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Show idea/question? Combined 3d printer, CNC router (& laser cutter?)

e14 Contributor

Hello people,

 

There's this idea in my head that keeps popping up:

 

Al these 3d printers, CNC's and laser cutters are (as far as I can tell) for the most part the same hardware.

And the axis and stepper motors do not come cheap.

Wouldn't it be awesome to combine these machines (if possible)?

By perhaps changing the extruder for a dremel/CNC head (or laser)?

 

If it's possible I would call it the Cerberus image (or Two Face in case the laser doesn't work out).

 

If it's not possible I would like to know why, so I can let it rest image

 

Thanks in advance for reading and possibly responding.

Parents

  • Chris and Coleco are correct. 3D printers and lasers need speed, CNC mills need torque. You can't get both.

     

    I did see a Shopbot at Makerfaire with a 3D printhead on it. Of course it can be done but the question usually is - is it practical?

     

    Also don't feel that we're blowing off the idea, it's just that between myself, Chris and Coleco, we have many years of CNC experience so we've run into this issues time and time again.

  • in reply to benheck

    After an hour or two searching so I don't ask for something already addressed elsewhere, this thread seems to be the closest I can come to MY interest:

     

    In your "portable 3D printer, take two" video you mention in ever-so-brief passing that you used a laser cutter to cut plywood parts for things like the extruder carriage.  Obviously that's how they were cut - BUT --

     

    WHY don't you SHOW OFF THAT TOOL AT WORK?  I'd think you would be PROUD to show it off!!!!  Is it something you built, too, or is it an off-the-shelf purchase?  Don't I want one????

     

    Even the teaser link that offers to let one see/buy parts/tools to "build like Ben" went to a useless, blank page.

     

    So - can you PLEASE shed some light on that handy-dandy tool???

     

    Thanks in advance

     

    jm

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    Hey.  I'm not sure what episode it was, it might've been the pocket basic computer episode, but he does show it and talks about it a bit.  It is a commercial one.  Not one he built.  Also in another recent one he talks about how he uses an air compressor to stop flames.  Hope it helps.  Look at some of the more recent episodes.  It must e within the past 10-15 episodes.  Hope this helps!

  • in reply to evan.stoddard

    Hello Evan

     

    Thanks for your prompt RE -

    but where I FINALLY found reference, and a very BRIEF sighting, was in Ep 3.  Turns out it's a Universal Laser Systems X660, which apparently retails for somewhere in the $35,000 neighborhood.  I'm guessing it's high time that I hosted my own show with sponsors that generous.  Problem with that theory - I don't think I have the charming personality for it.  Surely there's a cheaper way to lase, but at least NOW I KNOW, so I can quit WONDERING.

     

    Thanks again

     

    jm

     

     

     

     

    From: evan.stoddard

    Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2013 10:57 AM

    To: Jay Murphy

    Subject: - Re: Show idea/question? Combined 3d printer, CNC router (& laser cutter?)

     

     

                

     

          Re: Show idea/question? Combined 3d printer, CNC router (& laser cutter?)

          created by Evan Stoddard in The Ben Heck Show - View the full discussion

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    Don't be so blue yet because you can build one yourself.  Watch a couple more tuts on building a 3d printer and then make a laser with a blueray laser diode and a driver.  You can get those for around 40 bucks online.  Then just build a cnc machine with the tutorials.  It will probably cost you 1500-2000 dollars and it won't be able to cut wood right away but you could probably do a lot of passes.  If not then you can put patterns in wood or cut designs or templates out of paper.  Still a fun project.

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    And look at this website, lots of homemade laser cutters and CNC machines.

    http://buildlog.net/

Reply Children
  • in reply to colecago

    Hi all.

     

    I registered to post in this thread.

    I have a 100W CO2 commercial laser that's seeing less work than needed at the moment.

    I have always been interested in 3D printers and even had a guy ask me to cut him a RepRap on my machine some time last year.

     

    Anyway, I have often wondered what it would take to add a 3D printing capability to my machine.

    The hardware is very simple and probably most of you guys are already familiar with it.

    I'll explain in some detail.

     

    The machine has a 1200mm X 800mm workbed.

    X, Y and Z axis move independently.

    They all use stepper motors.

    Each axis has it's own stepper motor driver, X any Y being of the same wattage, Z being significantly more powerful because of the lifting capacity needed.

    The axis are individually controlled by a DSP card.

    The laser is also controlled by the DSP card.

    The laser power can be set by PWM signal.

     

    My initial thought would be to replace the DSP control card by another type of card that can control the Z-axis movement at the same time as the X and Y axis are moving.

    At the moment, Z-axis is only controlled to focus the laser on the workpiece before the job starts.

     

    If such a control card exists, I would be very interested to know about it, be it a DIY solution or a commercially available offering.

     

    Another crude posibility that I thought about would be to somewhat get the machine to output a signal at the end of each layer and this signal would trigger the movement of the Z-axis and adiition of a new layer of material.

     

    Any thoughts/input would be much appreciated.