Good day,brain engineers! Today I will share with you a guide on how how to do laser cutter with a power of 3W and a work table 1.2x1.2 meters under the control of an Arduino microcontroller.
This brainwashing born to create coffee table in the style of "pixel art". It was necessary to cut the material into cubes, but manually it is difficult, and through the online service it is very expensive. Then this 3-wadded cutter / engraver appeared for thin materials, I will clarify that industrial cutters have a minimum power of about 400 watts. That is, light materials such as expanded polystyrene, cork sheets, plastic or cardboard, this cutter overpowers, but thicker and dense materials only engrave.
Step 1: Materials
Arduino R3
Proto Board - board with display
stepper motors
3-watt laser
cooling for laser
power unit
DC-DC regulator
MOSFET transistor
motor control boards
Limit switches
body (large enough to hold almost all of the list items)
timing belts
ball bearings 10mm
pulleys for timing belts
ball bearings
2 boards 135x 10x2 cm
2 boards 125x10x2 cm
4 smooth rods with a diameter of 1cm
various bolts and nuts
screws 3.8cm
grease
cable ties
a computer
a circular saw
screwdriver
various drills
sandpaper
vice
Step 2: wiring diagram
Laser electric circuit homemade informatively presented in the photo, there are only a few clarifications.
Stepper motors: I think you noticed that two motors are started from the same control board. This is necessary so that one side of the belt does not lag behind the other, that is, the two motors work synchronously and maintain the tension of the toothed belt necessary for quality workcrafts.
Laser power: When adjusting the DC-DC regulator, make sure the laser is supplied with a constant voltage not exceeding specifications laser, otherwise you will simply burn it. My laser is rated for 5V and 2.4A, so the regulator is set to 2A and the voltage is slightly below 5V.
MOSFET transistor: it is important detail given brainwashing, since it is this transistor that turns the laser on and off, receiving a signal from the Arduino. Since the current from the microcontroller is very weak, only this MOSFET transistor can perceive it and turn off or unlock the laser power circuit, other transistors simply do not react to such a low-current signal. The MOSFET is mounted between the laser and ground from the DC regulator.
Cooling: when creating my laser cutter, I faced the problem of cooling the laser diode to avoid overheating. The problem was solved by installing a computer fan, with which the laser functioned perfectly even when working for 9 hours in a row, and a simple radiator could not cope with the cooling task. I also installed the coolers next to the motor control boards, as they also heat up decently even if the cutter is not working, but simply turned on.
Step 3: assembly
The attached files contain a 3D model of the laser cutter, showing the dimensions and assembly principle of the desktop frame.
Shuttle design: it consists of one shuttle responsible for the Y-axis, and two paired shuttle responsible for the X-axis.The Z-axis is not needed, since this is not a 3D printer, but instead the laser will alternately turn on and off, that is, the Z-axis is replaced by the pierce depth ... I tried to reflect all the dimensions of the shuttle structure in the photo, I will only clarify that all the mounting holes for the rods in the sides and shuttles are 1.2 cm deep.
Guide rods: steel rods (although aluminum is preferable, but steel is easier to get), rather large in diameter 1 cm, but this rod thickness will avoid sagging. The factory grease is removed from the rods, and the rods themselves are carefully ground with a sander and sandpaper to perfect smoothness for good glide. And after grinding, the rods are treated with white lithium grease, which prevents oxidation and improves sliding.
Belts and Stepper Motors: For the installation of stepper motors and timing belts, I used conventional tools and materials that came to hand. The motors and ball bearings are mounted first, and then the belts themselves. As a bracket for the engines, a sheet of metal was used approximately the same width and twice as long as the engine itself. There are 4 holes drilled in this sheet for attaching to the engine and two for attaching to the body. homemade, the sheet is bent at an angle of 90 degrees and screwed to the body with self-tapping screws. On the opposite side of the motor mount, a bearing system is installed in a similar way, consisting of a bolt, two ball bearings, a washer and sheet metal... A hole is drilled in the center of this sheet, with which it is attached to the body, then the sheet is bent in half and a hole is drilled in the center of both halves to install the bearing system. A toothed belt is put on the motor-bearing pair obtained in this way, which is attached to wooden base shuttle with an ordinary self-tapping screw. This process is more clearly shown in the photo.
Step 4: software
Fortunately software for this brainwashing free and open source. Everything you need is on the links below:
In and all that I wanted to tell you about my laser cutter / engraver. Thank you for attention!
Successful homemade!
Many technical inventions a person learned by observing natural phenomena analyzing them and applying the knowledge gained in the surrounding reality. So man got the ability to kindle a fire, created a wheel, learned how to generate electricity, gained control over a nuclear reaction.
