Messages

8331

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: My first attempts at laser engraving.

« on: May 19, 2009, 07:38:27 AM »

Chris - In the process of experimentation I have concluded that a shutter system (to turn the laser on and off) is preferable to using the modulation input (at TTL levels). This enables the laser diode to be operated by a completely isolated constant current source and eliminates any possibility of voltage spikes from the machine or computer causing any damage to the diode. I have detailed what I have done so far on my website and the link is below. I will include the shutter details when I have time. Good luck and I look forward to seeing your results.

                                          http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/index_files/Page4549.htm

Tweakie.

btw. thanx for the links Martin.

8332

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: May 17, 2009, 02:36:19 AM »

Right - now it all makes sense. 

Tweakie.

8333

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: May 17, 2009, 01:35:15 AM »

Just curious Chris, but is Gertrude the name of your machine ?

Tweakie.

8334

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: My first attempts at laser engraving.

« on: May 16, 2009, 04:07:29 AM »

Dave reminding me about the magnifying glass as a kid led me to think about an offset parabolic satellite dish on a polar mount with the dish actuator driven by a simple 2 photo diode sun tracking system – assuming the dish was steel it could be chrome plated and polished with a water cooled collimating lens fitted in place of the LNB. This collimating lens would feed into a gas cooled fiber optic cable that was led to the CNC Z axis and in turn a water cooled focusing lens. OK it is straight out of the James Bond film but it is not rocket science and may not be practical here in the UK because of the frequent cloud cover but for some of you guys in North America it could be a practical proposition. It would not produce megawatts of power but I bet it would be more than the 150 mW I am currently using.

What do you think, would it work ?.

Tweakie.

8335

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Some new toys for my Taig

« on: May 16, 2009, 04:05:54 AM »

That is just great Dave. You now have the smartest looking mill in the country. 

Tweakie.

8336

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: My first attempts at laser engraving.

« on: May 15, 2009, 12:56:32 AM »

Hi Brett,

Transparent or clear materials are just not touched at all as these low power lasers favor the darker materials the best.
Now coloured acetate would probably work OK if it was thin enough, certainly the dark coloured Vinyls (sticky backed plastic) cut very well.

Tweakie.

8337

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: My first attempts at laser engraving.

« on: May 14, 2009, 12:49:03 PM »

Another photo I thought you may be interested in seeing.

Tweakie.

8338

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: May 14, 2009, 06:49:07 AM »

You certainly make some beautiful stuff Chris.

Tweakie.

8339

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: My first attempts at laser engraving.

« on: May 13, 2009, 10:49:25 AM »

Now this is what I call cutting - I do have a fire extinguisher standing by.

Tweakie.

8340

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Turret Tool Post

« on: May 13, 2009, 10:46:24 AM »

Excellent work Ken.

Tweakie.