Originally Posted by
Dean448
I agree that you shouldn’t use ball screw drives vs belts on CO2 lasers. If you want high accuracy invest in high resolution drive/stepper combinations.
As I understand you and underthertire and awerby, all of you said me the same. For Laser machine timing belts are mandatory, because it will give me enough speed for scan moving that is used for engraving and if it is do as it should, it can give me cutting precision that is equal or better than cutting process technology itself. If I choose this solution, I will have a dedicated laser machine, with all capabilities of a decent laser machine. That way, the question that is left is only controlling/driving mechanism that has both, software and hardware implications. If I goes this way, numerous solutions is available form buying a high class Laser machine, to modifying some cheep machine with my will. The end result would be dedicated laser machine, that potentialy will solve the problem with cutting/importing plus, I will have option to engrave with decent speed.
Other solution that I was initially opted was to go to ball screw solution, that will solve the problem with cutting/importing (as it will with timing belts), but I will have to sacrifice high speed engraving and maybe engraving completely, with option to add spindle on and have router too on the same machine.
So, choice is between engraving and routing as an option. The choice has also implication on what for I will use this machine. If I choose dedicated laser with no spindle option, I will have opportunity to make some money on the laser service market, when not cutting for myself. To have two machine in one is pretty temptation to me. Something that I was thinking just as far option (Z axis spindle) now has to bee built in from start or complete project will be meaningless because of the self laser machine (with or without some modification) offer a solution to my initial problem.
I have to rethink this idea again, from start. Thank you all for helping me.
BTW, no one has said anything about mounting laser tube on gantry.