Greetings! I am looking to possibly build a laser cutter/etcher and would like your guidance;
Wants:
1) Etch paint off of pcbs for prototyping.
2) Cut holes/slots in 1/16" (1.58mm) thick out of Flame Retardant ABS Plastic enclosures.
3) Etch grooves in clear lexan for LED lit signs.
I have a few things on hand that i'd like to make use of if possible.
1) Blu-Ray Laser Diode (no housing or lens)
2) A couple old printers & 2 flat bed scanners
3) Understanding of circuit board design & micro-controller programming.
My questions are:
1) is the blu-ray laser diode sufficient for what im wanting to etch/cut? If so should I just get one of the ebay aixiz housings?
2) can i incorporate the reprap drivers/software with any microcontroller or do I have to use an arduino? I suppose if the source is available for the Arduino i can just re-write it for my particular MC preference.
3) Regarding a Constant Current Supply, I can probably design this for pre-set power ratings easily enough are there any guidelines as to what power for what material or is this just trial and error based upon your laser / material?
Thanks for your time!
