Hey everyone! I'm looking at putting together a 'VERSION 2' laser cutter/engraver in the new year. If you're interested in a full step-by-step build guide, in-depth resources, and how to then generate an income using a laser (so that it pays for itself). STAY TUNED! Feel free to put any questions you'd like me to cover down below, so I can help everyone out as best I can!
Might also want to include things like materials able to be cut and times for say 100 mil cuts per material. People like to hear about all the possible materials this type of project will let them process. Also maybe provide Freedom Units of measurement to reach a wider audience if thats what you are aiming for. Also got yourself a sub loving your presentation style.
This tutorial/guide is an amazing resource for maker spaces, or anyone interested in DIY laser cutting! Thanks so much, really looking forward to V2 guide, which is sure to have significant revisions and refinements.
It is amazing how accessible technology has become. With internet sharing, ideas pass around the world in no time and spawn newer ideas and the cycle repeats. Humanity is make going to make tremendous progress in the years ahead.
My thoughts exactly! It's such a great opportunity for learning and sharing. I remember being limited to the 3 books per week I was allowed to borrow from the local library hahaha. We've come a long way in a very short time.
Wow master maker! That's quite the impressive project you've got there. I remember when I built my first laser cutter circa 2011. I had quite a different set up to you but by the looks of it yours does the job quite nicely. Mine was running a 1250 x 850 bed (honeycomb of course) and a 60W tube and oh boy that thing chewed through 9mm Acrylic like nobodies business. Great to see passionate young makers like yourself sharing your knowledge with the rest of us. Keep up the good work. All the best for you future projects. Cheers Bevan :-)
Thank you for your kind comment, you know I'm actually a huge fan - ever since your initial findings and subsequent dissertation of the theoretical application of the 'mega mondo' effect in the 10.6 μm wavelength. Your research forever changed my outlook on subvisble light. Such an honor.
Ah yes! I see you've done your research. very impressive... And yes my in depth studies on getting the perfect panel lines led me to the discovery of the MM effect. It truly is one of my proudest moments. So glad to hear that you enjoy my work. Keep on keeping on fellow maker! Regards Bevan
I can't stop watching your build videos all around nice job on the design , build and documentation not to mention the video and editing Excellent work Sir
I used PLA to print all the parts for my D-bot printer back in 2015 and they have worked flawlessly to date so don't be afraid of PLA unless you're planning on storing in a very hot place.
Extremely well done from start to finish. Pleasure to watch, and enjoyed your thinking & commentary. Good luck with your other projects, and yep, I'll be making a laser cutter one day, and your project is very informative. Cheers
Nice work! Love the larger footprint design. However, one thing worries me. Is that just clear acrylic? The view areas should be covered with a laser protection film.
Brilliant project. I have just finished building a 3D printer with the T slot aluminium. I used a metal bandsaw and then milled the ends for squareness. Takes a long time but i wanted accurate dimensions. Thank you for confirming that a wood mitre saw can cut it quicker with good dimensional tolerance, I have been wondering about trying it.
Thanks, and no problem. Awesome! I built my 3d printer with t-slot too, very useful stuff. I was hesitant about using a wood saw for aluminium at first as well, but by dialing it in with a few test cuts and going slow, it actually works really well.
I did a 'drunk-buy' of a 20w laser tube - I thought it would be cool to have one - and have been researching how to use it ever since. This vid helped greatly, cheers
*"i Hope that something was helpful for someone!!"* that is an understatement Brother. Knowledge and experience is to be shared ! nothing is a waste , i mean nothing there are literally 1000s of people who have made DIY laser cutters but each one is different and you sharing your experience means that i dont have to make the mistakes and i dont have to reinvent the square wheel , Thank you for sharing Plus Great narration and editing . I understand making videos of projects is hard and it takes 3 times as long for the project to complete thank you for sharing . i Hope you make more of such projects and post them online . Thank You Again
I have bought a lot of chinese machines and I wondered about building one from scratch. It took me a few months but I built a 100w with a 5x8 foot bed using hybrid nema 34 steppers and a 708C controller. I am looking at manufacturing them full time from my shop.
