This post is in some ways a way to reach out to the OpenBuilds team. After hundreds of hours with my Acro system, I'm sad to say, a 6-7W LED laser is just not powerful enough for any serious cutting. I am sure there are many folks like myself who would love to upgrade to a CO2 laser "the OpenBuilds way!". Yes, I could get an inexpensive laser from China but what would be fun in that!? Here are a few ideas for such a product: 400x1000 working surface would be wide enough to accommodate a RECI 40W W1 tube BlackBox and other OpenBuilds electronics to control it, not Ruida! Some folks will never use rotary attachments so perhaps the kid should have a more portable profile with no more than 1" of Z-axis. Similar to LEAD, provide a way to upgrade(way cool what you guys did with High Z-mod upgrade path!!!!) machine for taller the Z-axis in order to accommodate rotary tools Shoot for $1200 ballpark so that the total build would be ~$2000. I am sure a product like that would be a BIG hit! P.S. I wrote this after reading through this amazing build: Openbuilds Table Top 50w Co2 Laser Cutter/Engraver . Alas, I don't have the facilities to be able to build this from scratch :-(
Thanks for reaching out @Steven Yampolsky and I agree we really do need a power house laser and you picked and awesome one to look at! @pedrofernandez laser rocks! I would have to say that we would have to do something that is modular like the ACRO but enclosed and possibility carries the tube because of course we want the ability to go big! The new year is upon us and there are a lot of amazing projects in the pipeline right now so stayed tuned and lets keep building amazing things together.
Hello @DimitriGeelen not at the present for this particular build (large tube laser) but we do have lots of other cool projects up and coming in the works and we can't wait to share them with you all as soon as its possible.
Hi @Mark Carew, Thanx , waiting with anticipation really great community here. I Just build up an Acro 1510 with a 5.5w effective diode laser and several beginner learning moments amongst one that the steppers can go much faster as the laser can go in PWM mode. this starts me thinking, how can I power-up my set-up. At this point in my learning curve, I am blessed with an ignorance fueled optimism and a CO2 laser seems to come relatively affordable although with dangers of burning the house or electrifying oneself added as a bonus. Wondering of there other option besides diode and CO2, for instance have also seen fiber-based models but have not really read into that further and no idea how that would fit on an acro with an blackbox. Dimitri
I'd be intrigued to know the additional liability OpenBuilds would take on if they added high voltage supplies and high power invisible lasers to the store. Lightobject seem to do just fine though, so maybe it's not that big a deal as long as you have enough ACHTUNG boilerplate to click through. Not saying I disagree though- I also think they should have a couple stock VFD/spindle combos (120V 1.5kW VFD + 800W ER11 (ER16 if possible) spindle plus 240V 1.5kW VFD + 1.5kW ER16 spindle) and fully supported 15/20mm linear shaft and 12/15mm linear profile profile for people who like V-Slot as a structure but don't want to run wheels. This all substantially increases the amount of complexity (VFDs need crazy noise abatement) and customer service ("I didn't know I had to oil my rail, what do") calls, though. It's a tricky one, because a lot of people are adding non-OB stuff to V-Slot and they need to stay ahead of the curve and not coast on old extrusion designs, but also not take on so much extra work and complexity that their level of service and approachability suffers. I'm sure they're figuring it out, though. Also, you can't reasonably get into fiber laser for much less than $10k, so I don't think they're ever gonna care about that one. You can buy the fiber heads and everything separately, but the motion control is the least of anyone's worries at that point.
Hi @Rob Taylor, "I'd be intrigued to know the additional liability OpenBuilds would take on" , hmm interesting and relevant. and question. At current for instance with the Acro, OB provides everything except the Laser (maybe for that reason?) , could the same approach not be taken for a CO2 based set-up? On the CNC Machining, OB Lead will be my next project but have no experience with CNC machining so far. Have seen number of builds with 1.5KW aliexpress spindles though and they seem to work. (sorry had to google to find out what VFD means) Which brings me back to the current project and entry into CNC --> Acro lasering ... and the search for powering-up the 5.5w optical output watt laser Some google inspiration, (please bear with my ignorance driven optimism, I am a NooB in CNC and Lasers) Any thoughts on the three options below? 95 watt led diode array: Have you ever heard of the NICHIA NUBM31T supposed to be a laser diode array that can deliver up to 95w optical output . There is a YouTuber that made a deathray with it ... not sure is this isn't bogus though but looks interesting when one can get good cooling and lenses in. 30 watt fiber laser for under $1500. on AliExpress, looks like a complete package. but how to drive and as with Fiber the cable is the active medium, can it easily & affordable be extended? 10w optical output led laser from endurance laser: The Endurance 10 Watt (10000 mW) laser “Invincible” module (add-on) with 445 nm wavelength for any 3D printer / CNC machine – EnduranceLasers Dimitri
The simplest kit would be for hackers that want to modify the K40 like this (which is what I am in the process of doing): K40 12x24in rebuild (In Original Case) or this: UK40OB I do plan to cut the center of the bottom out for this rotary axis: Laser Rotary Tool / Attachment
After posting a new thread, I found this one through more searching. It seems pulsed fiber lasers may not be practical on an OB setup. It would be interesting to see if I can come up with a hack to make it work. I'll let you know if I can figure something out. -sephen
