I re-aligned the bounce mirrors, added an air-assist, and did some test cuts on acrylic, plywood and hardwood. Slowing the feedrate seems more effective than increasing the power.
Need to spend some time with different materials, figuring out the cut parameters for each one.
Oooh shiny!
Previous post: …555 timer “Ball Whacker”
Next post: Jarre demo’s “Mini” laser harp at Hamburg concert
Steve Hobley works for a software company, but in his spare time likes to deconstruct all the lovely consumer goods with a goal to make unique and interesting things.
A few years ago he posted a short clip of the laser harp he developed, solely to show friends back in the UK.
Automagically that one clip got picked up by Gizmodo, Engadget and a bunch of other tech journals. The end result (apart from a ton of views on Youtube) was to get hired as a consultant for Little Boots – creating a laser harp for her 2010 US tour.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Have you been able to cut through MDF/MDO? How thick?
Only thin MDF 3mm – but I suspect the fumes are really nasty. I seriously doubt being able to cut *through* MDO at all.
How’s this coming along? Any further progress to show?
Yes it is – although I’m waiting for Patrick to finish some design work.
I actually found that the best solution (for me) was to have the laser tube completely fixed and build an X Y table. This completely eliminates all the alignment errors, at the cost of taking up way more space.
Steve,
Been reading your blog to get some pointers on CO2 laser cutter retrofit I’m working on,
I see you are running Mach3 on you laser cutter.
May I ask you how you configured Mach3 to control the laser on/off?
Was it through the spindles’ input/output signals?
Would you be kind enough to share your Mach3 parameters with a fellow “Diy-serlfer”?
Thanks in advanced and keep up the good work.
Ben
Steve,
tell me please is it possible to cut QFN stencils with 40W china laser machine? Does it have enough resolution to cut 0.5 x 0.5 mm square holes in 0,5 mm acryl?
Difficult to say- acrylic melts quickly and so that resolution might not be possible.
WOW,
I love your laser… I’m in the middle of building a Rockcliff CNC Model D. I would love to fabricate a laser head on to my CNC..
Can you share a little more info on your build? I would like to see more video on how your XY&Z axis move with all the mirrors attached.. Also did you make the custom cutting nozzle with the air fitting ?