I'm working on a DIY laser engraver and making pretty good progress. I mostly know what I'm doing but need some guidance/help from the community.
Most of the projects I'm following are 3D printing a bunch of parts but I don't have access to one. I need to build the mount for the laser - I'm using 2 old DVDs for the X and Y axis so the laser will be stationary.
What I can't figure out is where to place the laser - and by extension, how/where to build the mount? So where should it be directly over? 0,0? How high off of the platform holding the material to be engraved?
I'm trying to piece everything together by hand so I can figure it out before I glue everything together.
I'm also having a difficult time with getting something to "draw" an image to engrave and then get that converted to G-Code to use UGS - which I can connect and run test patterns just fine.
That sounds like a great and complex project. In my area there are small business that do 3-D printing very reasonable. It is possible you have one in your area especially if you have manufacturing. Let us know how it goes and we are here for your questions.
Hi,
To create the gcode the easiest option is to use something like Inkscape to create an SVG file, this file can then be imported in to an online app and the gcode produced.
e.g. http://jscut.org/
whilst not as intuitive to use I really like: https://mkrabset.github.io/krabzcam/index.html
BTW - I believe the laser you are using is infra-red, please make sure you have appropriate safety goggles as you can not see the light but it can easily reflect from something and destroy your vision otherwise. Also make sure no one else is around (or pets) when using it.
@alanesq THANKS for the information about the safety glasses. I'll go look those up unless you have a good recommendation. I didn't think about that. Also, I did see some of the Inkscape and other G-Code options but I'm wanting this to be an on the spot type thing so wanted something I could drop images into or better yet create them on screen and then go directly to the CNC. I'll keep playing and looking.
I had assumed you had taken the laser out of a DVD writer or similar, the 250mw laser you have is I believe not infra red but still powerful enough to damage your eyes even from a reflection and requires respect when using it. I would personally consider anything over 5mw is getting in to the danger zone so whilst 250mw is nothing like the 10 or 20watt ones you can buy it is still easily powerful enough to do some serious and permanent damage to your eyes.
This video may be of interest: https://youtu.be/WQhi3bTNnF4?si=YbFx8N7sALuj5Z79&t=573
The safety glasses he recommends are many hundreds of pounds but really the only sensible way to go but I would at the very least get some from a reputable source with the safety certification markings on the lenses. (I am no expert though so don't take this as professional advice).
Laser safety is often not even mentioned even when buying a complete laser engraver/cutter and I suspect a lot of people don't realise how dangerous they are.
So when I used the Kaltek calculator for 650nm @ 0.25W (250mw), it comes up with an OD of 2.8 for an exposure duration of 10 seconds. I found a pair on Amazon, they are rated at OD 3+ in the 600-660nm range.
So I think I'm set there. I appreciate the link to the video as there was a lot of information there I didn't know. I wish some of these DIY projects would at least mention what's needed other than "wear your safety glasses". Thanks!
I'm still struggling with the positioning of the laser over the engraving surface. Should it be as close as possible? Is there a minimum/maximum distance typically they are placed at? I still need to design an mounting system as I don't have a way to design and 3D print something so maybe a wooden bracket of some kind.
Could anyone offer some advice on the placement/mounting of the laser above the dvd platform? How far away should it be? Is it best to make the center of the x/y axis the 0.0 point or leave it in the bottom left corner?
