Welcome to Our Community

Some features disabled for guests. Register Today.

OpenBuilds ACRO Laser System

Discussion in 'Laser Cutters' started by Mark Carew, Sep 12, 2017.

  1. Marc-Andre Leger

    Builder

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2015
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    2
    So I tried to build it today with a friend and the acrylic parts cracked when I tried to adjust for the wheels. So I glued it and used some 3M tape. But then the other side plate broke when I mounted the X rail on the Y rails... Sorry to say but I think you will need aluminium gantry plates. I'm going to machine some on my Xcarve if I can find the STLs. But I think you need to rethink the idea of using plastic parts !
     
  2. Mark Carew

    Mark Carew OpenBuilds Team
    Staff Member Moderator Builder Resident Builder

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2013
    Messages:
    2,742
    Likes Received:
    2,407
    Hello @Marc-Andre Leger sorry to hear of these problems your experiencing. The good news is that we have tested and built many ACRO systems without issue. I will reach out to the Part Store Team and I am certain they would be glad to help ensure that your able to get your ACRO up and running.
    Hope this helps
    Mark
     
    GrayUK likes this.
  3. Marc-Andre Leger

    Builder

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2015
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    2
    Thank you. I'll give it a shot but I think Alu plates would be better...
     
    Kurt Bonk and Mark Carew like this.
  4. Kaure Martins

    Builder

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2017
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hi WildBill,

    I'm building a laser engraver using the Acro project but trying to make it as chap as possible, so I'm going to regular aluminium profiles and this plastic white wheels, like on your pic, the rest is basically the Acro plan, with some adjustments on the plates to fit the new wheel diamenter. Can you give some feedback of how this system performs? and how it compares to the Acro, since you seems to have both now.

    Thanks!!

    K.
     
  5. Tinkerman92

    Builder

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2017
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    3
    How hard would it be to put nema23's on this build? Or what would I be looking at max move speed (not cut speed)
     
  6. Mark Carew

    Mark Carew OpenBuilds Team
    Staff Member Moderator Builder Resident Builder

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2013
    Messages:
    2,742
    Likes Received:
    2,407
    Really not necessary for a light duty system like this. We are looking for extreme light weight for speed as well as accuracy and the acrylic plates with the Nema 17 are the perfect combo! :thumbsup:
     
  7. David Sheets

    Builder

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2017
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    1
    What’s the difference between NEMA 17 and 23 Stepper Motors what’s best to cut aluminum and wood etc.
     
  8. Tinkerman92

    Builder

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2017
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    3
    I want to use the 1500mm version with a plasma cutter and would like to get 100ipm cutting speeds
     
  9. Peter Van Der Walt

    Peter Van Der Walt OpenBuilds Team
    Staff Member Moderator Builder Resident Builder

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2017
    Messages:
    13,751
    Likes Received:
    4,070
    Superheated swarf/sparks and acrylic plates wont mix nicely. Also, the plasma torch hose/lead is HEAVY - actually weighs more than a router to swing those around. Better check the builds page for alternative inspiration: Plasma Cutter Builds | OpenBuilds
     
  10. Peter Van Der Walt

    Peter Van Der Walt OpenBuilds Team
    Staff Member Moderator Builder Resident Builder

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2017
    Messages:
    13,751
    Likes Received:
    4,070
    Torque, power requirements and shaft diameter. NEMA17s are more suited to lasers and 3D printers for example. For your needs, start off with a bundle like OpenBuilds C-Beam Machine XLarge or OpenBuilds C-Beam Machine - it will suffice to get you started and learn the ropes first. Someday when you outgrow it, you can design your own dream machine using OpenBuilds parts (its all pretty modular and you can a) use your first machine to cut upgrades and b) most of the off-shelf parts stick together modularly like mechano. For milling wood, the ACRO is definately off the table. Head over to the Builds page and take a pick from one of the router designs
     
  11. Tinkerman92

    Builder

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2017
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    3
    if I keep the base design using the files but modify the plates a little bit to fit nema 23's and make the plates out of aluminum/steel instead of acrylic do you think the frame design would be sturdy enough otherwise?
     