Well done! Thank you for uploading! I used a laser for a year nearly daily and rebuilded our lately.I switched from three to two mirrors by turning the laser tube 90 degrees and let it directly shoot I the second mirror. This was it needs a lot less recalibration.
Thanks! hm interesting I hadn't considered removing the 1st mirror, how does the tube fit in the enclosure - because wouldn't it need to be sticking out parallel to the end of the y axis?
Further Fabrication yes, correct. Don't know if it's working, but here is a link to a photo of the setup. drive.google.com/file/d/1_EqXSbv9Fm90gInfqRwfimIQC_ZlGP24/view?usp=drivesdk So you need a little bit more space but on the other hand calibration is much easier, took me maybe 3 minutes in total.
Wonderful video, I'm still on the fence about buying or building but your video certainly will make building a lot easier, can't wait to check out your other content!
Very helpful. I'm currently in design phase of a simple 10watt optical diode laser, but I want the option to upgrade easily later should I choose to go CO2 (and finances permitting) but right now I got about 250 bucks to blow so I am pricing everything out during design. Figuring out what I can make and what I shouldn't make vs. purchase. Also what I can print for now and maybe upgrade later. This will be a fun addition to my little print farm. Gah, I need a bigger shop. Appreciate the time you took to document the whole process.
Great project to share to mate. When you consider that the large format lasers cost $1000s and even just to have a big machine shipped to Perth is $1000, building one makes a lot of sense!
Yeah I think it sometimes takes it a while to figure out who to suggest it to. Had the same thing happen to my Ebike vid. Nothing and then all of a sudden, boom 200k
Awesome vid. Just finished my own build - I took a quite different route but had similar size constraints. Ended up with 495x720mm cut size using the same 40w tube with plans for a Reci w2 soon. Wish I’d timelapsed my build now!
Good idea, I've updated the description. Total cost was around US$2k, electronics are an AWC608 DSP controller (not sure if they're still being sold, as I bought it a few years back). At the moment it's only got a 40w tube loaded in it so it'll cut thin wood, plastics, foam and leather.
I work with industrial level co2 laser cutters and have always wanted to make my own but the ones we produce are far too expensive for the average Joe to get. Definitely will go with your route.
Physically, it's a big beast - about 1160*870*960, but the bed is 700x500. www.redsailcnc.com/X700.html Bought it a few years ago and found it very useful. I'm sure you can get the equivalent cheaper now, however.
I hadn't heard of refillable ones, that would sure be handy! Depending on the power of the tube it's normally a couple of hundred dollars (I have pretty hefty shipping to deal with as well though because of my location).
Awesome design Further! Im currently exploring 3D Printing and starting to do the same in the CNC Laser Cutter and i came across with your project. Thank you very much for the enlightenment and for sharing!
Thanks for putting the price in the description. I was thinking to my self this doesn't look like a cost-effective build, but $2000 USD very much is if you're trying to cut engrave anything larger then 12" but if not a $400 machine is going to be the way cheaper, plus I wonder if you can just use those components. I'd like to know how much the box alone cost.
Very interesting information at the proper time! I'm in the process of making my plans for a homemade laser cutter/engraver using a CO2 Laser. Thanks for sharing your information and knowledge and keep up the great work!
Fantastic work dude. You should be proud of yourself. I'd like to second some comments saying you should sell this in kit form. Put me on the list if you do! Great video
Really needing a laser cutter for my setup... After building my own corexy printer, this video is really making me think about doing a laser build for a large laser cutter... Ive been really struggling to source one at a reasonable price... I realise you ended up spending 2k, but I hope to try and reduce some of those costs... For starters by not building one quite as large as yours. A 4060 would be perfect for me tbh...
@@FurtherFabrication I really appreciate your cad file it opened in fusion 360 great. I'm going to be making a build video and talking about the build on a podcast I'm on(The makerz @ podnutz.com)
"How quickly they go together" Damn straight. I was helping my sister put together a milled Chinese 3D printer kit for my nephew and it took like 8 hours compared to the one I built a few years ago out of the railing in just over 2 hours.
