Trestle Design & Construction on the V&T

[Cliff_Jennings]

Thanks Dan…

I reverted to units i understand…

[Korm (Korm Kormsen)]

@Cliff_Jennings

PS: I’m sure Korm’s jig, and those made by Sean, and others, are just as effective.

to be honest, i can’t agree with the fineprint.

[rmccown-admin (Bob McCown (Admin))]

@Cliff_Jennings

I had a long thread on that Bill,

Found them!

Laser cutter questions

I’m interested in getting a laser cutter, and am looking at the Chinese units on Ebay / Amazon. My thanks to Dave Bodnar for his great seminar at ECLSTS last year, and article about it on trainelectronics.com. I need to be able to cut up to 22-24" long parts, so the 500x700mm units are attractive (see below). I’m not going to be able to get an Epilog or Full Spectrum, because I need to stay near $2k. I’ve heard bad things about the units, such as the laser tube going not lasting at all, the so…

and

Laser Cutter Install Log

The laser came in today, and here she be. [image] And so starts a long term project to… Uncrate the critter and somehow horse it down into the spot I have picked out in the basement Make ventilation system that is effective and quiet Modify it for things like an ammeter, water temp probe, chiller, better vent fan, etc. Start learning how to use it This won’t be a front-burner thing for me, due to work and other issues at present. But I wanted to start sort of log on the process, hoping some…

[Cliff_Jennings]

@rmccown-admin

Found them!

That’s great Bob, thanks!!

[Rooster]

@Cliff_Jennings

I had a long thread on that Bill

You don’t do long threads so I don’t believe that for a minute!

[Hines (Bill)]

Cliff,

Having read the thread your easy installation of the exhaust fume extractor, how long did it take to get up to speed on getting something you were satisfied with? In other words what is the learning curve like?

Also, can one do partial and full thickness cuts with the laser in one go? For example can one etch out a window and window sill at the same time.

[Cliff_Jennings]

@Hines

Having read the thread your easy installation of the exhaust fume extractor, how long did it take to get up to speed on getting something you were satisfied with? In other words what is the learning curve like?

Hi Bill,

The learning and planning took a bit, but the curve part is pretty flat and straight: you need a route for a 6" flex tube to get from the laser to a blower which is outdoors.

My challenge was getting that route through the basement wall, and I chose to do it through the window glazing. But, depending on where you’d put the lazer and blower, it’ll be different.

@Hines

Also, can one do partial and full thickness cuts with the laser in one go?

Yes and no. You can set the speed and power for the pattern, run it, and run it again. I’d do this for, say, 3/8 acrylic, with the 60 watt lazer. Thicker than that, the focal length of the laser beam comes in to play, and you really need the more powerful beam (80-100 watt).

@Hines

For example can one etch out a window and window sill at the same time.

Not quite sure what you mean… You can etch a material, using a lower power setting, and cut it, using a higher power setting. These are determined by colors of the linework fed to the laser software. For example, green can be set to a cutting power, and slow cutting speed; red can be low power, fast speed. All are processed in the same run.

You can chose which operation (that is, color, being interpreted as speed and power level) happens in order. For me, sometimes using plywood that is warped, I always run engraving before cutting. Because the cutting will often result in certain pieces, once freed, plopping down to the bed, while the bowed sheet remains proud of the bed. TMI?

The laser software also has the ability to engrave images. I’ve not done this, but you basically give it an image file. It interprets the B/W version of that into laser power levels, and engraves the image thereby.