  12. Peter Van Der Walt

    Peter Van Der Walt OpenBuilds Team
    Staff Member Moderator Builder Resident Builder

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2017
    Messages:
    13,751
    Likes Received:
    4,070
    Well, no one's tried yet, but i did run my old plasma on 2040 rails on Y, but used 2080 on X, and it worked. Was a 500x500 though...


    As I said above, check the existing plasmas, ask for advice from those experience builders in the threads on their builds.
    If it was me building myself another plasma, i'd go for 2080 or C-Beam, belt driven GT3, but hide the belts inside C-Beam or outside the 8020 so the sparks stay clear
     
    #102 Peter Van Der Walt, Oct 20, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2017
    Kurt Bonk likes this.
  13. David Sheets

    Builder

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2017
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    1
    Now that’s cool, our shop has a big one we burn out duct fittings on it all the time
     
  14. WildBill

    WildBill Well-Known
    Builder

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2017
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    40
    The laser engraver you saw in the picture I got from BangGood 1 1/2 years ago. I had to modify the gantry's that came with it - making the holes for the wheel's into slots so I could adjust the wheel tension to get as much slop as possible out. It took a while but I got it working fairly well. But I replaced all the rail's with openbuilds rails (I made it 2'x3'), different laser, and different electronics to support the Z azis. So those gantries and wheels is about all that is left of the original system.

    The positive things about the ACRO design that I like are having the motors low to keep the center of gravity low, as always I like how the OpenBuilds wheels roll on the rails, the gantries are designed to allow easy wheel adjustment. I like the ACRO system better because everything moves much more smoothly and quieter. It does not have the small jitter that I find with the other system which gives cleaner burns.

    So my conclusion is that while the ACRO system cost's a little more than the low cost imports it is worth paying the difference. I spent more upgrading the low cost system than I spent on the ACRO system. Spend the money on good wheel's and stay away from the white hard plastic wheels - it will be cheaper in the long run. Also not all other rails have a wide enough opening for the G2 belt to work smoothly, I learned that the hard way and had to get more rails that would work.

    On a different note I installed the Z-axis on the ACRO system today (pictures to come soon) and if I push I found that I get a little twisting in the Z-axis itself with no movement on the X-axis. The reason I like the Z axis is I etch a lot of different things that have different thickness. It is a pain to keep refocusing the laser so I keep the laser at one focus point and raise and lower the Z-axis to get the correct distance. I made a small wooden dowel the correct length and hold it on the material I will etch and adjust until the laser just touches the top of the dowel. Must easier than focusing.
    Oh - on the BangGood system the X-axis would flex and not the Z axis.
     
    GrayUK and Mark Carew like this.
  15. WildBill

    WildBill Well-Known
    Builder

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2017
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    40
    Here is a picture of the Z-axis installed. I made a couple of new holes in the X gantry and mounted it directly. I can now get all the height that I need and only cost $35.00
    One of the few times the cheap way works well because its so light.


    IMG_0508-resizedM.jpg
     
    Ariel Yahni, dregalia and mcbuilder22 like this.
  16. mcbuilder22

    Builder

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2015
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    24
    What laser do I need for etching on aluminum? I plan on anodizing the aluminum and spraying it with CerMark Metal Laser Marking Spray.

    I don't need to cut or anything else but etch. What is the cheapest laser setup for this?

    How many inches per minute does it need to travel? I might just put it on my CNC router.
     
  17. Opt Lasers

    Builder

    Joined:
    May 4, 2017
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    9
    Etching directly on any metal is not that easy. There are two two things messed up pretty often. Marking and engraving.
    Simplifying: Marking = changing of the colour, engraving = removing the material, etching is more like removing of course.
    Using a spray - we did not test this, but this may work, I will write to the producent to get some samples for tests.

    Anodized aluminium is possible to engrave (since we remove anodized layer) but anodized layer should be a little darker. BUt even gold enodization works. Here are the results for example:
    Blue disk 50mm.s S0 1P F30.jpg 1.jpg Gold sleeve 50mm.s S0 1P F30.jpg

    It was done wit ha speed of 50mm/s and beamspot size around 0,2mm diemeter.