Still expensive for most people. But nice project. How thick is the steel or titanium you can cut? I would like build it but I prefer to try with a CNC because it can make 3D pieces.
Hey thanks of the video iam thinking about building a similar laser. What is the precision, max. Speed and whats the maximum thickness of wood the laser can cut trough. A detailed data sheet would be great. Thanks in advance
great work .i'm going for a 3d printer using those aluminum gantries , basically the same thing only with more Z axe distance , but seems there is a lot of details need to be taken in consideration .
Thanks. yeah there are lots of little things you only really discover once you start building, you just have to have open to small changes and expect to get frustrated by things haha doing a 3d model first always helps as well
I would very much appreciate a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to building Version2. I have no problem building the mechanics, but I lack the knowledge in selecting the proper and reliable electronics/controller/power supply, and the firmware necessary to make the laser functional. Thank you.
Great work! Love the build. That is a decent size cut area you have. Is that a 40w laser? Was calibrating everything quite tricky being a home made laser?
Cheers man! Yip just a little 40w at this stage (though room to expand when that one dies). Yeah calibration is always trickier when starting from scratch - I've done it a few times on other laser systems, so luckily I knew what I was in for haha
Oh nice! CNC router next on the list then? Can I ask how long it took you to get everything set up and how much you spent on it? Where did you study industrial design? I studied at AUT
Yeah dude if I had the space I'd totally be building a CNC router haha! but I figured the laser gives more bang for the buck and doesn't ruin friendships with flatmates if you have it running all day! I spent about a week designing it, then another week or so putting it together. Ball park cost around 3 grand, it's a little tricky to say exactly because I used 3d printed parts and had other left over components (like the stepper motors) from other projects. Nice man, I studied down at VUW, not for any reason other than it was local...I often think about what doing ID at a different uni would have changed. I imagine AUT would've been pretty intense with larger class numbers and stuff?
True. I forgot about the intolerable noise of a CNC router haha. Oh thats pretty good for a laser that size. 3D printers come in real handy for these kind of projects. Any issues with it? I'm looking to get a laser cutter for myself but not sure whether or not to buy off the shelf or do it myself. You've kinda got me leaning towards the latter now haha. I have nothing to compare AUT to. Classes were about 25 people. Nothing huge. Had pretty good facilities and fell in love with the woodworking and digital fabrication workshops.
Oh yeah that sounds pretty similar to VUW then haha I had the same experience as soon as they let me into the workshops! If you're thinking about getting a laser I'd say going down the DIY route will save in the monetary cost but will obviously cost more in terms of time. It also depends on mindset and expectation. DIY was ok for me as I enjoyed the challenge and learning of the build, but as you can imagine for some folks that just want a working laser show up at their door, DIY is going the wrong way. If you haven't already, I think a really good way of getting the majority of the skills needed, (and finding out if you have the patience) without spending thousands of dollars, would be to build a 3d printer from an opensource design first.
I run a quite large laser myself. The video didn't show any type of exhaust system for fumes and smoke. It's quite important to have one for a number of reasons. Obviously for health reasons, and when the smoke from cutting/engraving goes into the laser beam path, it greatly decreases the power of the beam causing inconsistencies in the cut or engraving . Over all though, really nice looking build though!
Great video even though I'm a bit late to the party, this was WOW amazing, someone else commented about how technology is becoming so advanced and available to just about anyone, I;ve said for a long tim, the internet is our collective consciousness on training wheels, just imagine the speed of learning if or when telepathy becomes the norm... not sure, but I think this is where humanity is headed over time, but its a process. IDK just thinking out loud anyway, Thanks for sharing this amazing laser project, truly inspiring.
Hi there ! Incredible work. Can you tell me if it’s possible to use a metal and ceramic laser tube instead of this classic glass laser tube ?? How to control a metal laser tube ?
greate work , I got a question, why you use the vslot aluminium with those tire for the x axis in model 400 but you change that to square sliding one in the model 1200 ? is that make the x-asis more stable?