Unlike all these inventions, the laser has no analogues in nature. Its origin was associated exclusively with theoretical assumptions within the framework of the nascent quantum physics. The existence of the principle that formed the basis of the laser was predicted at the beginning of the twentieth century by the greatest scientist Albert Einstein.
The word "laser" is derived from the abbreviation of five words describing the essence physical process, up to the first letters. In the Russian version, this process is called "amplification of light using stimulated radiation."
By the principle of its operation, a laser is a quantum photon generator. The essence of the phenomenon underlying it is that under the action of energy in the form of a photon, an atom emits another photon, which is identical to the first one in the direction of motion, its phase and polarization. As a result, the emitted light is amplified.
This phenomenon is impossible under conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium. To create the induced radiation, use different ways: electrical, chemical, gas and others. Lasers used in living conditions(laser disc drives, laser printers) use semiconductor method stimulation of radiation by electric current.
The principle of operation consists in the passage of the air flow through the heater into the hot air gun tube and, having reached the set temperatures, it enters the part to be soldered through special nozzles.
In the event of a malfunction welding inverter can be repaired by hand. Repair tips can be read.
In addition, a necessary component of any full-fledged laser is optical resonator, the function of which is to amplify the light beam by multiple reflection. For this purpose, mirrors are used in laser systems.
It should be said that creating a real powerful laser with your own hands at home is unrealistic. For this, it is necessary to have special knowledge, carry out complex calculations, and have a good material and technical base.
For example, lasers that can cut metal are extremely hot and require extreme cooling measures, including the use of liquid nitrogen. In addition, devices based on quantum principle, are extremely capricious, require the finest adjustment and do not tolerate even the slightest deviation from the required parameters.
Required components for assembly
To assemble a laser circuit with your own hands, you will need:
- Rewritable DVD-ROM (RW). Includes a 300 mW red laser diode. You can use laser diodes from BLU-RAY-ROM-RW - they emit violet light with a power of 150 mW. For our purposes, the best ROMs are those with faster write speeds: they are more powerful.
- Pulse NCP1529. The converter produces a current of 1A, stabilizes the voltage in the range of 0.9-3.9 V. These indicators are ideal for our laser diode, which requires a constant voltage of 3 V.
- Collimator for obtaining an even beam of light. Now on sale are numerous laser modules from various manufacturers, including collimators.
- Output lens from ROM.
- Housing, for example, from laser pointer or a flashlight.
- Wires.
- Batteries 3.6 V.
To connect the parts you will need. You will also need a screwdriver and tweezers.
How to make a laser from a floppy drive?
The assembly procedure for the simplest laser consists of the following steps.
It is not at all difficult to do. The difference is in the number of contacts. V pass-through switch, as opposed to simple, three contacts instead of two.
In this way, the simplest laser can be assembled. What such a homemade "light amplifier" can do:
- Light a match from a distance.
- Melt plastic bags and thin paper.
- Emit a beam over a distance of 100 meters.
Such a laser is dangerous: it will not burn skin or clothing, but it can damage your eyes.
Therefore, you need to use such a device carefully: do not shine it into reflective surfaces (mirrors, glass, reflectors) and, in general, be extremely careful - the beam can cause harm if it hits the eye even from a distance of one hundred meters.
DIY laser on video
Hello ladies and gentlemen. Today I am opening a series of articles devoted to powerful lasers, because habrapopisk says that people are looking for similar articles. I want to tell you how you can make a fairly powerful laser at home, and also teach you how to use this power not just for the sake of "shining on the clouds."
A warning!
The article describes the manufacture powerful laser(300mW ~ power of 500 Chinese pointers), which can harm your health and the health of those around you! Be extremely careful! Use special protective goggles and do not direct the laser beam at people or animals!
On Habré, there were only a couple of times articles about portable Dragon Lasers such as Hulk. In this article I will tell you how you can make a laser that is not inferior in power to most of the models sold in this store.
First you need to prepare all the components:
- - non-working (or working) DVD-RW drive with a write speed of 16x or higher;
- - capacitors 100 pF and 100 mF;
- - resistor 2-5 Ohm;
- - three AAA batteries;
- - soldering iron and wires;
- - collimator (or Chinese pointer);
- - steel LED flashlight.
it necessary minimum for making a simple driver model. A driver is, in fact, a board that will output our laser diode to the required power. It is not worth connecting the power supply directly to the laser diode - it will fail. The laser diode must be powered with current, not voltage.
A collimator is, in fact, a module with a lens that converges all radiation into a narrow beam. Ready-made collimators can be bought at radio stores. These already immediately have comfortable spot to install a laser diode, and the cost is 200-500 rubles.
