Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Laser Engraving

Hi

Thanks to all those who replied to my post on CO2 lasers. The response was
much greater than I had expected. I will need a couple of days to set up my
test bench and see what I have left and how much power they are producing.
I'm not even sure I will have any good ones left so don't get too excited.

Somewhere I have a text file with info on these which I will send along.
But briefly they are small sealed ceramic tube RF excited units that are
removed from laser markers because the power has diminished somewhat. I
have the RF power supplies. They are really good for someone who wants to
get a little experience with CO2 lasers and see what they can do. I was
able to cut 1/8 balsa, thin cardboard, paper, label stock etc nicely. They
also mark anodized aluminum and engrave wood very nicely. They won't cut
any metal or much thicker material. They are easy to mount on a cnc "Z"
axis and fairly simple to get going.

If you would like more info and some pics just reply back to this email and
I will send them out. I should have an answer to what's available and how
much $$ by Thursday.

Regards,
Bob

----- Original Message -----
From: "whelenremington" <wperun1@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 10:45 AM
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Laser Engraving


> Bob, thanks for your reply. As you know I e-mailed you for
> information on pricing. It may be useful for the rest of the group
> to repeat some of my questions. I can see how conventional CNC mills
> will move the x and y axis so that the laser can "cut" the design.
> You can see what I mean by design on the web site - (
> www.epiloglaser.com/applications.htm ). But, what varies the
> intensity of the laser to "change the contrast" of the design
> being "cut" by the laser. I am using the software Virtual Sculptor
> 3D, ( www.designscomputed.com/vs3d/ ) . VS3D is both CAD and CAM
> software, and works in both raster and vector space. So it generares
> the G-code for the Z-axis heights as a function of image contrast.
> Now my question is - do I let the Z axis move the laser to achieve
> the "intensity levels" to achieve the contrasts in the image, - OR do
> I need electronics to read only the Z axis G-code from VS-3D and use
> the electronics to vary the intensity of the laser?
>
> Will a low power CO2 laser yield a "material burn" proportional to Z
> axis movement? Does anyone have an idea of how Epilog Laser does
> this in their machines? Are there various ways to do it?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Whelen
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Muse" <mtebob1@s...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Whelen and Skulworks--
> >
> > I may have some small CO2 lasers for sale cheap. I had a number of
> these
> > units removed from laser marking machines about a year ago--had one
> on my
> > CNC mill for a while--it would mark anodized alum very nicely and
> cut thin
> > carboard and balsa etc. Sold most of them but there are some
> left. If you
> > are interested, email me off-list. mtebob1 at sbcglobal dot net
> >
> > Bob
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "whelenremington" <wperun1@r...>
> > To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 2:06 PM
> > Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Laser Engraving
> >
> >
> > > Skulworks, I am also interested in using a laser to engrave,
> > > and "burnish" Cap plastic to make designs. The commercial
> machines
> > > I've seen have an optical beam focusing system. Can you provide
> > > information as to what web sites sell retail to hobbyists, the
> > > lasers, focusing systems, power supply, and "suport equipment".
> > > Roughly what would all this cost? Thanks for your help.
> > >
> > > Whelen
> > >
> > > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "skullworks"
> > > <skullworks@y...> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "norclippet"
> > > <norclippet@w...>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I would like to fit a laser engraver onto my small CNC mill
> to do
> > > > > engraving (marking) on polished stainless steel. Does anyone
> > > know of
> > > > > a reasonably priced laser head which has sufficient power for
> > > marking
> > > > > stainless?
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > For a Constant Wave (non pulsed) 1024nM NdYAg laser you would
> need
> > > > about a 50watt to get a good mark (brown) - That is going to
> > > require a
> > > > huge power supply and support equipment.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Addresses:
> > > FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> > > FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
> > > Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > > Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com,
> wanliker@a...,
> > timg@k...
> > > Moderator: pentam@c... indigo_red@q... davemucha@j...
> > [Moderators]
> > > URL to this group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
> > >
> > > OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
> > > If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto:
> > aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to
> reach it if
> > you have trouble.
> > > http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
> > >
> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider this
> to be a
> > sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same members are
> there, for OT
> > subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
> > >
> > > NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY
> POSTING THEM.
> > DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO EXCEPTIONS........
> > > bill
> > > List Mom
> > > List Owner
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Addresses:
> FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
> Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
>
> Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com, wanliker@...,
timg@...
> Moderator: pentam@... indigo_red@... davemucha@...
[Moderators]
> URL to this group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
>
> OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
> If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto:
aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to reach it if
you have trouble.
> http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider this to be a
sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same members are there, for OT
subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
>
> NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY POSTING THEM.
DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO EXCEPTIONS........
> bill
> List Mom
> List Owner
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>