Full Version: Build Your Own Laser Machine?
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1]
1 Feb 2007
To: Mononeuron 2 Feb 2007
I'm posting the question you posed in your welcome message here, in case it wasn't noticed in that thread.
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Anybody know of a good software program for a laser system for under $1000 AUD. I have MACH3, TurboCNC, Delft Splines DeskProto lite and Turbo Cad V11.5 but i'm not sure if any of it will modulate a laser beam yet. I have a PWM power supply that just needs the control software. Any help is good help.
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So you're building your own 35 watt laser system? Very ambitious and possibly, very inspiring to some of our laser enthusiasts, of which we have many. :-)
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#2]
2 Feb 2007
To: ALL
With a lack of information, most people use Corel Draw to do layouts and send to the printer driver. Do you have a printer driver?
Or are you talking about the firmware for the machine itself.
[Never heard of those programs, probably too upscale for me.]
From: Mononeuron [#3]
2 Feb 2007
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#2] 3 Feb 2007
Hi Peeps,
My understanding is that most laser software uses the HPGL code for plotters and varies the beam intensity using certain colours that are defined with differing levels of lasing power. This way, say if you define Black at 100% then you can cut out the profile of the job and if you define (arbitrary colour) Red at 20% then you can engrave on the same job. I think there maybe 16 levels of power but I am not too sure of that figure so some of the people here may be able to correct my "misinformation".
It is a very rewarding interest building one of these things but my main concern lately is that quality control from suppliers is lacking somewhat.
I ordered 12 feet of tooth belt and only got 9. I ordered 80 x 40 mm uneven Aluminum angle for the x axis cross rail and got 80 x 80 mm instead (unuseable for my application) and ordered a water pump for the laser cooing that will not self start and when it does finally get going it sounds like a cessna airplain taking off. Does it get worse????
Any hardware or specialty shop I walk into in town has sales assistants cringing as I enter because nobody knows what the hell I am talking about when I try to order what I think are simple things (like a linear bearing) so I have to restrict myself to the "simple " nuts and bolts things.
THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET (or the people who developed it) and thanks be to all the people who make up these forums and bring knowledge out of the dark ages (my town) and into the light. Dramatic somewhat, but you all get the idea.
Rich.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#4]
2 Feb 2007
To: Mononeuron [#3] 2 Feb 2007
Rich,
For 35 watts, why are you looking to water cooling?
To my knowledge, that's the method the Chinese are using for glass tubes.
Is that (glass tubes) what you're using?
EDITED: 2 Feb 2007 by DGL
From: Mononeuron [#5]
2 Feb 2007
To: Mononeuron [#3] 2 Feb 2007
Sorry, I got carried away.
I think I will have to build the thing first and find out what software I have that will work with the stepper and servo controllers. It's a hybrid.
Y and X are servo controlled with 500 ppr encoders and the Z axis and A (rotary) axis are stepper motors for lightness in weight
I know Corel draw prints to the printer driver for lasing so I may have to travel that path when I come to it and it also has a number of features like jigsaw puzzle grids etc that would be great for pictures. I don't know how the charing of the edges would look until I try it out first but it's a bit of a slow process building it so I will find out sooner or later. I would be nice to know what everyone else uses as I think most of the manufacturers have proprietry software for their machines that can't be used on anything except their goods.
From: Mononeuron [#6]
2 Feb 2007
To: Mononeuron [#5] 2 Feb 2007
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#7]
3 Feb 2007
To: Mononeuron [#5] 3 Feb 2007
Rich,
I don't think that's the case. Corel Draw, for example, is a widely-used program for the graphics industry, that encompasses everything from print media, to vinyl cutting, to dye sublimation to laser engraving.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#8]
3 Feb 2007
To: Mononeuron [#6] 3 Feb 2007
I understand your need to tip-toe into this, pricewise.
I don't think you'll run into many (if any) laser machine builders here, although, I'm riveted to tracking your progress.
From: sroehlk (ELECTECH1) [#9]
3 Feb 2007
To: Mononeuron [#6] 3 Feb 2007
Have you tried reading the posts at:
They deal with cnc machines but have discussions on laser engravers and other equipment that uses x.y, and z coordinates.
The software you run will depend on what driver boards you are using, the forum above has ads and recommendations from a lot of different sources to consider.
Steve
Edit:
They also have sources for all hardware like linear slides, stepper motors, driver boards and software.
EDITED: 3 Feb 2007 by ELECTECH1
From: john (LILB93) [#10]
3 Feb 2007
To: sroehlk (ELECTECH1) [#9] 3 Feb 2007
Here is a link to Motion controllers you can download the manuals. http://www.triomotion.com/tmt2/sitefiles/downloads/manuals.asp
You have to log on just hit new user and enter the information.