Very impressive. What training / background do you need to be able to follow your $5 plan? And could it take more than a month for an inexperienced person to achieve this?
Great video, thank you. I just wanted to ask what you considered with the laser power supply and tube. I guess everything else is just personal preference but i have no clue which would be a good make to use. Would Cloudray products be OK in your opinion. Best John C
What did you use for the bed? I am just starting to set myself up with a cutter/engraver and was looking at options , not wanting to buy and or build something my laser just cuts through as part of the cutting process.
how strong would a laser have to be to cut cardboard? I can get cheap lasers with 1.6W, 3W, 3.5W, 5W or 15W. Am on a super tight budget and only need it for cutting cardboard, any idea?
Great work! you have probably answered this a hundred times, what was the overall cost compared to buying a 100W laser from ebay at around $4000AUD, just curious as I would love to build my own.
Hey everyone! I'm looking at putting together a 'VERSION 2' laser cutter/engraver in the new year.
If you're interested in a full step-by-step build guide,
in-depth resources, and how to then generate an income using a laser (so that it pays for itself). STAY TUNED!
Feel free to put any questions you'd like me to cover down below, so I can help everyone out as best I can!
Awesome!!! Can't wait!
Might also want to include things like materials able to be cut and times for say 100 mil cuts per material. People like to hear about all the possible materials this type of project will let them process. Also maybe provide Freedom Units of measurement to reach a wider audience if thats what you are aiming for. Also got yourself a sub loving your presentation style.
This tutorial/guide is an amazing resource for maker spaces, or anyone interested in DIY laser cutting! Thanks so much, really looking forward to V2 guide, which is sure to have significant revisions and refinements.
DEFINITELY staying tuned! Would like to see a list of all the parts needed, to include the .stl files for the 3d printed parts.
Do it man ,do it !!
It is amazing how accessible technology has become. With internet sharing, ideas pass around the world in no time and spawn newer ideas and the cycle repeats. Humanity is make going to make tremendous progress in the years ahead.
My thoughts exactly! It's such a great opportunity for learning and sharing. I remember being limited to the 3 books per week I was allowed to borrow from the local library hahaha. We've come a long way in a very short time.
@@FurtherFabrication The positive side of the 'net. The one that lives up to the information super-highway that the past generation dreamed of!
@Don Mega The technology level does not matter, it's what people decide to do with it that matters.
Until someone wanna wage war - then we make great strides to kill each other with more and more advanced technology.
Not in my country. Retarded 3rd world.
Wow master maker! That's quite the impressive project you've got there. I remember when I built my first laser cutter circa 2011. I had quite a different set up to you but by the looks of it yours does the job quite nicely. Mine was running a 1250 x 850 bed (honeycomb of course) and a 60W tube and oh boy that thing chewed through 9mm Acrylic like nobodies business. Great to see passionate young makers like yourself sharing your knowledge with the rest of us. Keep up the good work. All the best for you future projects.
Cheers Bevan :-)
Thank you for your kind comment, you know I'm actually a huge fan - ever since your initial findings and subsequent dissertation of the theoretical application of the 'mega mondo' effect in the 10.6 μm wavelength. Your research forever changed my outlook on subvisble light. Such an honor.
Ah yes! I see you've done your research. very impressive... And yes my in depth studies on getting the perfect panel lines led me to the discovery of the MM effect. It truly is one of my proudest moments. So glad to hear that you enjoy my work. Keep on keeping on fellow maker!
Regards Bevan
I can't stop watching your build videos all around nice job on the design , build and documentation not to mention the video and editing
Excellent work Sir
I used PLA to print all the parts for my D-bot printer back in 2015 and they have worked flawlessly to date so don't be afraid of PLA unless you're planning on storing in a very hot place.
