Thread: Greolt's Laser Build

It is not finished yet but will have a laser red spot (3v) that is concentric with the laser.

I will get it done in the next couple of days and post some pics.

Also I can press a button on the panel and the stepper drives will freewheel. The head can then be pushed into position.

Greg

Will you be using a beam splitter/combiner to get both beams concentric?

Cannot wait for the piccys and videos.

Daniel

No, it is a different idea.

All will be revealed in a day or two.

Greg

LOL. Look forward to seeing it then.

Daniel

OK here are some pics.

I saw this idea somewhere and am not claiming it as mine.

The laser pointer drops into the laser path when the lid is open. Then lifts out of the way when the lid is shut.

Once the mirrors are adjusted for the primary laser, obviously you don't want to move them. So the only way to make the dot concentric is to do all the adjustment at the small laser module.

Made a mount with adjustment in every possible plane.

Works great.

Greg

Neat idea! Much cheaper than a beam splitter/combiner. lol.

Can't wait to see the rest of the photos and videos.

I have had a Homer Simpson DOH!!! moment.

Set up this red dot system, got it all going and adjusted, used for origin setup, all working great.

So then I moved to integrate it into the machines on board power supplies. Up until then it had been running with a separate independent power supply.

Hooked it up and.........what's going on........it won't work any more.

Then I remembered what I knew all along but had forgotten. The body of the red dot laser module must be insulated from the machine.

When using the separate power supply, all was OK. But as soon as I tied it into machine electrics.......

Went to all that trouble to make a mount with all necessary adjustments built in. Now I have to figure out a way to insulate it.

Greg

Hey Greg,

Bummer. Its amazing when excitement takes over and we forget things we already knew. lol.

Simple enlargement of mounting hole that way your adjustments wont change an then just turn up a small isolator tube from delrin rod or acrylic etc. Sure you've thought that anyway but just to make sure.

Daniel

I know you probably already have it sorted but maybe you could use the insulators used on FET's, you would probably need two and the insulators that the mounting bolt head fits into, the ones for a TO220 package may be about the right size, the mounting bolts for them are 3mm, I'm not sure what size you are using though, looks close to that from here

Jaycar usually have them in stock. I like the rubbery ones instead of the mica or paper ones, they just seem better.

Cheers.

Russell.

Daniel's idea was what I was thinking.

However Russel's sugestion might merit some investigation.

Greg

Turned a sleeve up out of a bit of some sort of tough industrial nylon material.

Bored out the mount a bit, and Bob's your Uncle Joseph.

Greg,
That's how I do it - a bit annoying the case is positive and I can't understand why they do it that way.
I like your arm that comes down with the lid - I bet that took a while to sort out.

I read this thread (and others like it), and struggle to even comprehend the project. You guys blow me away with what you can do and the quality of engineering. well done!

Greg,

Well done. Danny got it right in that, making and getting a laser unit up and running takes know how, or as I suspect a lot of reading by Greg.

Well done Greg. You and Rod seem to set the bench mark for us plebs. Geelong is a long way, but maybe I could come out one day and see the beast running?

Keep up the good work. Plasma next maybe? Nah too easy!

Michael