Greolt's Laser Build

**Greolt** · 2nd January 2012, 11:17 PM

Over the years I have occasionally thought about building a laser. This time thoughts tuned into action.

Been gathering parts from ebay etc and made a start on the X and Y axis. Couple more days and that will be done.

Used square rails on both axis. Was going to use supported round rails on the Y but as soon as they arrived from ebay I changed my mind.

There is a lot of work building these CNC machines and to my mind it is worth starting with good bearings. These are the heart of the finished product.

Did some testing of the X axis. This is the one that works the most when doing engraving and needs to have very good performance.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6yB8eCWKtc"]Laser axis test.AVI - YouTube[/ame]

I am getting about 120,000mm per min but the acceleration is not what I hoped for. So I think I will ditch the Nema17 stepper and put a Nema23 one on.

On holidays recently I had nothing to do so I modelled a lot of the design in CAD.

Al the electronics is completely enclosed in the end of the cabinet. Water cooling, exhaust fan and air compressor will all reside in the bottom section.

The 80 watt laser tube will be on the back under a separate cover. This keeps it out of the smoke and fumes.

Front door and lid combination, not shown, will allow for good access. Table will rise and fall for different materials as well as allow room for a rotary axis.

Start the cabinet frame soon. I wish I had Rod's experience with cabinets.

Greg

**dj_pnevans** · 3rd January 2012, 12:03 AM

Greg I will have to watch this to see how it turns out.
David

**SawDustSniffer** · 3rd January 2012, 12:27 AM

??? im no where near an expert but i thought a lazer needs a jet of air / co2 to clear the cut, before the heat spreads away from the cut , to cool the material and to blow the cut clean

what will you be cutting with the 80 watt laser ?

**epineh** · 3rd January 2012, 12:45 AM

I am in to see how it goes, where did you get (or intend to) the tube from ?

Cheers.

Russell.

**rodm** · 3rd January 2012, 02:01 AM

Hi Greg,
That looks pretty fast to me.

This will inspire some of us to follow your lead as it likewise has been someting I have considered for quite a while. An 80 watt must have a long tube - make sure it is marked not to be Xrayed during transport.

I agree with your comments about the square rails and trucks and my keepers always have square rails.

I see you are building this under the patio - you must be like me and have too many toys and it is too messy in the shed.

Look forward to seeing your progress.

We have an experienced laser person lurking so hopefully your thread will be the incentive for Len to post something. Sorry Len I didn't mean to name you.

**Greolt** · 3rd January 2012, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by epineh

I am in to see how it goes, where did you get (or intend to) the tube from ?

G'day Russell.

Is it raining up there? I bet it is.

Ebay has tubes. I bought from CNCOLETECH. Hasn't arrived yet.

CNCOLETECH items - Get great deals on Laser tube 40w,50w,60w,80w, Roland items on eBay Stores!

They are helpful. I also got my laser head and mirrors from them. And should have got my laser power supply from them as well.

Greg

**Greolt** · 3rd January 2012, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by rodm

I see you are building this under the patio - you must be like me and have too many toys and it is too messy in the shed.

Both. I would be a lot better off if I was a neat shed person.

Going to have to spend a day clearing out, so that I have access to my welding bench to build the frame. It has junk piled high on and around it.

Greg

**Lappy** · 3rd January 2012, 12:32 PM

Amazing work Greg, soo fast!

Watching with interest, looking forward to seeing it finished and up and running!

What will you be able to cut on this size laser or is it more for engraving? (sorry i don't know much about lasers so please excuse my ignorance!)

All the best
Glenn

**spidey4fun** · 3rd January 2012, 01:56 PM

Im just going to have to come for a visit Greg. When it's up and running. Been working on the 3D CAD skills? Very nice.

I recently moved house so need to put mine back together and make sure it still works.

Brad.

**twistedfuse** · 3rd January 2012, 05:58 PM

Greg,

I think the little kid in all of us has made most think about building a laser since they definitely have the cool factor. Have you thought about utilising the servobelt style drive for the belts with the nema 17 instead? Sure you have already looked into it all, but just to make sure, definitely use the air assisted laser head. In the long run it will come into its own on thin stock. What belt style are you using and are they open? Starting to gather some stuff like nema 17 motors and belts etc for a laser scanning table that i'm toying with as an idea.

Will be watching this thread. Keep it up and look forward to another great build.

Daniel

**Greolt** · 3rd January 2012, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by twistedfuse

Greg,
What belt style are you using and are they open? Starting to gather some stuff like nema 17 motors and belts etc for a laser scanning table that i'm toying with as an idea.

I have XL belt because it was what I could get locally in continuous length. (0.2" pitch) That was before I realised it is much better to buy from Econobelt in the US.

My preference would have been MXL which is .08" pitch.

There seems to be two main options for engraving controller. A Chinese Thunder Laser and a US Retina Engrave.

The second one requires that the axis be 1000 steps per inch. So I thought it might be prudent to go imperial.

Steppers are good for me. I have some drives and steppers on hand.

Greg

**epineh** · 3rd January 2012, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Greolt

G'day Russell.

Is it raining up there? I bet it is.

Ebay has tubes. I bought from CNCOLETECH. Hasn't arrived yet.

CNCOLETECH items - Get great deals on Laser tube 40w,50w,60w,80w, Roland items on eBay Stores!

They are helpful. I also got my laser head and mirrors from them. And should have got my laser power supply from them as well.

Greg

Hi Greg, well if I said it wasn't raining I think you may not believe me

...besides anything under 100mm/day does not count !

It will be interesting to see how it all goes, I think we all have a laser on the to do list, as well as a million other things. Personally if I ever build one I only want a small power version to cut card/paper/balsa, but I wonder if it could be used to take out some of the pesky minor birds around this place, mwahah.

Cheers.

Russell.

**Greolt** · 4th January 2012, 04:15 PM

Look what arrived today.

Isn't it a thing of beauty.

**rodm** · 4th January 2012, 04:46 PM

That's one fancy peace pipe.

How long is it?

**snowyskiesau** · 4th January 2012, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by Greolt

Look what arrived today.

Isn't it a thing of beauty.

A fragile, expensive thing of beauty

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