I'm looking to build a 50 watt laser table for cutting cloth material and 1/8" hardboard for scrapbooking. I have no problem building the table and x-y movements, based on having build my CNC router. But the laser part is new. I've followed a couple threads, but a few things still evade me.
First, the laser tube. I gather that there are two kinds. A "sealed" tube, that doesn't require an additional gas setup, and a "freeflow" gas setup, which would require an appropriate gas setup. Is this correct. Is the "sealed" better and less hassle? Is the gas that hard to find for the "freeflow" kind?
And second, the power supply. I have some limited knowledge about DC power supplies. I construced a few of my own from microwave transformers, so I definetly get the basics of an unregulated DC supply. But the laser transformers seem to be in the 20 to 30K volt range. That's some serious voltage! Is it basically a DC supply that's geared for high voltage and low current? What makes the powersupply's so expensive. Even more than the tube's in most situations.
And last, is all I basically need the tube and power supply. I know I need to focus the beem through some mirrors and lenses. I guess I'll have to find those on ebay or some sort of supplier. I've looked through www.emissiontechnologies.com and like his setup. I like CNCAdmin's even more. Definetly like the cost. But I was intrigued by their plans to build your own laser tube. The biggest thing perplexing me is the power supply. With how cheap the tubes are, I would definetly just buy the tube. But the power supplies are outrageous!
Any insight would be greatly appreciated. After I get this laser going, I'll have a CNC mill, router, plasma cutter and working on the lathe. I'm hoping to open my own shop someday and just do as much work as I can. That will always be the dream though.