A collimator made from a Chinese pointer can also be used, however, the laser diode will be difficult to fix, and the collimator body itself will most likely be made of metallized plastic. This means that our diode will not cool well. But this is also possible. This option can be found at the end of the article.
First you need to get the laser diode itself. This is a very fragile and small part of our DVD-RW drive - be careful. A powerful red laser diode is located in the carriage of our drive. You can distinguish it from a weak one by a radiator of a larger size than that of a conventional IR diode.
An antistatic wrist strap is recommended as the laser diode is very sensitive to static voltage. If there is no bracelet, then you can wrap the diode leads with a thin wire while it waits for installation in the case.
The driver needs to be soldered according to this scheme.
Do not mix up the polarity! The laser diode will also fail instantly if the supply polarity is incorrect.
The diagram shows a 200 mF capacitor, however, 50-100 mF is enough for portability.
Before installing the laser diode and collecting everything in the case, check the driver's functionality. Connect another laser diode (inoperative or the second one from the drive) and measure the amperage with a multimeter. Depending on the speed characteristics, the current strength must be chosen correctly. For 16x models, 300-350mA is quite suitable. For the fastest 22x, even 500mA can be supplied, but with a completely different driver, the manufacture of which I plan to describe in another article.
Looks awful, but it works!
Aesthetics.
A laser assembled by weight can only be boasted in front of the same crazy techno-maniacs, but for beauty and convenience it is better to assemble it in a convenient case. Here it is already better to choose how you like it yourself. I mounted the whole circuit in a regular LED flashlight. Its dimensions do not exceed 10x4cm. However, I do not advise you to carry it with you: you never know what claims can be made by the relevant authorities. And it is better to store it in a special case, so that the sensitive lens does not get dusty.
This is an option with minimal cost- a collimator from a Chinese pointer is used:
Using a prefabricated module will give you the following results:
The laser beam is visible in the evening:
And, of course, in the dark:
Perhaps.
Yes, I want to tell and show in the next articles how such lasers can be used. How to make much more powerful specimens that can cut metal and wood, and not only set fire to matches and melt plastic. How to make holograms and scan objects to get 3D Studio Max models. How to make powerful green or blue lasers. The scope of application of lasers is quite wide, and one article cannot be enough here.
Attention! Don't forget about safety precautions! Lasers are not a toy! Take care of your eyes!
It is possible to create a homemade building level, when creating lighting effects when decorating a home disco, for an additional rear signal of cars, motorcycles, bicycles, etc.
A laser diode is a semiconductor crystal made in the form of a thin rectangular plate. The beam passes through the converging lens and represents a thin line, when it intersects with the surface, we see a point. To obtain visible line you can install a cylindrical lens in front of the laser beam. The refracted beam will appear like a fan.
The proposed homemade product can be quickly and inexpensively made even by a novice radio amateur.
I made it from a 5mW laser, 3V supply from AliExpress. Despite the low power of the laser emitter, it is necessary to observe the basic safety precautions not to direct the beam into the eyes.
Watch the entire manufacturing process in the video:
List of tools and materials
- laser emitter 5mW, 3V (link to laser)
-screwdriver; scissors;
-soldering iron;
-cambric; foil-clad textolite;
-two 1.5V batteries;
-connecting wires; battery case with headlamp power button;
- 5 Ohm resistor;
-LED with a transparent bulb;
- a strip of tin.
Step one. Laser board manufacturing.
From a small piece of foil-clad PCB we make a scarf for laser mounting. We solder a piece of tin to the PCB, having previously bent it over the laser body. Then we insert the laser itself into the clamp (it should fit tightly). From the side of the beam exit, we solder the LED (if you have a glass transparent tube, you can use a piece 5 mm long) from the back of the board and bend the legs, set its position relative to the laser to get a bright and contrasting visible line. It remains to place the board with the laser in a suitable case. We make a rectangular window in the battery compartment with the headlamp switch. To power this laser emitter, a voltage of 3 V is sufficient. In the battery compartment, we install two 1.5 V batteries. In place of the third battery, we install our board with a laser. We re-solder the wires to two batteries, respectively, and connect them to the push-button switch through a 5 Ohm resistor. If desired, the laser can be powered from a battery and use a buck converter board. To extend the life of the laser diode, I set a voltage of 2.8 volts and a current of 15-18 mA.
Step two. Manufacturing of a building level.
On the basis of this homemade product, you can make a laser building level... The first option is to attach the homemade body to the industrial level (of course, you need to precisely adjust the position of the beam). The second option is to attach the body of a homemade laser to a piece of foam plastic, put this structure in a container with water. The water level will always be parallel to the horizon. Check the position of the laser line with the industrial level. The farther from the surface the laser is, the longer the visible line.
