1 Attachment(s)
block diag. only for Coherent
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham S
Your best bet maybe to take some decent photos, post them here or on the web somewhere and then ask on alt.lasers there are a lot of people on the industry who keep an eye on that group. Sam of Sam's FAQ is one of them.
Remember that for cutting all you really want is PWM control of the power.
Graham
So far, I have received nothing, yet, from the posting to alt.lasers...
I did find one place back east that would sell documentation to me for the Coherent laser, for $200. They said there was mostly just block diagrams...
After poking around, I found locations completely covered, for other circuit boards, with usual bundles coming and going....so it is NOT as simple as I thought....story of all bargains, right?
It is looking like we may just have to treat it to a complete re-wire unless I can find documentation that would let us know which boards do what, and where....and looks like $200 added to the "bargain"....,
Marc and boyz
We're not in Kansas, Toto !
Thanx
You are right, naturally.
We have been contacting second hand dealers all over (why so many in Florida?!!)
Armed with a new term now, BME, we will be collecting yellow page phone numbers for hospitals all over the West Coast. Somebody would be willing to photo copy stuff for $50 soon, I am sure....maybe even offering $50 reward for a referral that leads to documentation (as long as THAT doesn't end up costing me an arm and a leg as well...) '
Both units are not even serviced by manufacturers any more, so manufacturers (or whatever company bought them out once or twice since then) do not even stock docs...or so they say...
thanks again....
onward...
Adapting a laser to current cnc mill
I have been reading your post and I am interested in adapting a laser onto my Haas vertical TM1 cnc mill. It has a woking area 30" x 12" and 16" in Z
http://www.haas.co.uk/master.html?ht...o.uk/used.html
goto vertical tm1
How far along are you into this project and have you done this before? Where and what kind of laser should I be looking for? I would like to do engraving (anodized aluminum) and cutting panels (acrylics 1/4 thick). I would appreciate any info.
Thanks
Bob Flores
Modern Machine Technologies
[email protected]
conversion to laser engravers
GO!!
We started to convert a working laser ( we have two) into an engraving system earlier, but ran into snags in other areas, not the least of which was knowledge. (and lots of cash)
We would love to follow along as the wizards ( including our Fearless Leader, who just built his cutting laser here,) explore what is needed to do engraving.
We can horse trade one of the lasers ?
Keep going....we are ready to learn and it sounds like laser engraving is next!!! There have been some great laser cutting systems developed here on CNCZone and lots of great learning was shared.
How can we help this next phase?
Marc and boyz, Oregon
How are you planning on adapting your laser
Marc, Based on what you have described about your laser with an articulating arm and trying to envision a method of holding the laser head in a modified tool holder or clamp to the spindle head that only moves in z, maybe select an auxillary gcode to turn on power for the laser (let the current laser units control panel vary power setting), with this setup it seems like it would be minimal fabrication. Anybody please comment if there are big holes in this picture. Looking for input on what type of laser I should be looking for.
Some ebay items I don't know if these are the right type
CO2 LASER SYSTEM Item number: 7542425777 (will this engraving anodized alumium)
Sharplan 2100 Yag Laser Metal Cutting Industrial Medic Item number: 7542606636
Coherent Innova 70 Water Cooled AR Laser NR Item number: 7543522814
LASER DUAL SYSTEM FOR PARTS COHERENT BRAND ? Item number: 7543652367
laser adapting for CNC engraving
Bob
Sorry to be gone so long.
My 3 sons and I were building a larger plasma torch but that got put on hold. We lost the mom and family business due to cancer and I had to quit work due to messed up back....so that is why we have to watch our spending. We have most parts for a couple of other machines and we are
currently wanting to adapt our laser(s) to a used Isel table we also scored for cheap from a lab shut down. (no electronics came with it, dang it).
We can clamp one of our articulated hand pieces to the gantry and cut but we need to control the laser completely through the computer....and we are also poor in our electronics skills. And we have scored 0 in getting tech manuals etc. for the lasers....a 40 watt and a 70 watt, both CO2. Our big need is for engraving, so we need to be able to do photo engraving with the laser....not much use for cutting thick stuff, now or in the future.
Because of our limitations in knowledge, Bob, I feel unqualified to comment on which laser system will work best for what you have. I am sure the knowledge for both of our needs is out there on CNCZone, and we are hoping to swap some hand holding for one of our lasers. We would love to document the successful conversion here so that others can learn. We are very envious of Owen's experiences that he shared so well here and that others are sharing likewise.
So, how about it, oh experienced ones...any quidance for converting perfectly good CO2 surgical lasers to CNC engraving? It is the electronics where we need the most help, :drowning: since all aspects of the laser are taken care of....power, cooling, lenses, and so forth.....anybody else wanna burn holes in their pool table? (they were not supposed to be working when we plugged them in....) It looks as if three different people at CNCZone are wanting to take their current CNC tables and learn how to do the electronics for serious engraving without spending another $10,000 or more.
Marc and boyz
Oregon