Laser Cutting Head To kick off conversation. Anyone had any thoughts on a laser cutter head in place of an extruder on a darwin or repstrap . Been reading and thinking. How much laser power is actualy needed to cut 3.8mm/4mm ply and would salvagable laser diodes have enough umph to do the job ?? aka47 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,13836#msg-13836 Sun, 19 Jul 2026 20:32:07 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,847302#msg-847302 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,847302#msg-847302
- red 680nm diode at 1, 2 and 7 Ampere:

[attachment 110142 1A_2A_7A_kl.jpg]



- Infrared 808nm laser diode with maximum power of 20W - here at about 8A, so just at the start of laser ... mounted on a Peltier cooler:

[attachment 110143 s-l500.jpg]

[attachment 110144 JOLD_25W808nm-8A.jpg]



- Infrared 808nm laser diode with maximum power of 25 Watt ... mounted on water cooler:

[attachment 110145 Linsenaufsatz-750mm.jpg]



- Infrared 808nm laser diode with a maximum power of 500(?) watts (it says so, but I still have to measure it) - here above the 25W diode:

[attachment 110146 500W_25W.jpg]

[attachment 110147 500W-Diodeoffen.jpg]



The fiber coupling is intended for fibers of 0.4mm (with the red diode for 0.6mm), so it is less suitable for engraving than the 975nm diodes with fixed 0.1mm fiber.

But I use them less for engraving than for "preheating" in a wire-weld test setup ...]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Mon, 18 Feb 2019 05:01:14 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,429350#msg-429350 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,429350#msg-429350
[attachment 43294 Weihnachten1.jpg]]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:51:15 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428953#msg-428953 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428953#msg-428953
Yes, you can overpower them for a while ... but then you reduce the 'expected lifetime' from some 10000 hours (if cooled properly) to some 10 hours!

But actually I've got quotations for 'real' 3.5W and 3.8W diodes with prices worth it testing ...

My experience shows, that most marking and cutting jobs are better done with the 445nm-diodes, especially for their finer focus diameter (0.04mm compared to 0.1mm with the fibercoupled 9W-IR-diodes) and so higher energy density.

The IR-diodes are better in respect of higher averaged power for use with black (better IR-absorbing) materials -- but especially black anodized aluminium is better engraved with the 2W@445nm-diodes ...]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Thu, 06 Nov 2014 17:56:24 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428872#msg-428872 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428872#msg-428872 winchymatt Laser Cutter Working Group Thu, 06 Nov 2014 15:20:56 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428869#msg-428869 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428869#msg-428869 winchymatt Laser Cutter Working Group Thu, 06 Nov 2014 15:12:36 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428792#msg-428792 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428792#msg-428792
On a separate note, disregarding cutting speed, would a 3W 445nm or 10W 808nm cut 3mm ABS?

Thanks for sharing your expertise! Your example engraving looks very good!]]> winchymatt Laser Cutter Working Group Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:06:33 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428782#msg-428782 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428782#msg-428782
For 'marking' clear anodized aliminium you'll need much higher energy densities - I've got white/grey markings with previously painting the clear aluminium with black paint and removing the paint with a fiber-laser and powers from 10Watts to 50Watts ... and here I've got nearly 10-fold the energy density if IR-diodes ...

Quote

"As for the 808nm 10W, do you mean it will be better than 975nm 9W, but not as good as 445nm?"

... yes ...]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Thu, 06 Nov 2014 11:32:09 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428735#msg-428735 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428735#msg-428735
Thanks for the advise!

So you can mark black anodized aluminium with 2W 445nm, Ok, well that's interesting. Do you have an examples of your work, what is the quality like?

As for the 808nm 10W, do you mean it will be better than 975nm 9W, but not as good as 445nm?

Have you tried clear anodized aluminium?]]> winchymatt Laser Cutter Working Group Thu, 06 Nov 2014 09:04:37 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428708#msg-428708 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428708#msg-428708
I'm marking black anodized aluminium with 2Watts@445nm, but fails with 9Watts@975nm -- here the 808nm should be better suited ...

*** EDIT: for cutting some centimeters deep you'll need focal distances of up to 120mm to get a clean cut ... but for engraving you need much lower distances ( 30mm to 10mm) to get really small focus sizes and enough energy density ...]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Thu, 06 Nov 2014 07:14:44 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428693#msg-428693 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428693#msg-428693
Quote
MPower
You probably should get CO2 at that price range.

Right, but CO2 is going to be much harder to install on my existing machine, plus my machine is mobile! It is built in to a trailer, and as I understand it CO2 lasers do not like to be moved / or vibration?

Matt.]]> winchymatt Laser Cutter Working Group Thu, 06 Nov 2014 06:14:34 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428532#msg-428532 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428532#msg-428532 MPower Laser Cutter Working Group Wed, 05 Nov 2014 15:45:41 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428529#msg-428529 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,428529#msg-428529
I'm thinking of adding an 808nm Laser module to an existing CNC router. I hope to be able to cut 3mm black abs/acrylic and also mark/engrave black or clear anodized aluminium. My machine has a maximum speed of 33mm/sec so wouldn't be doing anything too fast.

What do you think of these kale units? Do you think a 10W unit would do the job?

[www.kalecnc.com]

Thanks for any advise.

