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DIY CNC Laser for the hobbyist.

cmay77

I recently watched a video of @Ben Heck  and his CNC laser. He said the laser cost about $15,000, now I have seen different things on the web where people have used lasers out of DVD writers to create CNC lasers, what does anybody have any information on how efficient these machines are?
Is this a practical build? And can anybody who has done this or tried this post information about the build.
I understand that it won't be on the same level as a multi $1,000 machine. I'm talking about something that can do basic stuff like what Ben did when he used his laser to make printed circuit boards.
Because $15,000 it's just not practical for the student, or the hobbyist.

 

 

I think this would be an awesome idea for the Ben Heck show, if he can make an Xbox 1 portable then I am sure he can use spare parts from a computer to help engineering students and hobbyist alike, develop a cool build that would double as a handy tool.

  • In my experience, with more expensive  laser cutters, you're basically paying for better software and interface, and in English. But you will also get a fancier, more precision machine. I've used G. Weike, Full Spectrum, Trotec, and Epilog laser cutters. The major differences are the ease of use of software and the resolution. The more expensive lasers I've seen can do much more detailed cuts and etching as well as have a significantly smaller kerf. The cheaper, models straight from China have a frustratingly clunky interface, the mechanical XYZ is frequently not calibrated perfectly, and usually come without a lot of the bells and whistles you can get with the higher end models. Some of those bells and whistles include a motorized z-access, automatic z-axis focusing, registration camera, ability to store and run jobs in the machine, a honeycomb bed(+ in a frame), rulers fixed around the bed edges, and better hardware to hold doors open and such. Note: Some machines can be run directly from some design software like Corel Draw.

     

    It is possible to DIY your own laser cutter, but they are precision machines, so they require precision parts and assembly. It all comes down to how much you are willing to invest in the machine, be it time or money. Keep in mind that even if the finished product as it stands is much cheaper, you may have to make parts multiple times to get them to work properly and in the end, your DIY machine may be less precise (possibly significantly so) than a purchased machine. You will also likely spend hundreds of hours manufacturing and making the machine work in the first place. Talk to anyone that has created a Rep Rap 3D printer and have a conversation about frustration.

     

    Epilogs are expensive, but you get what you pay for. They are wonderfully smooth, high resolution, low maintenance, and easy to use machines. G-Weike's and other Chinese lasers can be obtained for 1/3 the price or less (depending on customs), but the software that comes with them is beyond frustrating and they are often not perfectly square. My current hackerspace has a cheap no-brand Chinese laser and while it's a fun tool to have, it is not entirely accurate and the software will make you want to go Office Space on the computer. I think it cost about $2500, is 50W but functions more like a 40W, and has a cut area of about 11" x 22". The edit-ability within the software is terrible and trying to convert an Illustrator file to something where all of the vectors and rasters show up accurately can be a nightmare. Also the bed is not consistently level to the cutting head gantry, so you have problems with the laser going in and out of focus and thus cutting through material in some areas, but not in others. If the Chinese people who make these professionally have trouble making them well, how likely is a one-off DIY machine going to come out higher quality for less money.

     

    So basically yes, you can build your own laser cutter, but be prepared to invest a LOT of time, a decent amount of money ($2000 maybe), and a whole lot of frustration. In the long run, you may be better off saving your time and dropping your cash on a cheap pre-fab laser.

     

    That's my $.02.