Hi guys, WLRMAN36 from the Phlatforum. I just purchased a 40 watt CO2 laser tube from Nathan at QU-BD here in Little Rock. Money for the rest of the build is sitting in the credit Union so it is time to start making purchases. I have a few questions I would love to run by you guys and then I plan to chronicle the build once I get started. 1. I am planning on a 4x4 cutting area and and I am modeling the setup after the OX. Im going to mount the laser tube on the gantry so the only distance that changes is from Mirror 2 and 3. PLan on using 2 Nema 23 motors for the y axis. Will the Belt and Pinion configuration hold up for this setup?\ 2. Im going to bite the bullet and go ahead and order the DSP unit from Light objects. Have not decided where I am going to purchase my stepper drivers but do you think 1 would be enough to run the dual Steppers for y axis or should I go ahead and purchase 3(2 for the y and 1 for belt and pinion on x) I am sure I am going to have a few more questions... But other than the Laser tube, the DSP unit and deciding on OpenBuilds for my Gantry table.. Nothing else is set in stone. Thanks in Advance, Jeremy
I am not an expert on Laser just getting into it but with my cnc I wish everytime I had gone dual motor on y axis. How much did the 40t tube cost?
Less than 2oo... Nathan is good people at QUBD.... they recently had to change their name.....New site is http://quintessentialuniversalbuildingdevice.com/ They have quite a few industrial size lasers... I actually helped build 2 of them. But mainly they are 3d printer manufacturer. Im going to have Nathan cut some Melamine MDF for some of my panels.
@JobEwanKenobi sounds like an excellent project and the OX belt and pinion system will work well, I look forward to following your build. Tweakie.
OK Laser Gurus.... All the money is in... Time to start buying... Number 1.... Mark... I lost your number... I would love to pick your brain on Linear Rails... I sent you a google hangout... or I can call you... I am ready to spend money. Number 2... going with the DSP board from Lightobjects(Since I can figure out how to purchase one from ThunderLaser) But Good Lord... their power supplies are expensive.... I know I need a PWM capable power supply.. But not many supplies list that as a feature... am I just missing it and is the ones on the Lightobjects site the only ones capable? I know the PWM is especially important when etching/engraving using raster mode... Surely I can find one less than 200 bucks.... Third... Stepper drivers... Tech from Lightobjects states as long as the stepper driver is capable of pushing enough power... any stepper drivers are compatible with the DSP board... Question... Can I use 1 stepper driver for 2 stepper motors on Y axis? or should I get one for each? That would have me buying 3 stepper drivers... Nathan also talked me out of Pinion system in place of belt drive... I think I am going with Belt drive with a gear reduction...I took some pictures of the Laser I helped with when I worked there today... I basically want to build one Half the size(roughly)... here are some pics I took today.
@JobEwanKenobi If you are planning on using micro-stepping then for reliable operation you need a separate driver for each motor. Tweakie.
Thanks tweakie... Can you answer the power supply question? Dsp board supposedly needs pwm but I can't reliably find out which units are truly capable.
@JobEwanKenobi Basically the DSP controller (and steppers) can be operated from a standard (12~36Volt) switched mode PSU which is cheaply available. The CO2 laser tube, on the other hand, needs a special PSU (typically 16,000Volts at up to 20mA for a 40Watt tube) the output current of which is set and varied during use, by the DSP controller using PWM. I use two separate PSU’s (one for the controller and one for the tube) but many commercial machines use just one (special) PSU for both functions and they are not cheap to buy – thus the dilemma. Not sure if this answers your question ? Tweakie.
Kinda Sorta... I already am purchasing a 24 volt power supply to power the steppers/Stepper drivers/DSP unit....The DSP unit says it needs a PWM compatible Power supply.... Lightobjects says very plainly on their product details that their power supplies are PWM compatible... but they are over 200 bucks.... I am finding Laser power supplies elsewhere... for 120-180....And all they state is PWM is controlled by TTL.... I am afraid to purchase one from them and then be stuck with one that will not work.... Maybe I am just not getting it...This one for instance looks promising... and I even sent a message to the ebay seller... but his response was not what I need to make me confident. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=161277840712 Sorry to ask the question again...but the above power supply provides the same power significantly cheaper..... Thanks again for your help in advance. Jeremy
I can't vouch for any particular high voltage laser tube PSU but all that I have come across incorporate an internal, simple, A to D converter so they will either accept a 0 to 5 volt analogue signal or a TTL level PWM signal (on the same pins). The one you have linked to does just this so it would seem to be ideal for your requirements. Tweakie.
Lightobject order placed. It is amazing how hard it was to spend the money once I had it in my account. Items Purchased: LSR-4XDSPV2012 AWC608 Commercial DSP CO2 Laser Engraving/ Cutter Controller 1$420.00 LSR-JN60W-3VPWM 20W 40W 60W PWM CO2 Laser Power Supply 1$215.00 LSR-HD2520LR Pro laser head mount for 25mm mirror & 20mm focus lens. LR Type 1$69.00 LSR-MIR25MGL 25mm Gold Plated Reflection Mirror 3$45.00 LSR-LEN20ZN5I Improved 20mm ZnSe Focus lens (F50.8mm) 1$39.00 LSR-MIR22MSH Heavy duty 25mm reflection mirror mount for Co2 laser machine 2$39.00 LSR-HVCBL High Voltage HV Cable for CO2 Laser Power Supply 8$6.80 LSR-WTUBE6X9 6X9 Silicon Flex Tube High voltage Protection Jacket 10$4.50 LSR-WTUBE8X12 8X12 Silicon Flex Tube for CO2 Water Cooling 15$11.25 40 watt CO2 Tube, Stepper motors, All wiring and Sheath, Belts/Pulleys and 24v power supply will be purchased from Nathan at QUBD. Still have to buy Stepper motor drivers, Eye protection, air compressor, water cooling and My open rail order from Mark. I shopped around on my power supply and mirrors/lenses/mounts and came to the realization that I would pay only 20 bucks less ordering it from china with shipping than I would buying it from California from Lightobjects.... and a longer wait. plus only 30 bucks for UPS shipping to my front door.
Looks like you are well committed to the project now. I hope all goes well and I look forward to seeing some pictures of the build in progress. Tweakie.
Thanks Tweakie... I will be sure to take lots of photos... This build is going to be an open gantry build... A lot like the OX... I have noticed... there is a definite shortage of similar machines out there in the DIY and lower cost range.... Hopefully it will be well worth it.
Ok... I have received everything BUT my openbuilds order... Several messages back and forth from Mark... 9 days after order... Order Date: 1st May 2014 This order is marked as Awaiting Fulfillment Have to say.... Not very impressed thus far. I know they are in the middle a move... But I do not even have a phone number where I can speak to a live person to get some sort of idea when my order will even come close to being shipped. Not the support I was expecting from when I was a Phlatforum member... Any suggestions? This entire week has been a waste waiting on something. Jeremy
Parts ready to start.... In the mean time... I assembled the laser for the local maker space and cut a few ingress logos to break it in.
Youal, might be interested in looking at my plasma cutting table, may give you some ideas. Could be adapted to laser cutting. You can view photos here: http://app.hydrofuel.ca/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=94