Extremely well done from start to finish. Pleasure to watch, and enjoyed your thinking & commentary. Good luck with your other projects, and yep, I'll be making a laser cutter one day, and your project is very informative. Cheers
Some people are good at talking, some are good at doing. This lad does both.
Nice work! Love the larger footprint design. However, one thing worries me. Is that just clear acrylic? The view areas should be covered with a laser protection film.
Just a thought You could do well by selling this machine in the kit form !
Brilliant project. I have just finished building a 3D printer with the T slot aluminium. I used a metal bandsaw and then milled the ends for squareness. Takes a long time but i wanted accurate dimensions.
Thank you for confirming that a wood mitre saw can cut it quicker with good dimensional tolerance, I have been wondering about trying it.
Thanks, and no problem. Awesome! I built my 3d printer with t-slot too, very useful stuff. I was hesitant about using a wood saw for aluminium at first as well, but by dialing it in with a few test cuts and going slow, it actually works really well.
amazon sells a 10 inch aluminum cutting miter blade for 20 bucks
I did a 'drunk-buy' of a 20w laser tube - I thought it would be cool to have one - and have been researching how to use it ever since. This vid helped greatly, cheers
*"i Hope that something was helpful for someone!!"* that is an understatement Brother.
Knowledge and experience is to be shared ! nothing is a waste , i mean nothing there are literally 1000s of people who have made DIY laser cutters but each one is different and you sharing your experience means that i dont have to make the mistakes and i dont have to reinvent the square wheel , Thank you for sharing
Plus Great narration and editing . I understand making videos of projects is hard and it takes 3 times as long for the project to complete thank you for sharing . i Hope you make more of such projects and post them online . Thank You Again
It's awesome what people can build at home if they have the knowledge and skills.
I have bought a lot of chinese machines and I wondered about building one from scratch. It took me a few months but I built a 100w with a 5x8 foot bed using hybrid nema 34 steppers and a 708C controller. I am looking at manufacturing them full time from my shop.
Well done! Thank you for uploading! I used a laser for a year nearly daily and rebuilded our lately.I switched from three to two mirrors by turning the laser tube 90 degrees and let it directly shoot I the second mirror. This was it needs a lot less recalibration.
Thanks! hm interesting I hadn't considered removing the 1st mirror, how does the tube fit in the enclosure - because wouldn't it need to be sticking out parallel to the end of the y axis?
Further Fabrication yes, correct. Don't know if it's working, but here is a link to a photo of the setup.
drive.google.com/file/d/1_EqXSbv9Fm90gInfqRwfimIQC_ZlGP24/view?usp=drivesdk
So you need a little bit more space but on the other hand calibration is much easier, took me maybe 3 minutes in total.
Nice one, thanks for showing the photo! it's very cool to see a different method being used
sounds really big....even for a 700mm k40 laser
Very well thought out project, I wish the designers of some of the stuff I have to work on and repair put as much thought into their work as you did.
Wonderful video, I'm still on the fence about buying or building but your video certainly will make building a lot easier, can't wait to check out your other content!
Very helpful. I'm currently in design phase of a simple 10watt optical diode laser, but I want the option to upgrade easily later should I choose to go CO2 (and finances permitting) but right now I got about 250 bucks to blow so I am pricing everything out during design. Figuring out what I can make and what I shouldn't make vs. purchase. Also what I can print for now and maybe upgrade later. This will be a fun addition to my little print farm. Gah, I need a bigger shop. Appreciate the time you took to document the whole process.
Great project to share to mate. When you consider that the large format lasers cost $1000s and even just to have a big machine shipped to Perth is $1000, building one makes a lot of sense!
Good call on the outer case, that makes a lot of sense. Cheers.
Awesome to see this vid finally getting the views it deserves bro! I’m calling 1mil!
Thanks homie! yeah it was super random, youtube just starting recommending it or something
Yeah I think it sometimes takes it a while to figure out who to suggest it to. Had the same thing happen to my Ebike vid. Nothing and then all of a sudden, boom 200k
Awesome vid. Just finished my own build - I took a quite different route but had similar size constraints. Ended up with 495x720mm cut size using the same 40w tube with plans for a Reci w2 soon. Wish I’d timelapsed my build now!
