Affordable (ish) desktop laser

Giles

Giles

Western Thunderer
I've just splashed out (with Di's blessing and connivance) on a little laser cutter. It's a 4W diode laser, comes in kit form, and is nicely designed. Moreover, it actually seems to do what it says on the packet!
On assembly (which took me four hours going carefully), I downloaded their test program, which instantly did exactly what it should.......
I then had some trouble trying to import a drawing from Autocad into the cutting program (I work withAutocad everyday, so this is my preferred package, rather than learning the pragrame they provide). However, someone on line advised me that it prefers DXF rather than DWG, and problem solved!

DXF 2004 certainly does the trick!

I imported a bit of brickwork with no trouble, didn't quite realise I had to select it a 'vectors', but did that eventually,then had a go at engraving (2mm MDF) the slight bit on the top you can see was too much - 5mm/sec at 100% , and very nearly burnt through (there are scorch marks on the other side) the one you can see all of is 10mm/sec at 100%, and is perhaps still a little deep..... (This is a 4W laser)

I'm chuffed.

F063FFF7-C4DF-4B3D-B6BD-FF3B1231ABD3_zpslhm2xr1q.jpg

It's an A4 (4w) Emblazer from DarklyLabs in Australia, and rather good.
 
Giles

Giles

Western Thunderer
They're 7mm, Phil (I see your point - there're so no reference at all, is there?)!

It'll never beat a 40w CO2 laser, but that's a different league.
 
Mike W

Mike W

Western Thunderer
That's impressive. Their website suggests even the A3 version is only USD800 - c£600). Very cheap.

Can it also cut right through? i.e. after marking your brickwork can it then cut the section from the sheet?

Mike
 
Giles

Giles

Western Thunderer
Oh, absolutely! Just take another pass...... I rather expected it not quite to do some of these things - but actually, I think it's quite capable. I've got a bit of a learning curve to drive it, but the limitations are mine, rather than the machines at this point (for modelling stuff of up to 3mm thick, that is....)
 
Giles

Giles

Western Thunderer
For those of you who are mildly interested in lasers - I've made good progress (though it may not appear so).

I've been aware that the laser has not been at its optimal focus, but it's been a real problem for me, because I can't see well enough to improve it, (due to astigmatism) as the dot appears as a smudge to me anyway, so I can't see when it's at its best. However, more by luck than judgement, I did manage to get it about right, and it is now cutting like a dream - better than they said it would, actually...... Di's thrilled, because it will cut all the way through thick leather - and I'm really pleased because it's breezing through 2mm MDF will little charring. The only downside is that now the mortar lines are too narrow, so i've off-set them diagonally by 0.1mm to give a little width. But at least I now have a formula that works in all respects.

AAA15E10-64E6-48E7-A1B8-C37C814D075C_zpszzqb44rm.jpg
 
Giles

Giles

Western Thunderer
I've managed to find time to produce this tool shed - it took ages, because it takes 30minutes to cut, but about 20 minutes in, it loses it's indexing, and shifts about half a mil, which ruins it..... I had three goes, and it did it each time - trashing it. Finally, I split the job into two parts, first the two ends, then the two walls - as separate drawings and operations (no other differences at all...) that worked absolutely fine.

I don't know if it can't cope with running continuously for more than 15-20 minutes without losing its indexing, or whether there is a little software glitch that sends it astray (the drawing appears to be completely clean). I don't mind splitting jobs up if I have to, my only concern would be if I have problems working large intensive pieces......
We'll see!

8BDFDCB2-B219-4DA6-96AD-21C467BCEDFA_zpsu0tptgau.jpg

450AB0CB-9744-4758-B9CF-AFC1D4E0FB2B_zpsmylnjadq.jpg
 
JimG

JimG

Western Thunderer
Giles said:
I've managed to find time to produce this tool shed - it took ages, because it takes 30minutes to cut, but about 20 minutes in, it loses it's indexing, and shifts about half a mil, which ruins it..... I had three goes, and it did it each time - trashing it. Finally, I split the job into two parts, first the two ends, then the two walls - as separate drawings and operations (no other differences at all...) that worked absolutely fine.
Click to expand...

