CO2 Laser Cutter

Well, as mentioned briefly elsewhere - I've been building up a CO2 Laser Cutter. Its only a tiddler, a mere 40W, but enough for 12mm MDF and 16mm acrylic in a single pass (thicker with multiple passes).

I've been working on getting the focus sorted out following on from the mirror alignment I had to do (Thanks again @68Commando for the Disto !). So rather than worrying about cutting, I've been working using engraving.

So here is one of the first examples.. its a wooden placemat with a familiar logo engraved .2mm deep into it. I was overcooking the power a little to start with and the fume extraction system I built (240CFM in 4" ducting) pulled the fumes across the top - hence the slightly smoked beginning But I dialled it down a bit and it seemed to work ok for the rest of it.

This is now the challenge, working out the speeds + power to use on various materials - since its really these two variables that interact to determine the cutting/engraving power. (80% power at 30cm/s is going to be less deep cuts than 40% at 15cm/s)

Im just starting to futz around doing actual cuts now too.. but wanted to get at least one clean engrave out!

 

looks good for a first attempt Ado !

some more practice and you will be knocking out signs like a pro.

 

Nice
Any specific plans for it?
Did you reuse the CNC router, or is it all new stuff?

I'm stiiill working on my router. Just waiting on finances for the frame material. Bikes always have priority though...

 

Cheers @Gosling1 - just a lotta experimentation now on various materials. And working out how to cleanly cut the acrylic.
@andtfoot I have it more or less to cut acrylic cases for my electronic bits and do some anodised aluminium marking for front panels .. but also to laser cut some gears and stuff. And for giggles.

Still got that all the CNC stuff .. waiting on a 1.5kw Spindle with the VFD from someone... and I'm going to get the frame recut as I screwed up the end-bearing mounts and theres too much play now for my ballscrew and the mounts for the SC20UU blocks n rails...

 

Just redid a clearer version minus the overcooked topletters Apologies re the bad pic - just using my mobile to grab 'em quickly..



Now to find my scrap acrylic I had around for test cuts...

 

nice..