Matt.]]> winchymatt Laser Cutter Working Group Wed, 05 Nov 2014 15:40:01 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,374267#msg-374267 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,374267#msg-374267 madmike8 Laser Cutter Working Group Tue, 24 Jun 2014 18:30:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,373714#msg-373714 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,373714#msg-373714
[vimeo.com]

With this machine 200mm/s should be doable, but then the table is shaking horribly ...]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:38:34 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,365211#msg-365211 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,365211#msg-365211
[attachment 34293 Diodenmodul61x.jpg]


... all the fibers are combined to a bundle of roughly 0.8mm diameter and glued into a FSMA head:

[attachment 34295 DiodenmodulTypundKopf.jpg]]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Wed, 04 Jun 2014 15:39:27 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,242667#msg-242667 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,242667#msg-242667
Check out: www.laser-bot.com for more details.

Or check out www.jtechphotonics.com to buy the kit. 1.7W laser kit with adjustable 2.0 amp driver is only $224.99.

Jay]]> Jay Johnson Laser Cutter Working Group Wed, 04 Sep 2013 17:35:36 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,143006#msg-143006 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,143006#msg-143006
* Magnetic Crash Protection - Eliminates breakaway screws and reduces downtime after a crash to a few minutes
* Easy-Access Lens Drawers - Makes lens replacement, cleaning, and beam centering quick and easy
* Manual Focus Adjustment - Over ¾ of an inch of focus adjustment reduces setup time considerably
* Fixed Tip Assembly - Never have to center the tip again.
The addition of Laser Mechanisms' Height Sensing Unit (HSU) will allow you to remove the foot follower (as needed) and will enable your laser to cut sheet metal non-contact]]> jklaser Laser Cutter Working Group Mon, 16 Jul 2012 06:37:34 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,122651#msg-122651 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,122651#msg-122651
3 Watts is only enough for cutting thin sheets of absorbing material or engraving organic materials like colour on PCB's or such.

With visible light it's normally used in show-laser-beamers with XY-scanning vector-graphis ...]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:17:23 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,122623#msg-122623 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,122623#msg-122623 I have not decided what to use it for, it was offered and I just could not say no, would it be any good for cutting or sintering???.
3 watts sounds like a reasonable amount of power.]]> johnrpm Laser Cutter Working Group Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:33:56 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,122575#msg-122575 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,122575#msg-122575 VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:32:10 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,122571#msg-122571 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,122571#msg-122571 Wish I had such nice toys, having said that, I have been given a 3watt argon laser, very old so may not have any gas.]]> johnrpm Laser Cutter Working Group Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:01:24 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,122479#msg-122479 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,122479#msg-122479 [attachment 6956 Laserplotter.jpg]

[attachment 6957 Laser-Koepfe.jpg]]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:08:04 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,119911#msg-119911 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,119911#msg-119911
The case is good for maybe 0.5W continuous operation - for 1W and above you need a more solid block of aluminium and/or a TEC (ThermoElectricCooler e.g. a Peltier-element).

Orange acrylic isn't usefull with 808nm - it's only good for UV (works for 445nm too) and for the 10640nm of a CO2-laser (as any acrylic/organic or glass) ...]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:39:47 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,119781#msg-119781 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,119781#msg-119781 this laser with this case for slow cutting?

would the orange acrylic be able to block the IR radiation?

thanks]]> ricros Laser Cutter Working Group Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:07:31 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,119777#msg-119777 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,119777#msg-119777
Slow cutting with several passes is possible with 200mW or more with any IR- or UV-diode (as black absorbs any wavelength) ... for fast cutting you'll need some ten Watts ...]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:13:22 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,119775#msg-119775 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,119775#msg-119775
What do I need to cut 3mm black acrylic?

Thanks]]> ricros Laser Cutter Working Group Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:02:46 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,113945#msg-113945 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,113945#msg-113945
... for clear plastic with 5mm depth you'll need a CO2-laser with some ten Watts of power - there's no 'simple conversion kit' out there ... search for "CO2 laser engraver" in ebay ...]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:32:50 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,113881#msg-113881 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,113881#msg-113881 I would like to convert a graphtec fc2200-90 flatbed cutter to work with a laser beam.
I would like to cut several layers of clear plastic of 500 microns to an overall depth of 5mm giving me 10 layers in total.
Can anyone suggest a simple conversion kit that would do this job.
Thank you
Linda]]> Linda Laser Cutter Working Group Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:41:25 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,108719#msg-108719 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,108719#msg-108719 -------------------------------------------------------
> halo everybody,
>
> one of the problems of the 1watt 445nm units is
> that in reality they are a multidiode solution
> (2x500mw) and that affects the the size and shape
> of the beam (1watt 445nm beams are not round).
>
> there is a debate about if a single diode 500mw
> 405nm diode will focus better (and have better
> cutting results) than a 1watt 445nm unit. But on
> the other hand 405nm is not visible so focusing
> can be a bitch :)
>
> Im not sure for which solution I will go for, any
> insights?

I didn't invested more on the idea of laser diode on RepRap because I am afraid to be blind. If I would know it could work in a safe way, I may invest more. I will continue monitor this message.

Waste, do you have any experiences? any blog messages that I can read about your works?]]> casainho Laser Cutter Working Group Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:31:24 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,108717#msg-108717 Re: Laser Cutting Head https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,13836,108717#msg-108717
one of the problems of the 1watt 445nm units is that in reality they are a multidiode solution (2x500mw) and that affects the the size and shape of the beam (1watt 445nm beams are not round).

there is a debate about if a single diode 500mw 405nm diode will focus better (and have better cutting results) than a 1watt 445nm unit. But on the other hand 405nm is not visible so focusing can be a bitch :)

Im not sure for which solution I will go for, any insights?]]> waste Laser Cutter Working Group Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:40:02 -0500