Difference between revisions of "Laser Cutter"

Revision as of 03:19, 10 September 2011

We are going to be getting a laser cutter!

Tetsu worked hard and started a Kickstarter project to get us a laser cutter for about $2000. We successfully pimped it out enough to get people to generously donate to our cause, and now we have one!

Our Model

• Full Spectrum Engineering 40W Co2 Laser Cutter
  • 13" x 13" cutting table
  • 40w Co2 Laser
  • Water cooled
  • Safety Interlocks
  • 2.75" vertical stroke
  • Air assist
  • Cutting software (printer driver, uses vector software like CorelDraw/Illustrator/Inkscape)
  • Mach3 Control

Modification Suggestions

Our FullSpectrum 40W is far from perfect. Add your suggested improvements to the laser cutter on this list.

• Mount the parallel port driver board further back within the case
• Mount the Mach3 card inside the case, make cover for it to screw in the outside (with the laser cutter!?)
• Strain relief and longer USB cable (Chris has a 10 or 15 ft he will donate. Ferrite beads and gold plated.)
• Air pump (Mack getting this for us so ghetto-rig ShopVac can go away)
• Digital readout for power knob (Looking into digital potentiometer with readout!)
• Lid-switch should trip the system-wide cutoff, not just a computer control cutoff
• IR-sensitive webcam in the box
• Beam-split red laser upgrade to point where the laser will point (Chris will work on this as well as a laser to show where the corner of the piece will start.)
• More stable/level platform
• Locate more metal honeycomb without frame
• Millimeter (digital?) measurement tool on the side of the platform to automatically measure height of platform
• Laser-cut (58mm?) focus measurement stick
• Back-lit switches for the "Laser Power", "Laser Test", "Air Power", and "Light", so we know when it's actually on
• Shiny aircraft switches (Safety to keep from bumping), with led notifiers above
• Water pump flow sensor and light, integrate with Laser On switch to prevent operation if a problem is present.
• Knight rider LED chaser for when laser is active and lasing and dangerous
• Better interior lighting (possibly fluorescent bars and/or LEDs) to better light the work surface
• Possibly redo entire control panel with digital readouts and better (read: safer) switches.

Uses

• Custom shelving
• Acrylic chairs!
• Benches
• Random professional looking constructions
• Wearable computing rig parts
• eyeglass frames
• laptop docks
• engraving ensignia onto phones and laptops
• super-custom made computer cases
• display cases
• any other random design pieces

Handy Links

• FamiLAB Laser Manual PDF - [1]
• NoiseBridge Laser Info (Same FSE laser) - [2]
• NYC Resistor Laser Power Info (Different laser) - [3]