EDITED: 3 Feb 2007 by LILB93
From: Mononeuron [#11]
3 Feb 2007
To: sroehlk (ELECTECH1) [#9] 26 Feb 2007
Hi sroehlk,
Thanks for the info but I came to this forum by way of a post at the CNCzone forum which I regularly read. I read everything I can get my eyes on at the moment about lasers and such and I have always wanted to build one ever since I was 13yo after reading about one in an encyclopaedia. I was always worried about keeping the optics clean and setting up a clean room to use it in but have found that it needn't be that critical, just careful. Now it is not beyond the average persons reach to build one, you just have to wade through a mountain of info and piece it all together. So far my investment is $3480 AUD and I have only to get some cable chain and I will be able to "have at it" so to speak.
I have found that many different forums have people who are expert in their field AND willing to share their hard earned knowledge sometimes gained over decades of practices. I am a sponge to them :-)
Corel Draw seems to be the all encompassing program for this type of thing and I will seriously look into it at a later date.
Stunt Engraver,
I will start a thread on the CNCzone forum in a few weeks when I get into building the laser. It won't be pretty or (hopefully) cost a fortune but it will work. I have no worries about that unless I break something :O) .
I will be using mostly off the shelf components or readily available things from stores and ebay etc.
Being stuck in the outback I need the internet for this and it has become my lifeline and my partners bane. Yes, the poor thing is an internet widow but it is ultimately for her anyway so she tolerates it. .
Rich.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#12]
4 Feb 2007
To: Mononeuron [#11] 4 Feb 2007
Rich,
So does your wife call you a mouse potato versus a couch potato?
From: Mononeuron [#13]
4 Feb 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#12] 5 Feb 2007
Well, not really. Mostly she calls me an idiot or a moron 'cause I try to make her laugh all the time by doing stupid childish things but I will let her know that she may add a couple more to her repertoire.
Thanks.
Rich.
Which reminds me.
When I die I would like to pass away like my grandmother did.
Quietly and peacefully in her sleep.
.
.
.
.
Unlike her 5 screaming passengers.
Have a good day. :-)
From: MR C (MOSHE) [#14]
8 Mar 2007
To: Mononeuron [#13] 16 Mar 2007
From: sroehlk (ELECTECH1) [#15]
8 Mar 2007
To: MR C (MOSHE) [#14] 8 Mar 2007
You can check here, only see 40 watts but you might ask.
http://www.plansandkits.com/lasers.html
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#16]
8 Mar 2007
To: MR C (MOSHE) [#14] 8 Mar 2007
From: Trout Bum (PBROCK1) [#17]
15 Mar 2007
To: ALL
There is a program called DeskCNC that works very well with PWM lasers. I used it with one I built. It even does good vector conversions from bitmaps. You use the Plasma cutter post processor that is contained in the list of post processors.
I can help you make it all work with stepper motors.
I have the program and a spare controller board and also a Russian 20w water cooled RF excited laser that works well with PWM I'm not using. It has a 2.5" focal length lens mounted on it.
It would be a less expensive start until all your bugs are worked out
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#18]
16 Mar 2007
To: Mononeuron [#17] 16 Mar 2007
Trout Bum's post sounds as though it was directed at you.
http://engravingetc.org/forum/index.php?webtag=EE&msg=5933.17
From: Mononeuron [#19]
16 Mar 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#18] 16 Mar 2007
Hi all,
Sorry I haven't been back here for a while but work, visiting friends and the laser table have taken up most of my time. You can find the link of the laser building here
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33485
if you are at all interested. Some of the pictures are a bit small and I really haven't had time to write a full description of the building yet but I will add that very soon over the next few weeks.
Thanks for the info Stunty.
Hi, Trout Bum,
I have seen DeskCNC and nearly bought it about 2 years ago but went with Mach2 and Desk Proto instead but I would definitely like to check it out. I use DeskArt as well but find it very hard to clean up the files for it to work properly when engraving in wood.
I am using a hybrid design on the laser table with servos for the X and Y axis and steppers for the table rise and A axis rotary attachment. I have gone for 4 screws to raise the table but in hind sight I think it would have been better with a scissor jack arrangement as it would be more stable. I still might change it if it proves too unstable with the x axis whizzing along at 3-4 meters a second
The Russian laser sounds interesting and I would like to build another laser at a later date to engrave marble and granite slabs and I think 10-20 watts is fine for that (correct me if I'm wrong)
Does anybody know if the aluminum first mirrors in laser photocopiers would work for very long in a low powered laser setup, say 30-60 watts? I strip a lot of copiers down for their parts and would love to try it out. I may when the laser is up and running.
Thanks
Richard.