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Build challenge: CNC laser cutter

fluffygryphon

I'm new to the element14 community, but a long time follower of Ben Heck's DIY projects. The tool I am most jealous of in Ben's workshop is the large CNC laser cutter that he uses in a lot of his build videos. I've been looking to build one of these at some point because they get prohibitively expensive the larger the machine is. My only problems are the difficulties involved in planning out such a creation (aiming the laser and such). My challenge to the Ben Heck Show is to build a CNC laser cutter with close to a 3' x 3' cutting area. It would be a very useful tool.

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  • 1. 3 x 3 is really small. the problem is you pay for your motors (servos) and you get hit with a scale of economies. i.e. it really doesn't pay.

    2. If you want to save $$ don't use the laser. They have very big price tags. So why not use a router, duh?

     

    and that would get you a cheaper build.

     

    Enjoy

    Cris H.

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  • 1. 3 x 3 is really small. the problem is you pay for your motors (servos) and you get hit with a scale of economies. i.e. it really doesn't pay.

    2. If you want to save $$ don't use the laser. They have very big price tags. So why not use a router, duh?

     

    and that would get you a cheaper build.

     

    Enjoy

    Cris H.

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  • in reply to phoenixcomm

    That is certainly an option, but with a significant downside. Detail intensive parts on a cnc router can be difficult to produce, due to the nature of the cutting tool. Interior angles will always require cleanup, where a laser machine can make perfect angles all day. I want to have both types of machines in my shop at some point. And yes, 3 feet by 3 feet is small, but still larger than most laser machines you can buy for less than $10k and fits rather nicely in the corner of a hobbyist's workshop. Many projects are certainly doable on a machine this size.