Re: Small CNC Laser for Balsa

Hello,

Try a yahoo search on "co2 laser plans"

1/2 way down the first page you will find Emissions Technologies.
They have everyhting you need and fairly priced. Their table uses
Dekam and DeskNC dos, and sells complete (except pc) for 5 kilobucks.

They have plans (I ordered a set, and they are buildable) for 30-50
bucks. They sell lenses, mirrors, sealed tubes (cheap!)and shipped my
order quickly.

Info unlimited's lc7 plans are being sold by MWK. These Robt Ianinni
plans are a reprint (effectively) of an older design which appeared
in Scientific American magazine. His lc5 plans are MUCH better, and
last time I spoke with him he was updating even that design (50W
flowing gas), and felt that one should wait for the new design as it
is easier to build. The old design LC5 was not difficult,IMO...

But the emissions tech plans are better imo.

The iannini design can alos be found in a TAB book which most
electronic stores carry (it has laser in the title,Iannini the author)

The David Knapp site appears to have pulled the plans. Somewhere I
have an old set. But Emissions tech would be my first choice now...

I wrote recently that a certain individual calling himself "Mr.
linear" on ebay was selling a cnc machine with ONE WATT laser diode.
It appeared to have the ability to cut balsa. (I was surprised at its
abilities as shown by the ad and pics for the ebay auction.)

Hope this helps,

Ballendo

P.S. If you're gonna buy a sealed co2 laser, get a Synrad. The metal
tube construction and long life between refills make it the primary
choice for most "desk-size" (not deskTOP<G>)lasers sold to the
signmaking industry.

And don't overlook surplus medical lasers... Advancements in the
field have made some of the 15-50W types obsolete in that industry,
so they are found cheaply at auction. Just remember they were likely
WELL used... And that the company which built them (from who you
might need part$) is "used to" $elling to doctor$ and hospital$


--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "gnrshelton
<gnrshelton@y...>" <gnrshelton@y...> wrote:

> Lasers for marking plastics, usually in the 10watt CO2 range,
> "might" cut thin balsa wood. They run from $15,000 and up.
> YAG lasers are probably twice that. We have several of the
> "marking" style here at work. They work well for that purpose.
> The harder you work them the shorter their life....
>
> Gary.
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Fusion X Studio"
> <fusionxstudio@h...> wrote:
> > Is there such a thing as a cheap laser to be used to cut balsa
> wood. I see
> > people that offer the service but I can't find much on the
> equipment. How
> > much am I looking at to get a small laser to cut balsa wood.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Barclay