Laser Cutter Notes

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Revision as of 08:34, 16 February 2010 by VDX (talk | contribs) (Components)
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Laser Cutter

Release status: unknown

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Description
turnkey or DIY laser-cutter toolheads
License
Author
Contributors
Based-on
Categories
[[Category:Laser Cutter][Category:Tools]]
CAD Models
External Link


RepRap Research/Writeups

Bright-VikBot or a good name.

Background

See Laser_Cutter/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): File.php?0,file=1984,filename=Lasediode1-1Watt.jpg

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.

Health and Safety