Lekker - Thanks Peter. This is really just for the corner pieces into 2020 - sometimes 10mm is too long and hits the inside of the channel

 

Yeah from building 3D printers the bottoming out is SOOOO tiring lol. Ok I'll order 200 8mm. Inhave a pile of 10mm already like around 100.
BUT you are right. I have anything from 2mm to 6mm socket head in a multitude of lengths. ALWAYS comes in handy. Oh and brass inserts hahaha and 4mm and 5mm tnuts or hammer nuts.

 

Ooooooo RIVNUTS!!! I may need some of those

 

Would it be rigid enough if I make the working area around 130 x 100cm? Is it worth having the laser on the left side? Sticking out as its going to be 80W. This way I could make it much longer. But then again, it would stick out in front.

 

Question about the z axis. I'm looking to create a laser cutter and I like this design the most from what I've seen, and it works with most of the parts I already have on hand, but I'm wondering if the lack of a Z axis will become frustrating down the road? How long is the typical focal distance for a co2 laser? Can I use paper thin material up to something that's a couple inches thick without having to adjust the Z height for focus?

 

When you say laser heads have adjustable focus built in, do you mean that's something you'd set manually at the beginning of each job based on the material, or can focus height somehow be changed mid job using gcode commands for cutting thicker materials in multiple passes?

I definitely wouldn't want to add a Z axis to the laser head, that sounds like a recipe for problems. Any ideas for how to incorporate a z bed into this specific design? I'd prefer to use Vslot rather than linear rails or rods just for the sake of using off the shelf openbuilds parts I already have in my garage.

 

Good Evening To All,
I read your post, and found intresting , and i want to know what if I want to install 130Watt tube, like it will longer somehow, electronics will be of higher power to be installed, will it be worth.