The laser is powered by a high-voltage voltage source of approximately 20 … 40 kV, depending on the power. The tube is bulky, fragile and requires water cooling. This is rather not a full-fledged review, but a post from the “look what I bought” series, because due to the specifics of the equipment, it is problematic to conduct a full test right away, my machine is still being completed.
About this type of laser href="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon dioxide_laser">Wiki says this: The machine itself is a frame with XY mechanics, there is no Z drive in budget models (there the adjustment is carried out solely by focusing the laser beam to the desired height). The next mirror is fixed on the profile of the X axis and moves along with this axis. For starters, I’ll show you a video showing how a laser cutter works on transparent acrylic The size of the tube also depends on the power of the laser: the more powerful, the longer the tube, and the diameter also increases. The basis of any such machine is a CO2 tube.
Compressed air is additionally supplied to the head in order to create excess pressure near the lens and to remove combustion products directly from the cutting point. Everyone has probably heard about laser cutting and laser cutting services. A carriage with a special head (laser barrel, laser focusing head) is installed on the axis itself, in which, in addition to another mirror that turns the beam from the horizontal plane vertically downwards, a focusing lens is installed that collects the laser beam into a point. Photos of an average Chinese laser machine
The laser cutting machine is a workspace with a mechanism for moving mirrors and lenses, a nearby installed tube and a high-voltage power supply (HV). CO2 laser is one of the cheapest options, has a low cost per watt of radiation. Self-assembly of a laser machine is not difficult, usually does not take long and does not require special knowledge (
just kidding) The review will contain brief information on laser machines, CO2 tubes, additional equipment and spare parts for assembling the machine, connection diagrams and so on. Common CO2 tubes have power from 40W to 100W. The work is carried out under the control of special controllers from the program on the computer. All this is closed by a casing / body.
Hello to all Mysku readers! Inside is a mixture of gases based on CO2 and a liquid cooling circuit. Unlike solid-state lasers, the laser module does not move directly here. I want to introduce you to specific equipment designed for the assembly (or repair) of a laser cutting / engraving machine. Be careful when contacting high voltage parts of the equipment. Overview-unpacking of the 40W laser tube, as well as accessories for assembling or repairing a laser machine (engraver / cutter). Be sure to connect the ground to the high voltage part and to the machine body. Attention: a lot of photos. Photo from one of the reviews It also rotates the beam 90°. There are other types of lasers (solid-state, fiber), now I will not consider them, since CO2 is still the cheapest source of laser radiation with high power. Sometimes they make windows for observation, but this is fraught – the glass should not transmit CO2 laser radiation, about 10 microns. As a rule, these services are provided on industrial machines with a powerful laser. Instead, a kinematic scheme with moving mirrors is used.
40W CO2 laser tube and other components of DIY laser machine
In fact, it was this video that inspired me to assemble a laser machine Precautions should be taken when operating and maintaining the laser, and protective equipment (goggles) should be worn. Thus, the laser radiation moves in the XY plane. The 40W laser cuts plywood, and what it can do with the tissues of the human body is better not to check
Laser radiation exits the tube, hits a mirror set at 45° and turns the beam 90° into the working area. Disclaimer: Laser radiation is potentially hazardous.