This is the result of the weekend design. It was interesting to see the refraction of a laser beam with different lenses. How to use this homemade product is a matter of your choice. The process itself was, at least for me, interesting. A beginner can make such a timer on his own without spending a lot of time and money. And where to apply them is up to you. The whole work went to a weekend evening and 10 rubles (a packet of lasers from Aliexpress 10pc X 10r. = 100r). The rest of the components I had in stock.
Anyone can make a laser for cutting metal with their own hands today. And this fact can not but rejoice, because the cutter is a unique device with which you can easily and accurately cut metal of almost any thickness with high quality and accuracy.
Benefits of laser cutting
Demand this method material handling is influenced by several factors.
Cut quality
The first and one of the most significant indicators is high quality laser cut products. Such parts have a smooth, even cut and are characterized by the absence of any flaws on the treated surface.
Method versatility
The second important advantage of laser cutting is that with the help of this procedure it became possible to process almost all types of products, regardless of the hardness of the alloy from which they are made, their thickness or shape. Besides, laser method cutting of parts is not limited to cutting in a plane, that is, it is possible to make a cut and volumetric objects.
Process automation capability
The third advantage is the ability to automate the process of cutting metal with a laser using computer equipment. This property allows you to save not only time, but also cash on the manufacture of special casting molds required for the production of products. This increases the productivity of the installation.
Computer-controlled metal cutting results in more quality details that do not require additional grinding and grinding.
Note that all of the above qualities are inherent, to one degree or another, to all laser metal cutters, both industrial and home-made. The only difference between them lies in the power of these devices. Thus, hand-made lasers for cutting metal have less power compared to professional ones. laser machines... They are great for cutting plywood and thin sheets of metal, but not capable of handling super-hard and thick ones. metal products, as opposed to special equipment.
But despite this, homemade cutters are more popular among craftsmen... And all because industrial installations are quite expensive, and not everyone can afford to buy such a laser at home. Moreover, in household there is no need to use a heavy-duty metal cutter, the simplest DIY is enough.
What materials and devices will be required to manufacture a laser for cutting metal?
Laser cutter It is possible to make metal on your own, having secured the following tools and materials:
- laser pointer;
- the simplest flashlight with rechargeable batteries;
- an old writing computer drive (CD / DVD-ROM) equipped with a matrix with a laser (it can be inoperative);
- soldering iron;
- screwdriwer set.
It is worth preparing a place in advance for creating a device. Working area it is necessary to free from foreign objects, provide yourself with a convenient location and good lighting.
After everything you need is prepared, you can proceed directly to the assembly of the metal laser cutter.
Step-by-step instructions for making a laser for cutting metal
The first step in the process of making a homemade cutter is to disassemble the drive of an old computer laser burner drive. To do this, it is necessary to carefully disassemble the device and remove the device itself without damaging its integrity.
Then you need to remove the red diode, which burns the disc while writing information to it. This diode, in another way - a laser emitter, is placed on a special carriage equipped with big amount fasteners. To remove the emitter, you need to unsolder all fasteners with a soldering iron. It is important to perform all actions with the utmost care, since any damage to the diode can cause it to fail.
The next stage in the assembly of a metal laser cutter involves installing the emitter in place of the LED that comes with the pointer. To do this, carefully disassemble the pointer into 2 parts without damaging the connectors and holders. Then take out the LED and put the laser in its place. You can fix it, if necessary, using ordinary PVA glue.
This is followed by the manufacture of a housing for a laser homemade cutter. You can assemble the housing for the laser using a flashlight and rechargeable batteries by aligning the lower part of an ordinary flashlight, which contains the batteries, with top the pointer (before assembling, the glass installed in the pointer must be removed from the pointer tip), where the emitter is located.
In the course of making such a connection, it is important to correctly, observing the polarity, connect the diode to the battery charging.
After completing all the steps, the cutter is ready to go! It is important to remember that the device, if the safety rules are violated, can harm your health! Be careful!
DIY laser cutter
What is the difference between finished products
The main reason why many people prefer a homemade laser cutter is the low cost of this device. It should be noted that a home laser for metal cutting performs simple tasks no worse than a factory one.
This is due to the unified principle of operation of any metal laser cutter, which is as follows:
How laser cutting works
- During the cutting procedure, the laser acts on a metal surface in such a way that an oxidizing agent is formed on it, which increases the energy absorption coefficient.
- The powerful radiation causes the material to heat up.
- In the place where the laser beam touches the metal, a very heat leading to melting of the metal surface.
The difference in the work of a factory and a laser home-made cutter lies in their power, and, accordingly, in the depth of the laser cut into the metal surface. So, factory models are equipped with high-grade materials, which provides a sufficient deepening rate. Homemade cutters are capable of cutting only 1-3 cm.