Giles,

You should be able to check the CAM file to see if the software is generating the error. I use GCode with my CNC mill and it is possible to check the code to check the co-ordinates that the cutter is being sent to. If the CAM code checks out as OK, then the problem is the machine. On CNC mills there are several ways that a machine can lose registration during a cut, usually down to either a mechanical problem or how the stepper motors are driven. It could be worth raising the problem in your machine's user forum to see if is a known problem for which there is a solution.

Jim.
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
Giles

Good to see this. I bought a second-hand 35W CO2 laser two weeks back, and I've got to cutting and etching, but not the same piece... Yet...

Looks like there will be a lot of laser cutting going on.

The emblaser looks like a really neat bit of kit.

Best
Simon
 
Giles

Giles

Western Thunderer
I spent most of the afternoon looking for some windows I bought from York laser, to go into one of the Denton Brook buildings. When, after a couple of hours I found them, I realised I had bought some modern UPVC Windows by mistake!! No use at all.... I therefore drew up something more suitable, to try and cut them in 0.8mm ply (a material I haven't to date tried.....)

I confess I didn't bother doing test pieces, I just went straight for it. Etch cuts were 20mm/sec at 75%, Single pass, And the Cuts were 10mm/sec at 100%, with three passes - but would have been better at four passes, as some of the frames were just clinging on.....

The glazing bars are about 0.5mm wide, and have come out beautifully! The quality is stunning.

I wouldn't do piles of them a once, as being a silly computer, it does half a job, goes off and does something else and then comes back to it, and of course it will always do a better job if it finishes one thing first....... One could do a work-around by doing pairs of Windows on different layers, so it will do them a pair at a time.

35CA1C5D-8D56-4760-B880-9F9B83AD40DA_zpsyzfon8xy.jpg


186267AD-ED5B-4712-A013-A4CD6FCEDA7C_zpsj7nnogtg.jpg
 
Overseer

Overseer

Western Thunderer
The Emblaser is looking very tempting. I have been looking at laser cutters for some years but been put off by the price of the quality ones and the unknowns of the cheap Chinese ones. Plus the need for cooling water and serious extraction doesn't make them a sensible addition to an office environment. The Emblaser looks much better suited for where it would be and from the examples here looks like it will do the bits and pieces I would like to make to the required standard. It will only get occasional use so doesn't need to be heavy duty. Also the manufacturer being half an hour drive away can't be a bad thing.
 
adrian

adrian

Flying Squad
Giles said:
I confess I didn't bother doing test pieces, I just went straight for it. Etch cuts were 20mm/sec at 75%, Single pass, And the Cuts were 10mm/sec at 100%, with three passes - but would have been better at four passes, as some of the frames were just clinging on.....
Click to expand...
That's very impressive results - I'm surprised the thin bars didn't simply combust.
 
Mike W

Mike W

Western Thunderer
Overseer said:
... Plus the need for cooling water and serious extraction doesn't make them a sensible addition to an office environment...
Click to expand...

I agree, but have you seen the latest BRM magazine (Spring issue) and interview with Parliamentary Trains? Their laser cutter is a big thing and looks to be in the study of the house.

Mike
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
The chap I bought my 35W machine from kept it in his study. I considered doing the same, but it is currently installed in the garage.

The extraction is quiet, as is the water pump, but the air assist is a noisy little devil. I put a tumble drier vent in the wall, so at least I can keep the garage door closed, though it's not warm out there, and I'm not leaving it alone to work. Still I can be doing the cad for one thing whilst it's cutting another, and I don't need a chiller for the water!

Pictures of my latest efforts are on my Porth Dinllaen thread in RMWeb.

Best
Simon
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
What's New?
Top