About This Project:
This is my first time building anything like this laser cutter. It took me weeks and multiple revisions of the CAD, software and hardware to get the build to the place where i feel like it works the way that I can make use of it.
The complexity of this project will take multiple weeks to completely build and fine tune. It does also cost a fair bit of money to put together and get working, and do not think that this is a good replacement for a high powered commercial system that is being sold. That being said, it is an exciting and rewarding project to say that you can put something together yourself and use it for many projects to come.
NOTE: Yes it is made out of wood and its usually not a smart idea to make something that could light wood on fire out of wood, but I dont have the money to do it perfectly yet.
Below is how I went about undertaking such a project, the problems I had and how I was able to come out with a functional laser cutter.
This is my first time building anything like this laser cutter. It took me weeks and multiple revisions of the CAD, software and hardware to get the build to the place where i feel like it works the way that I can make use of it.
The complexity of this project will take multiple weeks to completely build and fine tune. It does also cost a fair bit of money to put together and get working, and do not think that this is a good replacement for a high powered commercial system that is being sold. That being said, it is an exciting and rewarding project to say that you can put something together yourself and use it for many projects to come.
NOTE: Yes it is made out of wood and its usually not a smart idea to make something that could light wood on fire out of wood, but I dont have the money to do it perfectly yet.
Below is how I went about undertaking such a project, the problems I had and how I was able to come out with a functional laser cutter.
V1 Pictured Above
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V2 Pictured Above
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Both versions functioned well enough, but version 1 had a lot of slop in the top arm that caused binding if not set up completely straight. Version 1 also had no hood on it so it had to be run outside, so that smoke would not build up inside the house.
Parts List for the Laser Cutter is Listed Below:
Products you must own before taking on this project:
Products purchased at Home Depot:
Products ordered through Bangood.com pictured
Products you must own before taking on this project:
- 3d printer with 2 rolls of filament
- Drill with box of drill bits (preferably at least one 3mm bit)
- jigsaw to cut out parts
Products purchased at Home Depot:
- 1"X1"X10' Square tube (from Home Depot)
- 4 inch round exhaust tubing
- 10'X2"X2" wood beams
- 3/4" plywood (cut to 35'X 45' rectangle)
- 1/8" plywood sheet (4x8)
- 1" and 2" screws (with bit)
Products ordered through Bangood.com pictured
Products ordered on Amazon pictured