week or so. It starts with the logical step of adding a laser module to the existing 3D printer. I had already modified the printer to use quick-change extruders. I changed the control board from an 8-bit Rumba to a 32-bit SKR Mini E3 V3.0. It made such a huge difference in the speed and reliability of printing!

Around that time, I saw videos about adding the laser module. I ordered a 5-Watt with air assist. Before it came, I made the mount to add it to the quick-change fleet of extruders. While I was still waiting for the laser, I made a rotary platform to replace the Y-axis. When the laser arrived, I found out that the SKR switches the negative side of the PWM fan supply outlet (normally used to control the laser in an add-on installation). Fortunately, my oscilloscope told me that the negative terminal wasn't just sinking the power coming through the fan - it was using +12 volts to 'shut off' the fan. Of course, this meant editing the gcode file to use S0 for 'On' and S255 for 'Off". Workable for a small on-off file,such as etching lines or cutting with vector files.

A gray-scale file, on the other hand, would involve interpolating every single power level, in the inverse, for all 126,403 lines of code. The obvious solution is to build a whole new laser machine with its own control board built for the purpose. Some parts have arrived, most will be here in the next week. Perfect for a Christmas project.

[Vinny]

As promised, here are a couple more pics. I don't have any tumblers ready so that pic will have to wait till I run some more.

This first one is a slate coaster with a sprint car engraved on it sitting in a box made of mdf that I cut on the laser and glued together.  The double box is something I made for the wife for when we play cards.  Deck(s) can go on one side and the discard pile in the other.   I have a small lazy susan for it that I found at a goodwill but it's not in the pic.  MDF doesn't take stain well as you can see.   The next item is a 1x2 wood tag that can be used for a bunch of different things, they were cheap and I needed that much to get over the $25 for amazon free shipping.  Also pictured is a pen but unfortunately you can't see the engrave too well.  It's a bit easier to see in the next pic.  That's the pen I needed a chuck for that I posted about before.  The one I found worked out ok.  The last item is a leatherette patch (one of those things I bought the laser for to begin with!) that one is black and gold.  I also have blue/silver and rawhide/black.  The place I get the blanks from have a number of other colors, I just haven't ordered them yet.

Just noticed, the lighting kinda sux in this and the coaster isn't as clear as it should've been.



This next one starts with a white ceramic tile (one of those 4.25" square things used in a bathroom) that I engraved a pic on.  The pic is of my daughter's dog that I took the pic of a few months ago.  That tile is a reject 'cuze I didn't think it was dark enough.  I redid it and already gave it to her along with a small easel to stand it up.  The easel was also done on the laser.  Lastly is a better pic of one of the ornaments.  I had to make another batch of this one so it was handy to add to the pic.



That's it for now.  Some time after the 1st I'm planning on a fiber laser that'll make doing pens and tumblers easier, as well as engraving on stainless, titanium, steel and a host of other materials.  I'll also be able to engrave jewelery with it.  The one I'm planning on will even engrave stainless in color - different settings will turn the stainless different colors.  I saw a video of someone engraving a minion in color.  Thought that was pretty cool. BTW, the fiber *can* cut metal but I'm only getting a 30 watt so I'm not expecting it to cut much.