Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: laser cnc

Rick

Thanks a whole bunch. Went to my Browser and typed
Laser Cutting. What a fantastic start. We have been
wanting to turn a pen plotter into a cutter for vinyl. Have
only looked at knife tech
nology. This may be better, most
of the problems of the knife disappear with the laser. Of
course, some others show up. And then they mentioned
the Laser Printers. That might be a source of parts, only
I doubt if the laser is powerful enough to cut the vinyl film.
Speed is not a concern. Another site had all kinds of Algebra
formulas for determining the power and speed necessary.
Didn't get to the Synrad site, but saw several good comments
about it.

bob mcknight

> Rick
>
> That is really neat. I can understand that you don't want to
> waste your time answering questions that don't exist, BUT
> there are a some of us out here that are so dumb on this that
> we can't even ask an intelligent question. Like you pointing
> out materials that can't be cut. Hopefully you can take a few
> minutes and give us a quick run down of your machine and what its
> capabilities are. $25 is within the budgets of most of us, but I
> suspect there is many $1000s knowledge and equipment backing that
> up. I see different power lasers with

different 'chemistries'

> and don't have a clue as to what the capabilities are. Will it cut
> wood, cloth, plastic, or Titanium? I have an old Electron Drill

(EDM)

> machine that is strictly manual. Since it is not wire, and it does
> have automatic feed, I have left it as is. So, just a brief
> description of the capablities of the process

would

> help a lot of us decide whether we wanted to look further.
> Yes, and power supply requirements for some of the different
> wattage units.
>
> bob mcknight
>

Hi Bob (and others)

Graham hit on some really good points in his post, so I will just
relate my experience with this first (of many to come) versions of my
co2 laser system. I have scrounged about 15 co2 lasers since I
started looking about three years ago. The one in the pic and the one
I currently have mountable to my cnc mill is a Synrad 48-1 ten watt
unit that is putting out 17 watts (pretty normal, they usually put out
ten watts toward the end of life of the gas fill, up to 10,000
hours!). The other lasers I found for free or paid a little. I think
the most I have paid is $300. None of them are as nice and compact
as the little Synrad. I have two high voltage dc flowing gas co2
lasers (one 50 watt and one 70 watt), several (6!) somewhat dead
(need
regassing) 90 watt rf excited lasers but only two power supplies, a
sealed dc excited 70 watt tube doing about 60 watts, and two laakmaan
(pre-Synrad, but similar construction) 25 watt units, one doing 25
watts and the other dead (but I just regassed it myself and have it
doing about 6 watts - more to come on that one!). Not bragging, but
just showing you what can be collected in a short amount of time if
you can hide it from your wife. :-)

The best place to find cheap/free co2 lasers is your local medical
repair/surplus dealer. You need to read up so you sound as if you
have a clue (they don't). Call them up and say you are looking for a
co2 laser to build an engraving machine...talk about how you do cnc
stuff for a hobby, maybe even show them something you have made on
your mill....they just end up giving you the laser..they can't sell
them since the doctors want the new stuff. Also, I have gotten 2 free
lasers from local hospitals which had been storing them for a couple
of years because nobody wanted the responsibility of disposing of
them! One of these is the 50 watt flowing gas unit that works
perfectly!

This is getting way off topic from CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO stuff. I
appologize for that. But as you can see, even with all the lasers I
have scrounged, I still started with the little Synrad laser - easy to
control (5V ttl), sealed and compact. Prices on ebay are about $1200
for a 10 watt unit and $2200 or so for a 25 watt. I would not buy one
with a date before 1998 or so, since they may have older electronics
that Synrad wants $$$ to upgrade before they will refill them. Oh,
refilling costs a bit...I think it is around $500 now for the 10 watt,
and $1200 for the 25 watt. Ouchy, considering you can buy a new 25
watt for under (just) $5k. But then again they warrantee it and the
fill lasts 10,000 hours or so. Think about using it for a couple
hours a week...10,000 hours is a looooooong time.

Things I have cut (so far, heh heh): acrylic, balsa, basswood,
aircraft plywood, styrofoam (watch the fumes), polycarbonate (bleh,
terrible cut...melts and turns blackish on the edge), vinyl, craft
foam, fabric (don't cut kevlar, you get cyanide gas!). You absolutely
will be amazed at the clean cuts you get in acrylic and wood.

Ask me anything else, I can't think of everything that a newbie would
want to know anymore.

Rick




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