Here is a thought I figured I would bring up. Simple diode lasers make due just fine with flame-resistant MDF as a cutting bed. As they become higher powered, a metal bed (honeycomb particularly) becomes much more popular. What I don't see much of is the ideal materials used for a beam dump beneath this. I have seen some designs where the beam goes straight through to the base and other more negligent ones where there is fragile mechanical or electrical equipment present. I understand a laser beam becomes less abrasive as it goes out of focus but this seems poorly thought through for something of such high power. Especially if you are trying to avoid beams reflecting onto a viewing panel or other burnable material. Does anyone have some good or bad experiences to share? Or thoughts on what makes a good safe base? Thanks, https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,843357,843357#msg-843357 Tue, 08 Sep 2026 21:27:12 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,843357,850386#msg-850386 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,843357,850386#msg-850386 VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Sat, 30 Mar 2019 17:12:53 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,843357,850383#msg-850383 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,843357,850383#msg-850383
Yeah, makes sense. I still can't quite get over those cheap CO2 lasers that don't seem to have an obvious base to them. Is that just negligence or do some not require more than a little aluminum. I'm talking 40 watts minimum on these ones.

Thanks,]]> jdargot Laser Cutter Working Group Sat, 30 Mar 2019 16:16:27 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,843357,843363#msg-843363 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,843357,843363#msg-843363
Non focussed laser energy in comercial units with up to some hundred Watts or even Kilowatts is absorbed by graphite, sand or water ...]]> VDX Laser Cutter Working Group Thu, 03 Jan 2019 19:26:09 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,843357,843357#msg-843357 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?133,843357,843357#msg-843357
I have seen some designs where the beam goes straight through to the base and other more negligent ones where there is fragile mechanical or electrical equipment present. I understand a laser beam becomes less abrasive as it goes out of focus but this seems poorly thought through for something of such high power. Especially if you are trying to avoid beams reflecting onto a viewing panel or other burnable material.

Does anyone have some good or bad experiences to share? Or thoughts on what makes a good safe base?

Thanks,]]> jdargot Laser Cutter Working Group Thu, 03 Jan 2019 17:50:17 -0500