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Thanks Mariss, for taking the time to whip up this circuit! I'll have to throw one together in the next few weeks and try it out. I'll be sure to post the results when I do.

Thanks again!
...

Mariss,
I ,for one, would be very grateful if you could post a drawing of your circuit. As the owner of a couple manual machines and several dozen steppers, power feed has been on my to-do list...

Gotta go with 109. Great product!!!

Brent

Sorry I misunderstood your first post, I didn't realize you were interested in building the laser TUBE from scratch. That's an entirely different subject than buying one (tube) already made.:)

A...

Tbilasis,
For an off the shelf CO2 laser, there are the cheap China made tubes and the more expensive quality lasers. The only middle option would be finding a used quality laser for sale.
...

mickelsen,
I've seen two techniques used for dispensing that could be built/used very easily. The first uses an ordinary syringe, with a stepper motor/screw combination driving the plunger down. ...

Paul, at your power levels you shouldn't see any performance difference between the different mirror types. I would just go with whatevers CHEAPEST.

Laser.Tech

3kw, always great to see another industrial laser guy. Welcome!

On to the original question: 4 to 10mm is THICK. A industrial CO2 of 1 to 5 kw would be the tool usually used. I'm not sure if...

I would agree, a PIC would be an ideal cheapest solution. However, if you don't feel comfortable learning to program/use one, consider using a BASIC oriented controller. There are several...

Sounds like a job for a small microcontroller connected to either a stepper/driver or servo/driver. Perhaps a BASIC stamp or similiar product? A task this simple, I think even a single PIC chip...

I just posted a brief tutorial on aligning a delivery system. It can be found here

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=47951

Hope this helps...

Laser.Tech

Laser.Tech's Guide To Aligning CO2 Beam Delivery Optics

Aligning a high power laser thru it's delivery optics is a basic step that is ESSENTIAL for getting the most accurate work results and...

Can you provide more info? What is your setup and what are you wanting to do?

Laser.Tech

'Fraid you got it backwards on gas mixtures! Sealed tubes are VERY picky on gas mixture. The reason is that during tube ignition, the gas is broken down (I think by the heat...). Anyway, in a...

MacGyver, refilling tubes was recently discussed in another thread, forgot what it was called. Basically the gas mixture is IMPOSSIBLE to get, companies use proprietary mixtures (NOT the same...

rick, I dont have any experience cutting flammable materials, but I would be worried about using co2 in a closed room. Also I would think you would go thru quite a bit of it, could get pretty...

Hi blinton! I've done both. Professionally I work on the big ones (500-5000 watt CO2s and YAGs), and I have built a couple home units (just the laser, not cnc). Right now I'm doing research for a...

Add one FESTUS redneck technician to the roles!:cheers:

Brent

Uhhh....no. It wouldn't work. For too many reasons to list. (chair)

Brent

Rick, looks like your tube is putting out what it's supposed too, cool!

If you want a simple and quick calorimeter later on down the road, here is a couple pictures of a typical 'professional'...

Rick, glad things are coming along (and you still have your eyes)!

Heres a good tip you may already know...while setting up the laser, ALWAYS use a MANUAL MOMENTARY SWITCH too fire the beam....

:eek: Oxy-acetylen torch!? Now THATs dangerous!(flame2)



Now that says it all, really. Hope I didn't sound rude in my last post, I just see a lot of misconceptions and myths concerning...

One possible setup I have seen would be to use a series of 2-way solenoid valves connected in parallel, each one with a preset manual flow control valve. Simply turn on the solenoid valve (or...

Safety is, of course, the most important factor in any endeavor. HOWEVER, it is possible to get a little carried away...

A laser is just another tool, with it's own do's and don'ts, just like any...

LOL, yeh, I've built a couple tubes... but it's been about 14 years. Constructing a laser tube of my own is what got me into machining in the first place. Forced me to learn to use a mill and...

4thSeal, as far as construction, no glass blowing or bending is required. Everything is machined. The blocks for the mirrors are not complicated, but do require some precision machining. The main...

Sorry Joe, but I had to jump in on this. Aren't you in the wrong place? I'm sure there are plenty of BUSINESS forums where time/money is the ONLY reason for existence. Where the pleasure of...

The go-to place for everything McMaster-Carr has 12x12x1/4 reinforced neoprene sheets for $20. They also carry conveyer belt by the foot.

Rick, my apologies. After my previous post, something kept nagging at me. I kept going back to that ebay listing, then doing research, then going back. After taking a break, it hit me: their...

Rick, thanks for sharing that, I see now what you were saying about using two lenses! They are showing a simple collimator setup. The problem with that arrangement, you might have a good depth, but...