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Discussion in 'Laser Cutters' started by Rob Atha, May 20, 2019.

  1. Rob Atha

    Rob Atha New
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    Hi guys

    I want to get into Laser Engraving and cutting, I use a work bee 1050 and to start I want to just buy a diode thar I can attach. My primary use will be for engraving wood and cutting of thin plywood up to 6mm would be ideal but mostly acrylic for cutting.

    Can anyone make any recommendations for a suitable diode?

    Thanks
     
  2. Peter Van Der Walt

    Peter Van Der Walt OpenBuilds Team
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    UV lasers arent going to "cut" much - they are great for engraving on organics (wood, paper, leather) but cutting, not really enough power. For 6mm pluwood, you'd need a 40w CO2. Why? Plywoods biggest problem is the resin between the layers of wood... inorganic / uv doesnt really cut the glue. With enough passes 6mm solid wood maybe but it will be a sooty mess.
    Acrylic: UV lasers doesnt really absorb into acrylics. Wrong wavelenght, its transparent at 445nm. Acrylics are opaque (absorbs most of the energy) in the 10600um range of CO2 lasers
     
  3. Rob Atha

    Rob Atha New
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    Thanks for the advice. Are there any tutorials that I could look through to set this up, I’m not keen on buying another cnc as my workbee is great size for me,
     
  4. Peter Van Der Walt

    Peter Van Der Walt OpenBuilds Team
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    Not much to think about, if you are adding a Diode (considering the limitations, maybe instead cut with the CNC, and then maybe engrave organics with the laser?) its as simple is figuring a hack to mount it, then wiring the Power and Signal wires to your controller (For example OpenBuilds BlackBox 4X Documentation and OpenBuilds BlackBox 4X Documentation with a Blackbox)
     

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