LaserUser.com Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)

I have a 24V ball valve to shut off my shop air [like yours, on when the machine is on] what I did not take into account [story of my life] is that the valve needs 24V to motor back off... and the 24V supply turns off first. If it isn't one thing, it's two things. I bought a small 24v supply to solve it... someday I will set it up...

Gene Uselman wrote: Wed Apr 21, 2021 I have a 24V ball valve to shut off my shop air [like yours, on when the machine is on] what I did not take into account [story of my life] is that the valve needs 24V to motor back off... and the 24V supply turns off first. If it isn't one thing, it's two things. I bought a small 24v supply to solve it... someday I will set it up...

Gene, I know exactly what your talking about!!!

Last night went to get a sheet of 3/4" plywood and had sticker shock. $62 for a sheet of 3/4" AC plywood is outrageous. I bought a sheet last spring and it was only around $35 if I remember right. Back in'98 when I built my house, I paid less than $9 a sheet for 3/4" plywood T&G for subflooring. What really caught my eye was OSB that I paid less than $4 a sheet for in '98, was almost $50 a sheet. That's over 1000% increase. How in the hell can a person afford to build a house today with these prices???? Anyway, I didn't buy any plywood and will use a piece that I have. It just won't be one solid piece like I wanted.

The 24 volt pneumatic valve I got leaks a small amount of air when the machine of off. Got it off Amazon, so it's going back. I might look at finding one locally of better quality.

I got most of the aluminum for the skin yesterday. I reinstalled the tube this morning, hooked up all the cooling lines, and filled the chiller with distilled water with a little bleach. Working on the installing the drag chain on the X axis.


Need to go get some 4" duct pieces and finish the exaust. Then fire it up and do a mirror check and try some cutting. Then install the skin.

After getting fume extraction ducting installed, I set the parameters on the CW-5000 chiller to hold a consistent 20 degrees C. I cut a 200mm square out of 1/8" acrylic at 30% power and 15mm/sec to check the calibration and to see how square it was. The square measured 206.13 on both sides and was about 1/2 a degree out of square according to my 10" machinist square. Calibrated it via the controller and moved one of the Y axis shaft a hair, and got it square and cutting the right dimensions. Then moved the head to the right front of the bed to try cutting a 100mm square out of the same acrylic. It didn't cut all the way through in a couple of spots. This was done without checking the aliment of the mirrors with the tube installed. Tomorrow, I will do a correct mirror aliment and try again. Then I'll get the skin installed.

I would think that building a laser would be a lot of fun [mostly] but using it has to be a gas. I forget if you are using the 'future' guy on youtubes plans as a guide, but I see he is making a few changes to his machine. We don't often hit the best combos the first try.

Gene Uselman wrote: Sun Apr 25, 2021 I would think that building a laser would be a lot of fun [mostly] but using it has to be a gas. I forget if you are using the 'future' guy on youtubes plans as a guide, but I see he is making a few changes to his machine. We don't often hit the best combos the first try.

I really like building things, especially machines I can use. I really surprised how well this cuts. Compared to the Yugo K40, this is a Cadillac. The 2 1/2" GaAs lens cuts very nice. In fact I'm already planning on redoing some things on 24" X 48" that I have started out in the shop and get it finished. This one will be use for wood and card stock, and the one in the shop I can cut all the acrylic and plastics that I want to cut.

No I didn't use Futher Fabs plans, but used his some of his parts list to find the right parts.

Yeah- that's it, Further not future... I was at the Doc on Friday and they asked if I sometimes wonder if my memory is fading. I said, yep, don't you?

Gene Uselman wrote: Sun Apr 25, 2021 Yeah- that's it, Further not future... I was at the Doc on Friday and they asked if I sometimes wonder if my memory is fading. I said, yep, don't you?

I forgot what I was going to say. Oh yea, I know what you talking about. I was talking to the better half about out son-in-law earlier today and couldn't remember his name and he and the daughter have been together for almost 5 years.

Did a mirror alignment and it will cut the same on all 4 corners now. I'm going to cut out a N scale structure today and see how well it engraves and cuts. I'm still learning RDWorks. I need to figure out how to do all of one layer before it starts the next.