how to control laser head movement from PC

[nicklv]

Hi,

I'm a newbie to laser cutting and i'm trying to understand how laser head movement (xy movement) is controlled from the computer. What kind of interface board and software to use.

Appreciate your advise.

Thanks

- Nick

[DennisCNC]

Well, it is controlled like a regular cnc machine. Just search on the forum here for Mach3 cnc. It is a cnc control software that reads g-code and send out step and direction commands out the parallel port of a windows XP pc. Then you need a few drives that take step/dir signals from the Pport and run the motors you want to use, some like this: geckodrive.com. First start with stepper motors this will be cheaper and simple, then latter you can go to servos for more speed if you need to. To generate the g-code for the sofware you will need CAM software. To make you drawing you need CAD. So once you have the machine step up it takes a few minutes or less for simple parts to be made. Just do a lot a lot of reading here on the forum and you will be a wiz.

[vladdy]

One of the simpler laser 'adaptations' that I've seen is simply to align the laser [laying down] along the X axis, a 90 degree mirror that's on the Y axis, and another on the Z axis carriage...
pretty simple, especially for a lower power 'hobby' laser for paper [gaskets, etc.] or easily cut things like plastic or balsa wood...

don't forget the safety shades...

enjoy...