cost to build DIY laser engraver

[georgebarr]

What is the cost to build a DIY laser engraver assumming I already have an XYZ axies table? I plan to use it to cut balsa sheets to make RC airplanes. Here is an example:

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWR_OC5skRQ"]YouTube- Laser Cutting Balsa @ www.lasercuttingakm.com[/nomedia]

The price in US dollars will just include the laser itself and any special hardware to operate it. I already have Mach controller and XYZ table.

Thanks,

[zax15uk]

I would budget $1k if using a glass tube, although you may be able to shop around and get all the components for ~$600.

The XY table design is slightly different between laser and CNC, since the laser can be built with much lower mass resulting in faster acceleration. Lasers do not require ballscrews or even leadscrews, belt drive is often acceptable. Of course if you already have an XY table there is no reason a laser retrofit could not be successful, but you may not get the optimum cutting speeds which will be required with balsa to prevent burning.

Zax.

[fullspeceng]

If you just want to vector cut from a CAD file then you can use Mach3 and be happy.

But lasers are much better in that you can take advantage of direct printing technology so you just do File/Print from any Windows application and it spits it out.

Epilog and Universal Laser offer it. Now you can get the same thing with our USB RetinaEngrave :

http://www.fullspectrumengineering.c...naEngrave.html

[bdring]

1K is about right...Check out buildlog.net.

http://www.buildlog.net/cnc_laser/index.php