How much did it end up costing you?
That's insane dude, your project is awesome
Outstanding machine, you certainly earned my sub. Great job man, really dope to see people innovating like this. Inspiring!
That was really nice. I agree that it is nicer to roll your own rather than buy.
Wow just wow, this is the kind of stuff i love want a laser cutter? Just build it yourself. I wish it was as easy as that hahaha I compliment you sir
What did this all cost you? and mabey link us to the electronics used?
What can you cut with it?
Good idea, I've updated the description. Total cost was around US$2k, electronics are an AWC608 DSP controller (not sure if they're still being sold, as I bought it a few years back). At the moment it's only got a 40w tube loaded in it so it'll cut thin wood, plastics, foam and leather.
I work with industrial level co2 laser cutters and have always wanted to make my own but the ones we produce are far too expensive for the average Joe to get. Definitely will go with your route.
Great build. We've got an 80W laser (700x500 bed) and it tends to be the 'goto' machine when I want something in a hurry.
Thanks, yeah it seems to be a good comfortable size for most things.
wondering how big is your 80w laser....designing and taking into acct possible upgrades. 1200mm+??
Physically, it's a big beast - about 1160*870*960, but the bed is 700x500. www.redsailcnc.com/X700.html Bought it a few years ago and found it very useful. I'm sure you can get the equivalent cheaper now, however.
TH-cam just suggested this video! Great to see another Wellington NZ Maker!
I wish the tubes didn't wear out after a couple years...it's the only thing stopping me from making one. So tempting. Nice job!
Thanks. Yeah it's totally a pain, I just had to replace mine after 18 months. You just have to factor it in as a consumable
How much was the replacement?
I heard you can take the old one to a neon sign shop to have them refilled. I don't know how much that would cost.
I hadn't heard of refillable ones, that would sure be handy! Depending on the power of the tube it's normally a couple of hundred dollars (I have pretty hefty shipping to deal with as well though because of my location).
That is frigging gorgeous!
Fantastic videos, congratulations on a job well done. May I ask what the total cost of making individual laser models for cutting is?
Awesome design Further! Im currently exploring 3D Printing and starting to do the same in the CNC Laser Cutter and i came across with your project. Thank you very much for the enlightenment and for sharing!
Mmmm a fellow Kiwi...... I like the use of the clothes peg Spring at the end......Cheers Brett
Wow! You've got some great skills!!! Amazing!
This video just earned you a new subscriber 😁 I'm a cnc and laser machinist and always wanted to build one.thanks
Thanks for putting the price in the description. I was thinking to my self this doesn't look like a cost-effective build, but $2000 USD very much is if you're trying to cut engrave anything larger then 12" but if not a $400 machine is going to be the way cheaper, plus I wonder if you can just use those components. I'd like to know how much the box alone cost.
One of the best DIY project i seen!
Very interesting and smart result, well done.....and you obviously have a new sub!
why did you make the y gantry go the long way across? wouldn't it be cheaper, lighter, and stiffer to go the short way across?
Check out my latest build - that's exactly what I did
Beautiful work!!! Looks really professional!
Very interesting information at the proper time! I'm in the process of making my plans for a homemade laser cutter/engraver using a CO2 Laser. Thanks for sharing your information and knowledge and keep up the great work!
May the God bless you for your stupendous work and this award-winning video !
Fantastic work dude. You should be proud of yourself. I'd like to second some comments saying you should sell this in kit form. Put me on the list if you do! Great video
You got skills!! Great Work!
Great video!
Looking forward to V2!
Really needing a laser cutter for my setup... After building my own corexy printer, this video is really making me think about doing a laser build for a large laser cutter... Ive been really struggling to source one at a reasonable price... I realise you ended up spending 2k, but I hope to try and reduce some of those costs... For starters by not building one quite as large as yours. A 4060 would be perfect for me tbh...
Grade: A++ Excellent work young man... God Bless ya my friend...
