Laser cutter?

[Rocket]

Hi Art,

I purchased a 900MMx600MM laser cutter/engraver from a Chinese
company, their warehouse is in CA, so I did not have to get involved with
any "customs" issues.

I AM SO TIRED OF MAKING ADJUSTMENT AFTER ADJUSTMENT ON MY CNC MACHINE!!!
(you know, pulleys, belts, gantry, guide wheels etc...etc...etc...)

It will be delivered next week.  Of course I will spend many hours
setting up and fine tuning before I start cutting any gears and such.

My goal is to make tickers, kinetic sculptures and clocks..

The machine comes set up with some crappy software called AutoLaser,
a cheap CAD/CAM "send to printer" type thing.

Is it feasible I could change the controller to
a G-code based system?  Maybe use Mach 3?

Just a general opinion here, no need for any details yet?

Rocket in Florida

[DanL]

even easier use arts new program Auggie

[Rocket]

Do you mean without having to change the controller?

R

[ArtF]

Rocket:

Congrats..

  The machine your getting runs on a DSP.. I have one as well. I may switch it one day, as my second laser is already much more useful to me under Auggie. Mach3 would be a terrible way to control one in comparison to a dsp or Auggie. The DSP run machines are still VERY good at what they do, the machine you ordered in particular is pretty good at what it does. What power? Is this one of those 50 watt machines?

  Id advise leaving it as it is for control, you'll find it cuts excellent acrylic gears and such, an I did make
an entire plexiglass clock using mine. Spend a year getting used to how it runs and what you can do
with it, if your like me, you'll export DXF's from Gearotic, and load them directly into the machine.

  I suspect whatever the software, and there are many types, most will allow DXF's to be loaded.
You'll be very impressed with its results, unlike your Shapeko, you wont typically have to adjust anything,
other than a once or twice a year focus check to make sure no mirrors got out of alignment. Watch
you always have the water running, its your only true concern.. and empty it if its gonna get freezing..
( Froze one and shattered it myself.., not hard to put another in but still.....). Also starting up, be carefull,
their easy to damage if you do something like run the Z up to high.. ( Dont ask how I know that. :) )

  Whenever you  see 5mm plexiglass on sale, pick it up.. it works amazing in laser engravers..

You may want to look at my "Arts Ball" in the users photos section, I posted the dxf's to make
that globe, and it truly impresses those that see it in person, a great laser project for 1/4" hardwood
planks. You just need to cut like 100 pieces. :)

  You'll definitely be able to make things to impress, Ive said many times that though I have enjoyed
my cnc router and my cnc lathe, my absolute favorite tools are my lasers...had I found them first, Mach3
would have had a totally different flavor.

  I wouldn't consider switching to Auggie at least till you've used your laser for a year, it'd be like buying
a Stradivarius violin when you just picked up your learners instrument. Auggie is well on its way to being the
best laser controller out there, Id pick it over my DSP any day of the week now, but it does require experience
and some knowledge at this point as I haven't finished its complexities or its explanations. In short, you don't
need it yet, but in a year or so, you may well want to switch to it.

    Auggie will expand to offer free modules to do DXF's and such things, using it for motion and control will be an
option for laser users, but it will also be used to do things other CAD/CAM packages offer, not as complete
as those packages, but a way to get free outputs that may help anyone, no matter the type of cnc machine
or laser. Also, in the end, it will be possible to have a laser be dual control, its not hard to wire in a
pokeys in parallel to a dsp so one can switch back and forth... future project when you do get there..

Enjoy the laser, I find mine great..

Art

[Rocket]

Thanks Art,

It is 100 Watt.  Paid $3800.00 with free shipping from CA.

Based on my research it should cut 1/2" plywood.

Should be interesting to say the least.

RR

[ArtF]

Ohhh, nice!

  Yes, you should be able to do a lot of work in short order with that
thing. Let us know how it goes..

Art

[Mooselake]

and empty it if its gonna get freezing..
( Froze one and shattered it myself.., not hard to put another in but still.....)

Been OOT, this is almost necroposting...

Cheap blue windshield squirter juice, or pink RV antifreeze, will solving the freezing issue, and the pink stuff might even help it cool better.

You can install a flow switch to disable the laser without any coolant flow, inline with the laser enable switch if you have one.  It might take some experimentation to find one that will work with the pump, my pump didn't have enough flow to trip the switch I tried, although it would still flow past it.

Kirk