This topic contains 27 replies, has 16 voices, and was last updated by 
pelgrim 7 months, 2 weeks ago.
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I reckon a laser cutter would be really cool! Then I could laser engrave my iPhone and other stuff with some cool graphics!
- This topic was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by Ben Hewlett.
Frickin’ Lasers!
should we have the iphone android argument ? it’s bound to happen here eventually.
As both a iOS and Android early adaptor I’d say iOS at this moment; It’s limited hack-ability is it’s power
I’m all for lasers, it would be awesome to be able to cut wood or acrylic material on this device.I agree, I’ve operated a laser cutter at the local makerspace before, it’s pretty high maintenance, with all the aggressive cooling, but a lower powered/cermark engraver would be magnificent
to my opinion maintenance to the standard machine should be as close to nil as possible
with the replaceable head in mind, the “custom” heads are about the only thing I want to work on,
want to focus on the things I’m creating, not the machine that does the work.java (EE), JavaFX, HTML, GIS) programmer, database wizard, framework inventor, looking for a job ! http://roboxing.com/wizards+1 for engraving…
..cutting would be awesome (!!) even for just thin sheets of plastic or carton…great for quick prototypes.
..that said I can see the issues of fire hazard within a part plastic enclosure
…that said, even if the head could only do engraving…I’d buy it if less than £100.
From the research I have done into laser etching, a vacuum or fume control system would need to accompany any laser system since the vaporized material can be very dangerous. There is also the need for eye protection with any laser strong enough to be visible or to cut.
+1 for laser add-on, for engraving as I don’t see it working for cutting, mainly due to the platform base risking to be cut-out and fumes/smoke management requiring additional external equipment.
this said, a laser head is interesting IF it being of the Fiber optic guided type, the main reason is that it uses no mirror and therefor reduces the risks of the system being damaged by the smoke on the mirror, it also is much easier to manage its movements as there is only a fiber connected between the CO2 tube and the engraving/cutting head with no complex alignments to be performed on regular basis.
All in all, a laser head of the Fiber optic type seems rather easy to integrate without heavy modification or clutter inside the box.
..:: I'm possible ::.. :: http://roboxing.comHaving never used a laser cutter. do they leave much residue behind (dust and particulate mater) that will need cleaning from the casing ?
Laser cutter/engraver do not leave a residue per say, only smoke generated by the burned material, in so that the smoke generated will have its various negative properties such as smell (plastic/rubber/latex, or carry a certain amount of particles within.
What this means is that smoke that floats and finds itself between the laser ray and mirror will get burned/fixed onto the mirror (think wood resins for example), will in return will leave a physical trace onto mirror that can either lead to the laser burning thru the mirror or disperse the laser ray out of its targeted course, and that would be pretty bad.So you definitely need air extraction to remove any smell and smoke floating in the enclosure and air pressure blowing on the targeted area to disperse any rising smoke.
To minimize risks a Fiber optic laser is a better solution as you reduce your risks of damage by smoke or particles, and has virtually no maintenance required, cleaning or calibration.
..:: I'm possible ::.. :: http://roboxing.comWould some form of Oxygen displacement system be of any use in a system such as this. ? say ,Argon or CO2 both of which are cheap and readily available.
+1 for Fiber optic cutting/engraving laser.
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