Amazing! Great work!
cheers mate!
With talent like that, I'm sure this channel will succeed.
Thanks dude
great build! I have a k40 that I'm going to upgrade. I think this is going to be its new look.
Thanks man!
Awesome! good luck with the upgrade!
@@FurtherFabrication I really appreciate your cad file it opened in fusion 360 great. I'm going to be making a build video and talking about the build on a podcast I'm on(The makerz @ podnutz.com)
no problem dude - i'll check it out
"How quickly they go together"
Damn straight.
I was helping my sister put together a milled Chinese 3D printer kit for my nephew and it took like 8 hours compared to the one I built a few years ago out of the railing in just over 2 hours.
Awesome man. Reminds me of my first printer build. Subscribed! Awesome video.
Still expensive for most people. But nice project.
How thick is the steel or titanium you can cut?
I would like build it but I prefer to try with a CNC because it can make 3D pieces.
Hey thanks of the video iam thinking about building a similar laser. What is the precision, max. Speed and whats the maximum thickness of wood the laser can cut trough. A detailed data sheet would be great. Thanks in advance
great work .i'm going for a 3d printer using those aluminum gantries , basically the same thing only with more Z axe distance , but seems there is a lot of details need to be taken in consideration .
Thanks. yeah there are lots of little things you only really discover once you start building, you just have to have open to small changes and expect to get frustrated by things haha doing a 3d model first always helps as well
I would very much appreciate a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to building Version2. I have no problem building the mechanics, but I lack the knowledge in selecting the proper and reliable electronics/controller/power supply, and the firmware necessary to make the laser functional. Thank you.
Great work! Love the build. That is a decent size cut area you have. Is that a 40w laser? Was calibrating everything quite tricky being a home made laser?
Cheers man! Yip just a little 40w at this stage (though room to expand when that one dies). Yeah calibration is always trickier when starting from scratch - I've done it a few times on other laser systems, so luckily I knew what I was in for haha
Oh nice! CNC router next on the list then? Can I ask how long it took you to get everything set up and how much you spent on it?
Where did you study industrial design? I studied at AUT
Yeah dude if I had the space I'd totally be building a CNC router haha! but I figured the laser gives more bang for the buck and doesn't ruin friendships with flatmates if you have it running all day!
I spent about a week designing it, then another week or so putting it together. Ball park cost around 3 grand, it's a little tricky to say exactly because I used 3d printed parts and had other left over components (like the stepper motors) from other projects.
Nice man, I studied down at VUW, not for any reason other than it was local...I often think about what doing ID at a different uni would have changed. I imagine AUT would've been pretty intense with larger class numbers and stuff?
True. I forgot about the intolerable noise of a CNC router haha. Oh thats pretty good for a laser that size. 3D printers come in real handy for these kind of projects. Any issues with it? I'm looking to get a laser cutter for myself but not sure whether or not to buy off the shelf or do it myself. You've kinda got me leaning towards the latter now haha.
I have nothing to compare AUT to. Classes were about 25 people. Nothing huge. Had pretty good facilities and fell in love with the woodworking and digital fabrication workshops.
Oh yeah that sounds pretty similar to VUW then haha I had the same experience as soon as they let me into the workshops!
If you're thinking about getting a laser I'd say going down the DIY route will save in the monetary cost but will obviously cost more in terms of time. It also depends on mindset and expectation. DIY was ok for me as I enjoyed the challenge and learning of the build, but as you can imagine for some folks that just want a working laser show up at their door, DIY is going the wrong way.
If you haven't already, I think a really good way of getting the majority of the skills needed, (and finding out if you have the patience) without spending thousands of dollars, would be to build a 3d printer from an opensource design first.
You are a genius. Thank you for sharing your talent.
SUPER!! Your work is the best motivation !!!!
Very, very clean design.Thanks for posting.
I don't know what to say. Amazing! Just finding all the parts would be a full time job. How did you learn all this?
Very interesting! May I ask how much it cost for all the bits and pieces apart from ur time?
