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K40 ACRO Conversion

Discussion in 'Laser Cutters' started by joetemus, Feb 20, 2018.

K40 ACRO Conversion

K40 ACRO Conversion

Discussion in 'Laser Cutters' started by joetemus, Feb 20, 2018.

A K40 to ACRO Co2 laser cutter build. Designed and built to expand the work area of the K40

K40 Laser Cutter CO2 co2 ACRO Conversion Xpro
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  1. WildBill

    WildBill Well-Known
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    I put an interlock on my machine so the laser would not fire if the cover was open. Helps keep the fingers in place. Hooked it up in series with the water flow switch. IMG_0532-resizedM.jpg IMG_0531-resizedM.jpg
     
    #31 WildBill, Apr 10, 2018
  2. pedrofernandez

    pedrofernandez Journeyman
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    My goal is on a 24x36 inch machine, the only thing that Im concern is how to align pieces already cut and painted for engraving,,, I did a test last night and the result was not bad but during the engraving the piece ignites with a flame almost an inch and a half tall so maybe with air assist will prevent that from happening,,,just learning
     
    #32 pedrofernandez, Apr 10, 2018
  3. pedrofernandez

    pedrofernandez Journeyman
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    Thanks for sharing this safety feature!!!
     
    #33 pedrofernandez, Apr 10, 2018
  4. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    Air assist cut my flames down to almost nothing. Make sure you get a good air pump!
     
    #34 joetemus, Apr 10, 2018
  5. pedrofernandez

    pedrofernandez Journeyman
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    a small one, I downed size https://openbuilds.com/builds/acro-20x20.6923/
     
    #35 pedrofernandez, Apr 10, 2018
  6. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    At that size you would be totally fine with the current plates. Check that the k40 laser head fits in the laser head mount. Might need to make them slighlry larger.
     
    #36 joetemus, Apr 10, 2018
  7. pedrofernandez

    pedrofernandez Journeyman
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    What was the purpose of the 24v power supply? It is necessary to run the conversion?
     
    #37 pedrofernandez, Apr 10, 2018
  8. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    Better torque on the steppers. I'd run without it for awhile and see if it's necessary. I just did it because I had one laying around
     
    #38 joetemus, Apr 10, 2018
  9. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    Got the gantry mounted and running. Sooooo much easier to align everything! Will need a smaller bracket to restrict twisting on the tube but otherwise I think this is the way to go.

    IMG_20180416_214659.jpg
     
    #39 joetemus, Apr 16, 2018
  10. pedrofernandez

    pedrofernandez Journeyman
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    hey joe did you run k40 whisperer before running a gcode from inkscape? i got a second machine and a x y stage og 400 x 600 and planing to take apart that machine to that stage and build a frame around it
     
    #40 pedrofernandez, Apr 20, 2018
  11. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    I was using k40 whisperer on the stock k40, but now I run laserweb4
     
    #41 joetemus, Apr 20, 2018
  12. pedrofernandez

    pedrofernandez Journeyman
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    A
    Asked you about it because as my understanding if you load a gcode file from Inkscape in whisperer and select the coordinate system then the boundary protection of the software is lost and there fore it is possible to use it in a bigger working area, have you hear something about this, i just watch a video fron "scorch" but im a bit confuse.
     
    #42 pedrofernandez, Apr 20, 2018
  13. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    Are you planning on using the stock k40 controller? If you're running the acro I don't know if that will work.
     
    #43 joetemus, Apr 20, 2018
  14. pedrofernandez

    pedrofernandez Journeyman
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    Im planing on hold the acro conversion, and experiment with the new second machine that i got in a "negotiation" for $298 free shipping and is here now and move the parts to a bigger 400x600 xy stage that i got in another negotiation and build it around a frame that im currently designing for it so im planing to use all the stock electronics with whisperer and inkscape gcode
     
    #44 pedrofernandez, Apr 20, 2018
  15. pedrofernandez

    pedrofernandez Journeyman
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    uf disregard my last didnt saw the boundary settings in whisperer so it is possible to move out the electronics out, as soon i start the openbuilds parts of the build ill post it and also will try with the x pro v3 then decide witch route ill make after
     
    #45 pedrofernandez, Apr 20, 2018
  16. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    Still cutting away with this giant K40. Enclosure now has gas struts, electronics are a lot more organized (and much less prone to arcing the high voltage line) building a Z-table this next week, but ramping up production on stuff going into the holidays!
    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    #46 joetemus, Nov 5, 2018
  17. pedrofernandez

    pedrofernandez Journeyman
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    dude you were lost!!! keep on going!!
     
    #47 pedrofernandez, Nov 5, 2018
  18. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    Yea sorry, I got wrapped up in racecar stuff so I wasn't cutting much. Getting back to it now that its getting colder outside. Too many hobbies!

