Recent content by LPF Dude

I did see the thread by "Things", and he used mirrors, though I haven't yet seen or figured out how he compensated for the change of distance. I think I'm going to re-engineer the head to hold the whole tube, but I need to add limit switches first so I don't accidentally break the tube if I...

From memory, it's about 2ft x 1.5ft x 2ft high. X-Y travel is approx 18" x 12". Yes small, which is why the diode-type laser would've been so much nicer. But my thought right now is to mount the CO2 laser outside the frame, then use two mirrors. I need to figure out how to focus this with...

Will do. For now, here's the XYZ system we built. "We" = me and some high-school students I mentor independently... . Will take some thinking to add a CO2 laser, so will be at least a couple months before anything is implemented, and we're finishing a 3D printer project. To be honest, I'd...

Wow, that's FAR better than $3800. Will need to read up on CO2 lasers. Much thanks.

I should've been more descriptive at the start, that this is generally red, blue, green and bronze acrylic. All relatively dark. And occassionally black. Would that make a difference to the diode selection? Also, what is reasonable for CO2? Only quote I got was $3800 for a self-contained...

What I meant by higher wavelength is if perhaps ~1k nm or more (but in diode form) would work. FWIW, the acrylic is colored -- red, blue, green and bronze. Occasionally I might do black acrylic, but I don't do clear. Thanks.

What about a higher wavelength then?

Hi all, Newbie here. I'm researching what I need to make a laser cutter for acrylic. I already have a computer-controller XYZ machine, and want to add a laser diode to the head. Confused though due to conflicting info, so have some Q's... Laser: Will a 1W 808nm Laser diode cut 1/16"...