Laser on the CNC router?

[Leo Voisine]

Now that Vectric is adding a laser module to its roster, I am getting really interested in adding Laser to my CNC Router.

We do any of you know about adding laser to the CNC Router

 

[Darren Wright]

Since you're running Mach3, you'll probably need the PicConvert module from JTech (https://jtechphotonics.com/?product=dacpwm-converter-board). Mach3 tends to pause between operations on rastering, so it will just turn everything black rather than changing the intensity of the laser. This module converts what would be Z axis movement into PWM for the laser.

 

[Dan Noren]

i was going to add one on my cnc, but had enough spare parts after the rebuild to make a separate one. might want to check out jtech photonics, he has a magnetic mount for all of his lasers.

 

[Leo Voisine]

I have a 100W laser stand alone laser machine. Some how a 7 watt laser upgrade does not make sense to me.

How many watts do you guys have and how well does it perform?

 

[Darren Wright]

I kinda agree with you Leo. I don't really need the laser on the cnc, maybe for adding some branding, labeling, or instructions as part of a finish would be nice, but not for doing images/engraving. I think the one thing that would be intriguing is the preview of a lasered item in Vectric and to get a baseline for laser intensity.

 

[Leo Voisine]

Well - lightburn does a preview.

I am thinking - it would be REALLY nice to be able to laser hilight a 2D carving. Not sure I want to invest $850 - $850 into something like that though.

Thinking about it.

 

[Brent Dowell]

Yeah, with the size of your machines, not sure how much benefit you would get leo.

For me, doing some simple images it makes sense as my cnc is larger than my co2 k40.

For example, when I made my record crates, the end panels I wanted to laser engrave were too big for the k40, so the diode laser had to do.

It's also way slower than the more powerful co2 laser.

 

[Darren Wright]

Well - lightburn does a preview.

Yeah, but the preview in Vectric would be on the 3d rendering to see the complete piece you've modeled. May or may not be worth the $49, but can't think of another tool that would show that to you.

 

[Brent Dowell]

The other thing is it that once you knew the x/y offset of the laser from the spindle, it would make workpiece alignment a piece of cake, since you wouldn't have to move anything.

 

[Leo Voisine]

I am thinking more on the 3D relief carvings with laser hilighting. All the other stuff I think is better on the dedicated laser machine.