LaserUser.com Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)

After being bitten by some real nasty beasts like 3D-printing and CNC-machining, I've made my own 50Watts machine using 2020 and 2040 profiles, linear rails some steppers, TBC6600 drivers and a Ruida RDC 6442S controller. Used some 3D-printing as well for the more complex parts.

I've been following Russ' adventures for a while now and took advantage of the lessons he learned and shared.

As I have access to a large acrylic shop in my neighbourhood that supplies me with a very interesting pile of waste, I've been constructing, lasering quite a lot now with my machine.

One of the things I will modify in het near future is installing larger mirrors and a larger (20mm) lens assembly. I made the mistake, before following His adventures, to buy a 20mm mirror and 12 mm lens assembly from ebay. I just used that.

What I learned up to now is that, if possible, use first laser cutting instead of switching on one of my 3D-printers or the CNC-machine. It's amazing the things you can accomplish with a laser and the little time it takes. So now I'm starting optimizing my designs to save time and use the best of each technology. Laser comes first (quick, 2D...), 3D printing if it is complex or a mix of both to save time and CNC is most of the time the last choice if it needs to be cut from metal or thich materials...

Greetings from Sint-Katelijne-Waver,

Walter.

Welcome Walter. You appear to be very engaged in making. Congratulations on your build. Please post some picture, I’m interested what you built and I’m sure others will be also.

Of course. Here are some details.

From concept board to working machine, it took me about 3 months. Working on it in the evenings and weekends and negociating extra time with my wife
I've made all gantry parts with my 3D printer in ABS and once the machine was aligned and working I made the Y-gantry parts in acrylic (10mm).

Some specs:

Movements:
XYZ : 690x460x110mm
reliable speeds : 700mm/s in X and 400mm/s in Y
all steppers are set to 8x microstepping giving a theretical resolution of 25um in X and Y and 1,25 in Z

Gantry:
Steppers : 1,8° Nema 17 5kgcm
endstops X and Y : rormal reprap style microswitches
endstops Z (min and max) : reed relay with a magnet mounted on the bed
X : 750mm MGN12 rail and slider on a 2020 profile, 1 stepper, GT2 belt driven
Y : 500mm MGN12 rail + slider on a 240 profile. 1 stepper, GT2 belt driven, using a 8mm rod to transfer the movement to the left side
Z : 3-D printed a special support for the steppers. using 2 steppers with 2 closed loop GT2 belts. Driving 8mm pitch ACME rods. I didn't finad any closed loop belt long enough for my config. But I considered this as not that critical and used a right an left side stepper+belt+2 rods config. The bed sits on 2 3mm alu L-profiles left and right. These profiles also prevent the laser from cutting the belts (I hear you already thinking about that )

Laser :
I ordered a tube via Ebay in the UK from MCW laser (did arrive before Brexit date!)
brand : http://www.cncoletech.com
theoretical power : 50W
power supply : Cloudray T-series 60W HY-T60

Cooling :
600l/min pump sitting on the same level as the laser

Air :
Small, low-noise airbrush compressor. delivers 35l/min@6 bar. Since I do not intend to use it at 6 bar, it delivers more air then I'll ever need.

Extraction :
100mm tube with dual fans (push and pull) @ around 150m3/h
Will replace them with one larger fan as soon as I find a good one

Electrical cabinet:
60W laser power supply
24V power supply for controller and X_Y steppers
12V power supply for Z steppers and lighting
Controller : Ruida RDC 6442S
Stepperdrivers : TB6600
24V relays for : extraction fan, water pump and air compressor
You'll see some loose cabling on the pictures. I'm experimenting with a 'fire' button on a long cable to ease alighnment. Will be detachable with a connector.

Control panel :
- switch with a key for leaser enable/disable
- switch to disable X and Y steppers for whatever reason I would like to freely move the gantry like aligning mirrors
- mA meter for the laser current
- display water temperature
- emergency stop
- switches for : waterpump, air compressor, extraction fan and one spare for whatever use I might think of
- USB connectors for USB-stick and PC connection
- Ethernet connector

Main contruction :
A lot of 2020 and 2040 profiles
5mm colored Poly Carbonate with alu protection in the line of the laser beam.

So here are the pictures : https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iM1b- ... MoFUXqSKhg

Walter.

And yes … I'm cheating a bit.
I do not use RDworks. I did for some minutes, but I'm trying lightburn and am considering bying it at the end of the trial...

Walter.

Very nice, clean lines. I like the see through feature of the cabinet - make access easier because you can see everything.
You did an excellent job manufacturing and assembeling you laser you are to be congradulated on your excellent work - good job.

Lightburn is excellent software and is improving evey day. I only use RDWORKs to transmit files to the laser - I don't find RDWORKs very useful as a software application for very much.