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Yet Another DIY Diode Laser Engraver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step 6: Result: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
Author:john1a
I study Computer Science and generally tinker with stuff. Be it software or hardware. I have my software periods and my hardware periods.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
Image Notes
1. glue gun FTW
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
Image Notes
1. now this is professional!
Image Notes
1. DMM, DMM
show me some miliAmpere...
Image Notes
1. Sample project of LinuxCNC
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
Image Notes
1. What?
Image Notes
1. no, I love you more
2. I love you honey
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
Image Notes
1. quak quak...
Image Notes
1. quak quak.
I am about to get lasered
2. note this!
Step 6: Result:
So that is it. I added a fan because wood and plastic that burn this way smell like old pee. It is also toxic so I need to make a ventilation system (the boring part). I
replaced rack and pinion with (el cheapo spindle screw)-lead screw in the X axis to make the gantry stop dancing can-can when working for me...
In the pictures it is the built. In the video you can see it working on a random line test. They are quite bad quality because I have to use my phone. And phones are
invented for calling and (later) texting people! Not for selfies.
In the second picture you can see the lead screw coupler (yes those costed some money too), and in the third one it is a close one to the gantry where the laser is waiting
for its transistor to fill it with electrical current so it can burn some wood and make my home smell like an indian toilet...
Thanks for reading my first Instructable. I hope you enjoyed it!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
Image Notes
1. iron to make the gantry heavier
2. DIY test load used for current measurement for the laser diode.
3. DIY test load used for current measurement for the laser diode.
4. DIY test load used for current measurement for the laser diode.
5. screwdriver.
Come on man, this is basic. Why are you pointing at it?
6. rack
7. gear and crappy motor
8. "Jack I 'm flying" stunt to test the precision
Image Notes
1. Da Laser!
2. Da lube. Always use lube people!
Image Notes
1. This man saves the day
2. I dont know why this is here
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
Image Notes
1. eye
2. another eye
3. ear
4. ear
5. nose
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Comments
45 comments Add Comment
whamodyne says:
john1a says:
Sure! It is about 125mA. I have run one at 180mA, but it died (LEDed is the laser enthusiast word) after 2 days.
All sellers have a "<200mA" or "<250mA" warning but the real datasheet (embedded here for you) has a different opinion about the subject: 130mA MAX
current at Continuous Wave (that's what CW stands for). You can also PWM the diode with higher current. If you don't know what this is you probably
don't need it. I always use CW though.
Be careful with the amperage and measure it using a "Laser diode Test Load circuit". Just google it if you don't know about it. It is an "under dollar"
circuit to test the exact amperage of your supply at any possible voltage you will need using a Digital Multi-Meter.
Also use a Constant CURRENT (not voltage, because laser diode resistance isn't fixed - goes down with high temperature and ups current) supply. The
lm317 IC does the trick for me (see schematic).
I have also uploaded my (variable current - you may want a different diode sometime) driver circuit with the on/off switch that goes straight to the
parallel port (I use a TIP121 NPN transistor instead with a 1k? resistor at gate).
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
john1a says:
I also supply the LM317 circuit with 12V. But 9V is equally good.
halamka says:
halamka says:
samern says:
samern says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
nmylonas says:
Thanx a lot. I'll look into it. Thank you for the response.
Nate_Bro says:
This is great!
I want to invest in a good CNC PCB mill, large CNC Router/Mill, and a 3D printer. but the problem is to build those items I need parts. I have almost all the parts
you listed in this build waiting for me at home. I can build a cheap CNC mill (maybe 3D printer) using these parts, and build some crude parts so I can make
some decent equipment. I can imagine this thing would be a bit slow, but its better then what I have now. and I could even print my own PCB for the electronics.
Even if I can get 0.06" tolerance on this version I could build something better then using a jig saw!
I must have missed something, how are we hooking up the motors to the computer?
SolidRaven says:
john1a says:
SolidRaven says:
john1a says:
It isn't slow. Not one bit. It can run with 30mm/sec. That's pretty fast...
You can design a CNC with changing gantry. This way you can build a PCB Mill and 3D printer while only creating 2 gantries and 1 CNC table...
The bigger builds need some Aluminium (and up) frame and *of course* greater motors(I believe 3 Amp motors will do the trick for 1m X 1m build).
I used the LPT port to connect the motors. The sparkfun easydrivers need step/dir signals that LinuxCNC provides automatically in the Parallel Port,
given you have configured (via some nice GUI that lets you test everything) which pin goes to which signal.
thelordofthebits77 says:
good job
Nice one. I hadn't heard of LinuxCNC but I'll be taking a look at it - thanks.
Granzeier says:
Very nice - and well presented (although not too sure about the cat - then again, I am not a "cat person") ;-)
Thank you for this - I think that it is time for me to make one of these laser engraver/cutters.
john1a says:
Happy to hear that! Don't forget to return with an "I made it" answer and pictures...
Also check again the Step 2 as I have added a way to reduce the cost by about 15 (link to another of my Instructables)
The cat, as you know, is an internet joke, but this particular one helped me with the motor adjusting. If the motor was moving really slow *that I couldn't
realize) the cat would just stare at it so I knew that the step signal was slow. If it wasn't moving at all the cat wan;t interested... He is an engineer too!
padbravo says:
I wonder... why the cats are an internet joke?
I am a "cat person", but, did not know about that a cat was some sort of joke..
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
Battlespeed says:
rafununu says:
john1a says:
henrikas says:
john1a says:
Generally you can find racks buy writing "rack and pinion CNC" in ebay search textbox...
There you will find pricey stuff. They should work but they are expensive for a <100euros project... It is better to stick with lead screws (threaded rods) as
they are easier to find and cheaper too...
Also search for 3D printer parts. There is an open "Reprap" project (read about reprap and bootstrapping, it is really great discovery) that uses 3D
printers to print 3D printer parts. As all those motion mechanisms are needed to 3D printers too, you will be able to find many things this way (they are
almost cheap too): motors, lead screws, axis rods, timing belts...
schmitta says:
wisconsinjimmy says:
Just Cool, but I cannot find where to get the rack and pinion how bout a heads up as to where to find or buy.
Jim
mist42nz says:
Where do you get rack and pinion ? It's not something that my local plumbing shop stocks :)
john1a says:
baecker03 says:
john1a says:
Richi30s0 says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
john1a says:
realjohnnybravo says:
I really liked to read your instruct able. it is very interesting and partially funny.
I also bought some of those steppers looking for an solution to get the right laser, but in our country You can only deal with 5mW. Your solutions sounds very
good and I'm looking forward to see some examples.
john1a says:
john1a says:
corponramp says:
john1a says:
nmylonas says:
john1a says:
inedesca says:
Have you thought of using frtiction rather tan racks and pinions?
I ask because I made a gas cutter this way and is very precise. I do not know if the same can apply in this case.
john1a says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/
john1a says:
billgeo says:
?????!!! ???? ???? ??????? ???? ???, ?????? ??? ????? ??????????!
??? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ?? ??????????????? ???? ? ????? ?? ??????!
???????, ?????!
-- Great project man! Very nice job, especialy for a first try!
-- And I agree with you, CNC machines where and are the future of manufacturing.
krummrey says:
The chinese are probably wondering how they can beat your price. ;
I wonder how it actually engraves. Can you post a few results?
http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-DIY-Diode-Laser-Engraver/