Synthetos

Laser Cut Cleaning Tool

So my workshop was begining to become littered with metal bits from my new Grizzly G0463 Metalworking Mill.  So I got a good deal on a iROBOT dirt dawg.  This little guy has been great.  I have been a long time consumer of the iRobots but have found that having 3 100lbs+ dogs tend to “tire” the robots out faster than normal.  That being said this shop cleaning robot seems to preform as expected cleaning the workshop.  In all honesty I am very impressed with it.

However, My metal cutting table has clamping T’s that little bits of metal would fall down into and become very much of a pain to clean.  So I decided to fab a part in google sketchup for the T slots to help extract the junk.  So a few quick measurements with my digital caliper and I was good to go.

Thingiverse Part Here: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1372

Here is the final product:

Tags: G0463, Grizzly, laser cut, Laser Cutter, laser cutting, metal mill, mill, News, workshop

Rack and Pinion Attempts…

My first attempt at a rack for a rack and pinion setup on the laser cutter.. All by hand in sketchup.. not super great so far but getting close… Once more unto the breach..

Tags: laser, laser cut, Laser Cutter, laser cutting, lasercutter, pinion, plexi, plexiglass, rack, rack and pinion

Laser Etched PCB’s

I was wondedring how accurate I could do small PCB components with the laser etching process.  Below is a picture of my results and the procedure I used to create it

I got a board out of the package.  I painted it with auto spray paint primer.   I then had to do some editing of the pdf I got from the reprap.  I had to import the PDF into corel

draw.  Then I converted it to a bitmap 1200 DPI.  I then was able to invert it.  I dropped my little test logo in and it was ready to go.

I then lazzord the primer covered pcb (single sided copper).  It looked great.  I used the apply the etchant directly on the board and rub off with my hands (rubber gloves) and a sponge.  I did it this way because it uses like 100x less solution.  I was a bit worried about how small the logo was and if it was going to be able to be removed very easy.  But after a few minutes of really scrubbing it was fine.

Once the copper was gone I went back to the computer and changed the lines (lines being the border and screw holes) to hairline which makes them be cut in the epilog driver.  I then re-lazzored the board in cutting mode.  I found that it was hitting the copper line that was the border and the screw holes.  This was not good cause I think it caused the laser beam to split or “move” to the sides of the border.  I think this is why its pretty frayed on the edges.  So it did not cut all the way through this go.

I went back to Corel draw again to think of a way to get it to able to be cut out.  Last try I did was (going from memory) I think the design was 1.647 x .7543 ish?  I selected the whole “image” and shrunk it to 1.627x.7523″.  This moved the laser off of the copper border still there.  This worked and it went all the way through.

My next go (in a few hours) is going to be a bit different.  I have setup the artwork to remove the screw holes and the border so the whole thing gets etched (no border and no screw holes).  After I Lazzor this I will place the artwork back in Corel draw.  Remove everything that is not the borders and screw holes.  Change them to hairline so they can be cut and then it should work without the “fried look”.  I also want to create some very small circles to place inside of the places where wire holes need to be.

The key thing to remember is I need copper to be removed then I can cut all the way through.  So if I can remove a VERY small circle where the wire hole is then I can cut that very small circle (which will look to our eye as just a hole) and no need for the dremel drill press

Have a question?  Just ask in the  comments and I will do my best to help you out.

 

Tags: laser cutting

Current Works

The laser has been delivered, setup and fired.  I have a few little things I have created so far but for the most part I am trying to learn how to use it with 100% accuracy.  Here are some photos.

So for the Wifi Sniper project.  I am working on developing the rotational mount so that the antenna has no room for misalignment.  My current design suffers from the problem of misalignment however not for long.

The rotational mount is nearly finished and ready for testing.  I should have images and videos of the Wifi Sniper using the new mount in the next day or so.  This is really the last hardware design problem ( I think ) thats stopping future progress.  I am sure there is going to be added tweaks and adjustments but thats life.  The overall design should be stable before its offered as a kit.

Tags: laser cutting, News