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  #331  
Old Tue 18 November 2014, 06:34
Tokamak
Just call me: John #121
 
Monrovia (ca)
United States of America
This is a good read. This is the thread where I got most of my info.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/ind...c,12444.0.html
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  #332  
Old Tue 18 November 2014, 08:49
hevertg
Just call me: Hevert
 
maracaibo
Venezuela
congratulations friend
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  #333  
Old Tue 18 November 2014, 09:48
Fox
Just call me: Fox
 
Amsterdam
Netherlands
A lasersauer is on my to do list for more than a year, but first I need the mm to earn it's keep.
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  #334  
Old Tue 18 November 2014, 10:08
Tokamak
Just call me: John #121
 
Monrovia (ca)
United States of America
Fox,
Have you seen this one?

http://www.openbuilds.com/
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  #335  
Old Tue 18 November 2014, 11:04
Robert M
Just call me: Robert
 
Lac-Brome, Qc
Canada
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Impressive.....Congrats
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  #336  
Old Tue 18 November 2014, 12:37
Fox
Just call me: Fox
 
Amsterdam
Netherlands
You mean the one based on the lasersauer? I must admit I have not dived into all the details, but on first glance the lasersauer looked like a well made open source plan and machine. But I might just buy a Chinese one http://www.wklaser.com/pro_195.aspx they are not bad and compared to a diy they don't cost much more. But like said, first things first. Make money with the mm, to regain costs and pay for a laser.
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  #337  
Old Tue 18 November 2014, 15:29
servant74
Just call me: Jack
 
Nashville (Tennessee)
United States of America
The folks at 'buildyourcnc.com' sells a 'black tooth' laser cutter -- looks a lot like the lasersaur project to me -- but one thing they do is to mount the laser on the CNC Y-axis carrier. Supposedly it manks keeps the alignment better and easier. ... Not sure if it does, but it is another method!

buildlog.net is another DIY CO2 Laser build. One thing they suggest is to NOT order the laser tube itself until right before you are ready to use it. Evidently they have a shelf life of 2 to 3 years whether in use or not. -- that may not be true, but it is my current belief from what I have seen posted.
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  #338  
Old Tue 18 November 2014, 16:23
KenC
Just call me: Ken
 
Klang
Malaysia
The tube is charged with Co2, like all pressurized vessels, it will leak over time... for what ever reasons...
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  #339  
Old Mon 24 November 2014, 06:45
Tokamak
Just call me: John #121
 
Monrovia (ca)
United States of America
Cutting with a laser is sweet. Had to try the butterfly file. Reduced the size until the slots in the parts matched .015" (.38mm) card stock paper.

It was easier to cut than to assemble.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Butterfly and 25c.jpg (79.1 KB, 717 views)
File Type: jpg Butterfly parts.jpg (53.7 KB, 714 views)
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  #340  
Old Mon 24 November 2014, 06:49
Tokamak
Just call me: John #121
 
Monrovia (ca)
United States of America
Then a seasonal theme.
Card stock
Free wood floor samples from HD
Glass tile, bright sunlight shows shadow
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Angels 1.jpg (65.5 KB, 718 views)
File Type: jpg Angel 2.jpg (87.3 KB, 717 views)
File Type: jpg Angel 3.jpg (82.4 KB, 717 views)
File Type: jpg Angel on glass.jpg (91.3 KB, 719 views)
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  #341  
Old Mon 24 November 2014, 07:00
Tokamak
Just call me: John #121
 
Monrovia (ca)
United States of America
Chatter on edges is probably stepper motor related. . .
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Stepping around curves1.jpg (74.7 KB, 724 views)
File Type: jpg Stepping around curves2.jpg (44.7 KB, 722 views)
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  #342  
Old Mon 24 November 2014, 13:07
racedirector
Just call me: Bruce #122
 
New South Wales
Australia
That is just too cool, well done!
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  #343  
Old Tue 25 November 2014, 07:19
smreish
Just call me: Sean - #5, 28, 58 and others
 
Orlando, Florida
United States of America
...with a part that small, I would venture to guess the part moved and the stepper did it's job. How did you hold it?
On stuff that small I would "sandwich" what I was cutting or glue it to a sacrificial part and release it after cutting.
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  #344  
Old Tue 25 November 2014, 10:13
Alan_c
Just call me: Alan (#11)
 
Cape Town (Western Cape)
South Africa
Send a message via Skype™ to Alan_c
Note Sean this was cut with a laser so no physical contact to cause movement?
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  #345  
Old Tue 25 November 2014, 10:50
smreish
Just call me: Sean - #5, 28, 58 and others
 
Orlando, Florida
United States of America
laser! Didn't catch that part...okay - stepper / microstep driver issue.
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  #346  
Old Tue 25 November 2014, 11:11
pblackburn
Just call me: Pete #98
 
South-Central Pennsylvania
United States of America
Unless he does not have gear reduction or a low steps per revolution, those marks appear to be 0.030" apart. I do photocarve and plastic plates with a 0.005" bit and have not seen a deviation like that. That would be worth solving. Even though it is laser cut I don't see how the steps would produce the sawtooth pattern. Unless it is transmitted vibration.
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  #347  
Old Tue 25 November 2014, 11:31
KenC
Just call me: Ken
 
Klang
Malaysia
Laser tube overhang is very severe. IMHO, the laser tube mount isn't rigid enuf.
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  #348  
Old Tue 25 November 2014, 12:33
Fox
Just call me: Fox
 
Amsterdam
Netherlands
That could easily be checked, run the same file ultra slow. If the marks dissapear ken's correct. I would guess it's a combination of factors ( beam focus / material flatness / mechanical backclash / huge Z is swaying ever so little etc. )
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  #349  
Old Tue 25 November 2014, 13:15
KenC
Just call me: Ken
 