    I have been following your builds on facebook though. Loving your last iteration of your franken40
     
    #48 joetemus, Nov 5, 2018
  19. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    I guess I forgot to mention that I have an enclosure at all. Whoops! Just built a simple box around the whole machine that is on hinges. I think I need either a better smoke collection fan, or new hose because it does get a little smokey in my basement when I run this machine.
    IMG_20181105_192235.jpg
     
    #49 joetemus, Nov 5, 2018
    Appahman and MaryD like this.
  20. pedrofernandez

    pedrofernandez Journeyman
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    whoa that cover is big dude!!! the machine still the same size?
     
    #50 pedrofernandez, Nov 5, 2018
  21. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    Yeap, still 1500x1000mm The enclosure is huge but I got the gas struts dialed in so it barely takes any effort to move it. That was a whole ordeal.
     
    #51 joetemus, Nov 5, 2018
  22. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    Snapchat-1732965285.jpg cutting a larger piece for the first time! Aluminum honeycomb for part of the bed coming in the mail Thursday!
     
    #52 joetemus, Nov 6, 2018
  23. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    Quick video of the machine running. Hopefully can make a video "building" the conversion soon but I have a backorder of stuff I need to make before christmas! Hope I can get stuff through quickly!
     
    #53 joetemus, Nov 8, 2018
    GrayUK likes this.
  24. Theodore Bhagyam

    Theodore Bhagyam New
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    @joetemus 10000% love this build, I am building a MPCNC right now, but this is next, the K 40 was a great intro, but it is time to make it bigger...

    Any chance you could take some pictures of the driveline system? I don't fully understand the driveline... Also, any concern with the laser being mounted with the gantry vs static (like on the K40)
     
    #54 Theodore Bhagyam, Nov 13, 2018
  25. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    The driveline is a 100% stock openbuilds ACRO gantry system. There are some pros and cons with mounting the tube on the gantry. The major issues are safety and longevity. With the tube on the gantry you have to move high voltage line and water. With high quality wire and tube it isn't too big of a concern as long as your drag chain bend radius is larger than that of the wire and tube. Another issue is extra weight on the gantry. I haven't seen any issues with the extra weight yet, but I'm sure if I put a more powerful laser on it and moved faster that could be an issue. So far I have not had any issues with probably close to 100 hours on the latest setup.

    I hope to release the drawings soon for this but don't want to release anything until they are finished.
     
    #55 joetemus, Nov 13, 2018
    MaryD likes this.
  26. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    I am starting to push the limits of the ACRO gantry system and am looking into modifying it.

    There are a few things I would like to fix:
    1. X-axis is too slow for engraving with all the weight of the motor.
    2. Y-axis flex is starting to become apparent with the faster speeds.
    3. Laser tube is not mounted very well right now
    4. Cable management improvements
    5. Increase overall rigidity
    6. Make it look less like a science experiment and more like a professional tool.

    Here is a picture of my current plan, but I might sacrifice more y travel to place the laser tube inside the aluminum extrusion. I also intend on mounting the y-axis extrusion to the table in more places than the ends. What is everyone's thoughts on this? I thought using the ACRO gantry was a great starting point but feel like I could do some small tweaks to make it work better. I have yet to figure out how I am going to run the belt/mount the x-axis motor so any input on that would be great.

    upload_2018-12-20_11-41-14.png
     
    #56 joetemus, Dec 20, 2018
  27. Theodore Bhagyam

    Theodore Bhagyam New
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    I'm watching along! I'm going to try and make it the first way, cut your first set of plates, but possibly going to be 3d printing tube mounts. I want it just like the k40, tube/mirror arrangement. Trying to cut what I can before I take this machine apart to move it all over...

    Running grbl-lpc, on a mks sbase. I can hit the speeds I want, just get it all on the platform, and then make a psuedo enclosure to make it safer and so I can exhaust it. Waiting on the last few parts to start putting the frame together. I'll plasma some steel sides and try and put it all together. If you've ever watched William osmand on YouTube, he made what he call the retina smelter 3000. I need to get back into production soon!
     
    #57 Theodore Bhagyam, Jan 3, 2019
  28. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    Updated version of the upgrade. Put the tube inside the rails for added protection. Also ordered a much smaller, tighter radius drag chain for the air assist on the laser head. This should be the only thing riding inside the drag chain for the laser head to minimize weight. Also included my plan for the x axis belt layout. Let me know what you guys think!

    upload_2019-1-9_8-48-58.png
     
    #58 joetemus, Jan 9, 2019
  29. Theodore Bhagyam

    Theodore Bhagyam New
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    Don't you feel like that assembly is looking pretty heavy?
     
    #59 Theodore Bhagyam, Jan 9, 2019
  30. joetemus

    joetemus Well-Known
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    It will be pretty heavy, but with only 30w of power I don't think I'll be speed limited in the y-axis. The x-axis will be super light so rasters will be fast.
     
    #60 joetemus, Jan 9, 2019
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