150w LC1512 from G. Weike - Build Thread

[Asynchronism]

Machine is still running like a champ.

I modified the auto-height probe to make it shorter 3/4" shorter... mostly because that's where I broke it off. Now it's about 1/4" below the nozzle, and works a whole lot better. I changed the offset in LaserCut from 3mm to 18mm. MUCH BETTER!

I also added an air solenoid. Previously I'd added a regulator / water seperator to run it off of shop air. The machine has some switched plugs on the back, and I'm using one to control the air automatically now. Works great, and keeps me from forgetting to turn it on.

The thing is rock solid. We ran it a solid 130 hours last week, and pretty much all day every day this week. Melody sent me an updated config file, I'm going to try to load that tomorrow.

[Asynchronism]

I went to the ISA show in Orlando yesterday... several imported lasers (no G Weike), and of course the big three US companies - ULS, Epilog, Vytek. I got some quick prices, the Chinese companies were asking about twice what the going rate seems to be, but they were getting a lot of interest. Looking at the others, I'm still pleased with mine... there was a company called Kaitain whose machines I liked, nice knife bed design on that one.

They were all cutting little acrylic things, and I kept thinking their edges were nicer than mine. So I came back today and experimented. The trick seems to be going very slow, cutting without the paper on, and using little or no air assist. I seemed to get more striping with my usual 20 psi of air. The dogs (Clumber Spaniels!) are 3/8" and 3/4" samples.

Amusing / scary: I was talking to one of our vendors in their booth, and kept thinking "I smell laser". Sure enough, about an isle over was one of the Chinese companies. ULS and Epilog had these massive filtration systems running, the importers were running with the lid open and no exhaust. Argh!

[TurkishDelight]

@ Asynchronism

I don't really like the clearness of the edges of the acrylic piece I see on the picture you've taken. When you run the laser with highest power output and cut very slowly, the edges of the acrylic "melts" rather than getting clearer. Off course it depends on the quality of the material too. But many chinese laser manufacturers tells you that you can cut even 30mm acrylic with a 150W glass tube, which is eternal BS. Even my friend who is using a laser with a 280W Rofil tube says that cutting 20mm acrylic in one pass is difficult. And of course there is the speed problem. When I want to cut 20mm acrylic and the highest speed I get is 1mm/sec, it is practically useless. Cutting a single big workpiece with a lot of details could take an entire day. Off course that is, if the laser tube and power supply could withstand the stress that long. And there is the issue of heat and water cooling too.

Thanks for sharing your opinion on the ISA show. I'm eager to hear more about your machine. (Actually my boss is interested in the Kaitian machines too, but when you find gold, you don't really care about silver.)

[Asynchronism]

I think what you're seeing in the pictures is more a result of my crappy phone camera, the pieces in person are actually very good. The 3/8 piece is perfect, and that cut at 7mm / sec. The 3/4 piece is good, but would be far better if I had 100mm lens. Both are clear and smooth, and free of any striation.

You are right, the cutting speeds on the really thick stuff are ridiculous, and my bigger concern there is fire... the slower you go, the bigger the fire chance. Running the tube that hard isn't a problem though, I routinely run jobs for 4-8 hours at full power... and did that nonstop for over 100 hours the first week.

I may go back and try some multiple pass cutting on the thick stuff, but may wait until I get that longer lens. As for intricate detail, I can't imagine ever getting that at this thickness... the physics of the beam don't allow for it. Those parts go on th CNC...

I'll post a pic of the Kaitain machine a little later. It was nice, maybe a bit more elegant, but wasn't built as heavily as the Weike. The mirror mounts were smaller, everything seemed lighter on it, and I prefer my linear rails over extrusions.

[Asynchronism]

Thought I'd post a quick update...

We're still running the machine hard, every day. I did find that one of the belts needed adjustment (see pic) - the stepper was at a slight angle. Easy fix. Otherwise, not really all that much to report. I have some test cuts to do for another CNC zone member, and I still haven't tried the rotary attachment.

Dave

[Asynchronism]

Another member here sent me some material and a couple of his files for test cuts, and asked me to make a few videos of it cutting:

[RossMosh]

Have you thought about changing your air assist? Supposedly splitting the air flow between the lens and an external line keeps the lens cleaner and works a lot better.

Chinese/Shenui/Laserworks tips and tricks thread

The speed and power of the machine looks impressive. The way it optimizes the files is not. I'm assuming it's an imported DFX file? Either way, it should not jump around so much. Probably takes 10-20% longer because of that.

Now I feel a bit dumb. I watched the second video and clearly you already noticed that and remedied the issue. What did you do? Connected all the vectors to form one path?

[Asynchronism]

On my list of projects is adding tapping in a nipple to blow air through the inside of the head as well - I fully agree with you there, and it's how my ULS is set up. Positive pressure inside the head would be ideal. I just haven't stopped running long enough to get into it.

You're also right about the two cuts - one was his original file, one was after I joined/closed the vectors. It seems like some CAD programs always export like that, and I didn't even look at the drawing before I cut it.

I brought it into Corel, used the join vectors tool (one click), and recut - there are notes on the YouTube page, but I guess they don't display on the embedded files.

LaserCut also has some settings that allow it to either optimize, or always use the vector start point (I think!) - I haven't really played with that much.


Dave

[Asynchronism]

I've had a couple questions about the air ducting, so I took a few pics this evening. The inlet is above, the outlet is below, and the duct goes through the back and connects to the base of the funnel.

We're about to move to a new space, and will probably bring duct outside air in for the inlet.

[TurkishDelight]

I'm thinking about buyin a G.Weike Laser for cutting acrylic. What do you think I should add to the package? (Extras like automatic height finder etc.)

[Melody-gweike]

I'm thinking about buyin a G.Weike Laser for cutting acrylic. What do you think I should add to the package? (Extras like automatic height finder etc.)

Hi, Dear TurkishDelight,

I have sent private message to you about the accessories list. You can choose according to your demand.

Melody
melody@vip.163.com li@wklaser.com
skype:melody.gweike

[Asynchronism]

I'm thinking about buyin a G.Weike Laser for cutting acrylic. What do you think I should add to the package? (Extras like automatic height finder etc.)

Auto-height is nice, but not critical. I'd get the largest tube you can afford, the refrigerated chiller, and the motorized table... those are the big three. Air assist is included. Good luck with it!

Dave