Klang
Malaysia
I don't belief a slender 4' long tube mounted on one end with 4~8" spaced mounting would stay plumb over the course of traveling. It gravity defying... don't need Sir Isaac Newton to tell me that.
BUT then again, nobody said you can't do it, just not the best possible configuration. This patch job did works to a degree of satisfaction is a winner. It cuts after all.
This sure is a very heroic thing to do... I don't have the guts to run any laser tube this way without properly covering any possible/accidental/stray rays zapping around. I still want to be around for the next 40 or so years with all limps & any bodily organs still intact.
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  #350  
Old Tue 25 November 2014, 19:49
Tokamak
Just call me: John #121
 
Monrovia (ca)
United States of America
I have a 3:1 belt drive but this is very small steps. What I'll do is run some diamond shapes to see how the diagonals look up close. Also try it at different speeds to see if it changes.

Ken, the beam coming out of the laser is 6mm diameter. It is then run thru a focus lens the takes it to a spot .006" in diameter 2" away. The beam converges then expands. At 4 inches from the lens has expanded back to 6mm, another 2 inches away it is 12 mm. I think that the power density is decreasing by the square of the distance. By the time the beam hits the spoil board it makes a 3/8" smoldering dot that is not cutting at all.
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  #351  
Old Wed 26 November 2014, 02:49
Tom Ayres
Just call me: Tom #117
 
Bassett (VA)
United States of America
John, i'm not sure how you were scaling but I notice a change in smoothness anytime I use the '[I]scale'[I] feature in Mach, not much but some.
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  #352  
Old Wed 26 November 2014, 07:08
KenC
Just call me: Ken
 
Klang
Malaysia
John,
I'm aware of the power density & the science of LASER utility, but it is laser after all, one flash at the eye & anything can happen... Maybe its my excuse to stay lazy

Anyway, I do enjoy your work very much.

One the cut quality, we need max acceleration but with higher acceleration come greater force tilting the tube. slowing down isn't the solution. maybe just for testing, reduce the acceleration & see if the zig-zag get better. if it does, you need to improve the mounting rigidity.
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  #353  
Old Wed 26 November 2014, 21:50
Tokamak
Just call me: John #121
 
Monrovia (ca)
United States of America
I'll try the different speed thing to see what I get. I run it pretty slow to keep the stress on the tube low.
I have been scaling in Aspire and recalculating the tool path. I need to check to see if that area is a sieries of short lines or a smooth curve. May make a difference.
Gotta do the holiday stuff before I can get back to the dog house.
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  #354  
Old Tue 09 December 2014, 12:59
Tokamak
Just call me: John #121
 
Monrovia (ca)
United States of America
A friend ask me to cut some Angels for Christmas. I could cut 10 at a time with 20 Watts.
I picked up longer high voltage cable so I can install everything thru the wraps.

The Laser is okay but I want to get back to the spindle carving.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Cutting Angels.jpg (77.1 KB, 569 views)
File Type: jpg Cutting Angels 72.jpg (62.5 KB, 569 views)
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  #355  
Old Sat 13 December 2014, 08:26
darren salyer
Just call me: Darren #101
 
Wentzville mo
United States of America
Cool Stuff!!
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  #356  
Old Wed 23 September 2015, 07:27
Tokamak
Just call me: John #121
 
Monrovia (ca)
United States of America
I've been busy doing a bunch of other stuff but here are some of my experiments.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Laser Samples IMG_1801.jpg (127.6 KB, 368 views)
File Type: jpg Laser Sample IMG_1838.jpg (139.1 KB, 364 views)
File Type: jpg Laser Sample IMG_1906.jpg (94.5 KB, 366 views)
File Type: jpg Laser Samples IMG_1854.jpg (139.8 KB, 365 views)
File Type: jpg Laser Sample IMG_1900.jpg (129.0 KB, 365 views)
File Type: jpg Laser Sample IMG_1800.jpg (142.1 KB, 364 views)
File Type: jpg Laser Samples IMG_1861.jpg (116.2 KB, 366 views)
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  #357  
Old Sun 27 September 2015, 04:35
Jason Marsha
Just call me: Jason
 
B'Town
Barbados
Great work John.

What is the material of the plaques above?

What speed do you cut the lettering of plaques at?
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  #358  
Old Sun 27 September 2015, 05:07
Tokamak
Just call me: John #121
 
Monrovia (ca)
United States of America
Thanks Jason,
The plaques are marble, and I cut them at 40 in/min.
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  #359  
Old Sun 27 September 2015, 05:28
lonestaral
Just call me: Al #114
 
Isarn
Thailand
Send a message via Skype™ to lonestaral
Love the snowflakes.
Very intricate and precise.

Mister Asshole as well. I would use a slightly different spelling, but I am from England.

Last edited by lonestaral; Sun 27 September 2015 at 05:31..
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  #360  
Old Thu 21 April 2016, 13:21
Robert M
Just call me: Robert
 
Lac-Brome, Qc
Canada
Send a message via Yahoo to Robert M Send a message via Skype™ to Robert M
Hi John.....
Well, since your posts on your laser.....it's been...twitching me pretty much to see how I may install one too, although not as intricate as yours, but say a more, modest low cost & lower install implication model !

Finally found one and committed to buy, it's now on "production" and should be ship to me any day soon !!
I come to you in hope you may share this "found out how to interface with Mach3 and Aspire's post processor" you've posted some time ago ( post 313, Nov.14) !

Thks

Last edited by Robert M; Thu 21 April 2016 at 13:24..
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