Loved your videos do you have any plans & a parts list or can you make the parts & send them out ?
That came out great. Well done mate!
What about the corrugated boxes shown at the beginning. Manufacture them for shipping of your products?
I run a quite large laser myself. The video didn't show any type of exhaust system for fumes and smoke. It's quite important to have one for a number of reasons. Obviously for health reasons, and when the smoke from cutting/engraving goes into the laser beam path, it greatly decreases the power of the beam causing inconsistencies in the cut or engraving . Over all though, really nice looking build though!
Thanks, and thanks for sharing your experience! Yes good extraction is crucial and is a topic I could easily do a whole video on!
Great video even though I'm a bit late to the party, this was WOW amazing, someone else commented about how technology is becoming so advanced and available to just about anyone, I;ve said for a long tim, the internet is our collective consciousness on training wheels, just imagine the speed of learning if or when telepathy becomes the norm... not sure, but I think this is where humanity is headed over time, but its a process. IDK just thinking out loud anyway, Thanks for sharing this amazing laser project, truly inspiring.
awesome DIY cnc laser cutter! Keep up the good works!
Awesome build mate! Well done.
Great work
Why z axis stroke is too long? What's used for?
This is going to be an odd question, but are you sure the dimensions of that profile is 20mm X 40mm? It just looks bigger much closer to 40x80.
Hi there ! Incredible work. Can you tell me if it’s possible to use a metal and ceramic laser tube instead of this classic glass laser tube ?? How to control a metal laser tube ?
Fantastic work. Really well thought out and loved your video
Is there a books 📚 on building a laser cutter like this with analysts of what parts to use ?
Two questions: how fast it can engrave plywood? Whats the price for 900*600 for 2024???
it is beautiful. is the laser itself the most expensive component?
Amazing work!!! Would you do a DIY fiber laser some time soon?
what about DIY or Buy? Is it cost effective to build one or any special feature?
great !!!! but where do you got all there perfect parts?
Always a pleasure watching a real craftsman at work.. NIce job!
Thanks for great video,,,
What does DIY mean ?
What materials can you cut?
I'm really impressed with your end product and the simplicity of your design. A true inspiration to many people i'm sure.
Thanks mate. Just standard CO2 laserable materials, 95% of what I use it for is just wood and plastics.
greate work , I got a question, why you use the vslot aluminium with those tire for the x axis in model 400 but you change that to square sliding one in the model 1200 ?
is that make the x-asis more stable?
Very impressive. What training / background do you need to be able to follow your $5 plan? And could it take more than a month for an inexperienced person to achieve this?
Good work and great video documenting it all!
So sick my dude
Dude I'm still waiting for your cafe racer build vid
i love it! i'm still figuring out the electronics part, don't have experience with that.
Great video, thank you. I just wanted to ask what you considered with the laser power supply and tube. I guess everything else is just personal preference but i have no clue which would be a good make to use. Would Cloudray products be OK in your opinion. Best John C
Yeah I've used Cloudray many times and they've always been good.
A very impressive job of design
I'm late to the party.... but OUTSTANDING! Simply brilliant.
How did you go about dealing with the toxic fumes created by the burning of different materials?
What did you use for the bed? I am just starting to set myself up with a cutter/engraver and was looking at options , not wanting to buy and or build something my laser just cuts through as part of the cutting process.
Nice!!! Also liked peg spring.
how strong would a laser have to be to cut cardboard?
I can get cheap lasers with 1.6W, 3W, 3.5W, 5W or 15W.
Am on a super tight budget and only need it for cutting cardboard, any idea?
Just found your channel. Great video. Do you know if they make fiber lasers for DIY market?
CLEAN BUILD NICE WORK.
Amazing! Looking forward to built it here in Colombia! Regards.
Great work!
you have probably answered this a hundred times, what was the overall cost compared to buying a 100W laser from ebay at around $4000AUD, just curious as I would love to build my own.
Great work mate
I like it.... could you make a parts list for a size that would for a final cutting area handle 1800mm X 3000mm?