Laser Cutter Notes
Release status: unknown
Description | turnkey or DIY laser-cutter toolheads
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License | |
Author | |
Contributors | |
Based-on | |
Categories | [[Category:Laser Cutter][Category:Tools]]
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CAD Models | |
External Link |
Contents
RepRap Research/Writeups
Bright-VikBot or a good name.
Background
Description
Discussion: http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?70,13836,14061#msg-14061
Laser Light Sources
~45 sealed CO2 laser ...
1 watt pigtail diode laser with optical head (focus ~50 microns):
Cost Estimate
- comercial 'naked' diodelaser with 8Watt@975nm and 0.1mm atached glass fibre: ~230 Euros (in quantities above 5 pcs).
- turnkey-system with 10Watts@975nm, a visible red pilot-laser and jack for the glass fibre: ~1000 Euros (in quantities above 5 pcs).
Components
1. Laser-source:
- CO2-lasertube ... sealed (RF) or 'naked' glass-tube
- diode-laser ... best with atached glass fibre (=pigtailed)
- ...
2. beam-feeding optics:
- mirrors for CO2-laser
- glass fibre (or lenses and mirrors) for diode-laser
- ...
3. focussing optics:
- Germanium- or ZnSe-lens for CO2-laser ... concave mirror is possible too
- 'normal' optical lenses for diode-laser
- ...
4. power-source:
- mostly monolithic PS, good when below 40 Volts for RF-CO2-lasers, 'naked' and DIY-CO2-tubes need above 1000 Volts
- constant-current-driver (e.g. more LM317 in parallel)
- ...
5. output-power controller:
- embedded in RF-CO2-lasers - mostly TTL-input capable of switching the laser output with some ten kHz
- current-modulation and/or PWM-switching for diode-lasers until some kHz
- AOM (AcoustoOpticalModulator) for diode-laser switching until some hundred kHz
- ...
Usage
Capacity/Specifications
Requirements
- Power
- Nitrogen tank or clean dry compressed air.