I love your show. Very informative.

Ben,

I watched an episode where you built a CNC machine. Most of the parts used were laser cut... My question is, can you modify the CNC you had made to be an actual laser cutter? I like the idea of having a homemade laser cutter that is safe. Is this something you'd be interested in covering on your show?

Rick Pool

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beacon_dave over 9 years ago

Makeblock have a laser diode designed for turning their XY plotter into a laser engraver/cutter.
https://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/laser-engraver-upgrade-pack-500mw-for-xy-plotter-robot-kit-v2-0.html
It is only 500mW so appears to be mainly aimed at engraving or cutting paper/foam type materials.

J Tech Photonics have some similar laser diodes in the 1W - 3.8W range
https://jtechphotonics.com/?page_id=1422
which look like they can cut 1/8" acrylic slowly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV5NWtxTdn4
so this could perhaps be a retrofit type option.

Laser cutters tend to be significantly more powerful though and their 40W CO2 laser tubes are likely to be too large to simply replace the likes of a Dremel cutter with on a typical XYZ tool head, hence why laser cutters tend to have an arrangement of mirrors to transmit the light from the tube to the lens in the cutting head.

However in saying that, GreenBull have vertically mounted a 40W CO2 tube directly onto their CNC cutting head
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIlNAUVZZaM
so it can be done.
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beacon_dave over 9 years ago

Makeblock have a laser diode designed for turning their XY plotter into a laser engraver/cutter.
https://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/laser-engraver-upgrade-pack-500mw-for-xy-plotter-robot-kit-v2-0.html
It is only 500mW so appears to be mainly aimed at engraving or cutting paper/foam type materials.

J Tech Photonics have some similar laser diodes in the 1W - 3.8W range
https://jtechphotonics.com/?page_id=1422
which look like they can cut 1/8" acrylic slowly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV5NWtxTdn4
so this could perhaps be a retrofit type option.

Laser cutters tend to be significantly more powerful though and their 40W CO2 laser tubes are likely to be too large to simply replace the likes of a Dremel cutter with on a typical XYZ tool head, hence why laser cutters tend to have an arrangement of mirrors to transmit the light from the tube to the lens in the cutting head.

However in saying that, GreenBull have vertically mounted a 40W CO2 tube directly onto their CNC cutting head
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIlNAUVZZaM
so it can be done.
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