Shapeoko 2 CNC laser

Shapeoko 2 CNC machine
JTech Solid State Laser






Micro switch wired up to JTech board trigger port (12V Laser ON 0V Laser OFF)
Mechanical Adjuster for micro switch actuation


Movie at:
[www.youtube.com]

Laser cutting 3 mm depron on Shapeoko
or at least bottom of a meat pack
cut is NOT exactly square (90 deg) don't know why (perhaps focus off)

yes there is a screwy square cut outside the star





Movie at:
[www.youtube.com]


wearing eye protection ?
Yes, got a high quality pair of glasses from Jtech

Not using any fan or blower yet.

Hi,

your build inspired me to try the same with my shapeoko. Cuts really well, but I cant find way to control the laser using grbl. How are you doing it? I assume I have to connect the two free pins (after attaching the grblshield) on my arduino to the control board i got from jtech?

Best regards

Quote
cozmicray
cut is NOT exactly square (90 deg) don't know why (perhaps focus off)

Yes probably focus.

I used to working with my CO2 laser with a replaceable focusing lens. Anyway, the beam should doing the same thing... The laser beam will converge then diverge:

\ /
X
/ \

If you are too close to the foam the cut will be wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. If you are too far away then the cut will be narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. The shorter the focal length the more you will notice this. You will probably want to try to focus on the center of the foam. When you get it figured out make a gauge.

Cheers,
Brian