Laser cutters are used in many industries, including woodworking, mining, metalworking. When these devices appeared on the market, their price was quite high. At the moment, improved models are appearing, while the cost is no longer so frightening. What is remarkable about this equipment and how appropriate it is to buy it for a small business, we will consider in more detail.
Principle of operation
The word "laser" has English roots and literally translates as "amplification of light through stimulated radiation." The process itself is the conversion of one energy into a narrowly directed, coherent, monochromatic, polarized stream.
Laser cutters are designed on this principle.
A beam of radiation is formed by the lens and turns into a small spot. A system of mirrors mounted on a coordinate table moves the beam by reflection to any position relative to the material being processed. Under the influence of radiation, with a high energy density, the processed point of the product in a short time heats up to the state of evaporation. With the help of such plants it is possible to process wood, metal, plastic.
Benefits
The main advantages of laser systems include:
- Low power consumption compared to other installations.
- Lack of mechanical wear of equipment. The torch acts at a distance from the work surface.
- For the laser beam, the quality of the material does not matter, it is able to affect any type of wood, including unprocessed.
- Lack of large vibrations and noise accompaniment.
- High performance. This is achieved due to the ease of equipment nodes.
- Lack of chips and dust in the production process.
- Mobility of equipment. The ease of construction allows you to transport and install as desired anywhere. No need for lifting equipment.
- Strict adherence to the parameters set using the CNC.
- Ability to work with any material: plastic, wood, metal, ceramics, rubber, leather, paper.
This series of advantages was highly appreciated by professionals.
disadvantages
These include a number of parameters:
- The inability to process chipboard, so it can not be used in the manufacture of laminated furniture.
- Processing plastic will be an expensive pleasure, as harmful vapors will be released during operation.
- You should carefully consider the parameters declared by the manufacturer. As a rule, such machines can process material with a thickness of not more than 20 mm.
- When engraving, it is impossible to create shadows on the image.
Deficiencies indicate that it is worth familiarizing yourself with the technical data of the equipment and deciding whether a particular model is suitable for a particular production.
Laser wood cutter
Wood carving is highly accurate. Therefore, under normal conditions, milling and turning installations are used, as well as manual labor.
The principle of operation of the above types is based on mechanical action on the surface being treated, during which part of the material is cut off. In this case, chips, cracks can form. The quality of work depends on the type and condition of the workpiece during such processing.
The laser wood cutter operates on a different principle, so it received a fairly high rating. It works by spot flash. Due to this, it is more gentle, but at the same time, the edges due to thermal exposure will be darkened. This feature gives carved products additional visual appeal. Due to the principle of operation, such installations are positioned as a laser engraver-cutter. Next, consider the design of the device.
Device mechanism
In order to make a laser cutter with your own hands, you should understand what it consists of. Five main parts of the mechanism can be distinguished:
- Emitter. With its help, radiation is generated with the necessary parameters. It consists of elements of a pump system, an active medium, and a resonator mirror. If necessary, equipped with a radiation modulation device. Three types of emitter are distinguished - solid, fiber, gas.
- The system of formation and transportation of radiation, gas. This mechanism transmits the beam from the emitter to the surface to be treated, and also serves to remove fusion particles and cool equipment.
- Coordinate device. It moves the laser beam and the product in space.
- Desktop. It fixes the machined parts.
- ACS. Actually the control system. Using it, you can set the cutting parameters.
Given these data, you can make a laser cutter for metal with your own hands. With its help, you can process other materials, including wood.
Laser cutter
This is the simplest type of equipment that you can assemble yourself.
For assembly, you will need a laser pointer, a manual flashlight, a set of batteries for it, a CD / DVD-RW recording recorder (the drive must be with a working laser), a soldering iron and a set of screwdrivers.
Initially, the laser is extracted from the drive. The work must be done carefully, a soldering iron will be needed during dismantling. Insert the extracted part in the pointer instead of the old one. The process is painstaking, it is necessary to perform all actions without jerking and in a hurry so as not to damage the device. Install the assembled new pointer into the flashlight and connect it to its power, observing the polarity. The beam should not interfere with anything, so the glass and interfering parts should be removed. The design must be firmly fixed.
If the technology is followed, then this manual type device can be used. As you can see, the assembly technology is quite simple. Such laser cutters are low-power, but they are quite suitable for some thin products and engraving.
For the production of more powerful equipment, you will need, firstly, a room where it will be assembled and standing, as well as a number of improvised materials. It should be calculated whether there will be savings in the long run. It is possible that it will be cheaper to purchase a finished model.
A number of subtleties
Assembling laser cutters with your own hands, it should be understood that if there are no materials at hand, buying spare parts can be much more expensive than buying a finished device. The market does not stand still, and laser cutting models are no longer as expensive as when they appeared.
When choosing finished equipment, it is worthwhile to carefully consider a number of characteristics:
- Power equipment. This parameter is directly related to cutting performance and thickness.
- The size of the desktop. A parameter should be provided that will allow the processing of the estimated dimensions of the products. They can be of various configurations.
- Manufacturer. It is worth taking equipment only from trusted manufacturers.
- Availability of service centers in the region. So that in case of breakdowns there is an opportunity to eliminate them as quickly as possible.
- Consider an exhaust device when installing the equipment. Do not forget that during heat treatment gas will be released that accompanies the combustion process of a particular material. This is especially important when processing plastics.
If all the characteristics are taken into account, then you can choose the appropriate model.
Safety precautions
It should be remembered that the laser beam was originally developed as a weapon.
Therefore, it carries a danger. You can not direct such radiation to a person, he can get a burn. Work with special glasses to prevent loss of vision. The equipment or room itself must be equipped with an exhaust system or workers will need
respiratory protection.The cost of laser equipment
How much are such devices now? Of course, it all depends on the brand and performance of the equipment. There are desktop and floor models. The first option starts at a price of 25 thousand rubles. Floor models can be from 120 000 rubles. There are many devices from Chinese manufacturers on the market, the price and quality of which are quite decent.
For example, a laser cutter for metal, the price of which, depending on the size of the desktop, productivity and options, is from 120 thousand rubles to 900 thousand rubles. While Western producers, interest by 30% will be more expensive.
Laser equipment was once a fantasy. Now, this device is found in almost all industries. For small businesses, such plants for processing metal and wood open up new promising areas, which makes the business more sustainable. Do-it-yourself assembly of low-power installations for private use is justified if you have the means at hand and any initial knowledge of physics.