    Using 6W (2,8 can work too but is barely visible) you can mark stainless steel or titanium, but not other metals.
    You can see that focus distance changes the line width. Short focus make the line more equal in both directions but it isless visible (even with higher power density). Speed used - 3mm/s
    Stainless steel (Engraving)(#5.3) 3mm.s step 0mm (1 pass) Focus 30mm.jpg Stainless steel (Engraving)(#9.4) 3 and 0,5mm.s Focus 30 and 60mm.jpg
     
    #107 Opt Lasers, Oct 25, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2017
  18. mcbuilder22

    Builder

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2015
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    24
    Thanks. I'm needing to mark the aluminum.

    Labels on a control panel.

     
  19. Opt Lasers

    Builder

    Joined:
    May 4, 2017
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    9
    If you anodize aluminium to black you can do this easily with nice effect.

    Bare aluminium you can paintwith black paint, remove the paint with laser and etch the aluminium with acid or sodium hydroxide. It will etch only the places where the paint is removed.

    It depands what effect you would like to achieve, there are few options. Of course you can just mill the label using engraving end mill, or you can etch aluminium the way I mentioned.
    You can also paint the etched area which become rough or use the label printer :D
     
    mcbuilder22 likes this.
  20. dregalia

    dregalia New
    Builder

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2017
    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    13
    How hard do you think it would be to put an adjustable Z on this thing? Even if it was just a manual Z Axis.
     
  21. Tinkerman92

    Builder

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2017
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    3
    Look 6 posts up from yours
     
    MaryD, dregalia and mcbuilder22 like this.
  22. WayTooManyHobbies

    Builder

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2016
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    8
    I ordered an Acro, which is slated to arrive in a few days. This is my first venture with OpenBuilds, and I'm looking forward to it.

    I will be using an Arduino with CNC shield, GRBL 1.1, and an Eleksmaker 2300mW laser for the system. If the Arduino doesn't work out, I'll switch to a Smoothieboard.
     
    MaryD likes this.
  23. Peter Van Der Walt

    Peter Van Der Walt OpenBuilds Team
    Staff Member Moderator Builder Resident Builder

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2017
    Messages:
    13,751
    Likes Received:
    4,070
    W
    Arduino will do just fine... Smoothieware isnt faster than Grbl 1.1 under LaserWeb4 (;
     
    WayTooManyHobbies likes this.
  24. RussB

    RussB New
    Builder

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2017
    Messages:
    26
    Likes Received:
    18
    You'll be fine with the combo of hardware your using. I just finished building a Acro 1000mm x 1000mm 2 watt system. Works flawless. You'll be fine
     
  25. WayTooManyHobbies

    Builder

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2016
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    8
    My Acro kit arrived over the weekend - in other words, more quickly than expected. Still waiting on the laser, and I also ordered a genuine Protoneer CNC board to be sure that GRBL 1.1 would be supported. Now comes the hard part - I really don't have time to assemble this until Tuesday night at the earliest, if then. I hate waiting.

    In the mean time, does anyone have thoughts on air assist with respect to diode laser systems?
     
  26. Ariel Yahni

    Ariel Yahni OpenBuilds Team
    Staff Member Moderator Builder Resident Builder

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    494
    You could use one of those blower fans used for 3dp. I have used something similar in the past
     
    WayTooManyHobbies likes this.
  27. dean3

    dean3 New
    Builder

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2017
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    1
    Is this setup suitable for a router?
     
  28. 3boysdad

    3boysdad New
    Builder

    Joined:
    May 27, 2017
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    14
    *maybe* a dremel. you'd want something a bit stronger for a router (e.g. OX)
     
    dean3 and Ariel Yahni like this.
  29. dean3

    dean3 New
    Builder

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2017
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    1
    Thanks. I kinda figured that out.
     
  30. Rendermandan

    Rendermandan Well-Known
    Builder

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2015
    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    52
    Has anyone thought about building a variable height Z table to go under the Acro system rather than a z axis on the laser? If so, please share, if not. I might have to come up with something as the laser I bought does not have an adjustable focus point.
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice