CO2 Laser Machine Applications?

Sylafari · Post by **Sylafari** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:29 pm

Ok, so my parents have a CO2 Laser Machine and they use it to etch letters on glass to sell as well as many other applications. I was wondering if there was any possible way where I can use it for the sake of scratch building. I'm not really sure but maybe it can etch on panel lines or things...

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:35 pm

What's the wattage? With the right settings and wattage they can do about anything, from cutting sheet stock to etching detail into flat surfaces.

Sylafari · Post by **Sylafari** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:39 pm

K I just asked my dad he said 60 Watts.

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 10:08 am

You can cleave Mr. Bond in twain with that! (Even if he talks)

DaveVan · Post by **DaveVan** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:19 am

I can do about anything I need to do with my 35 watt machine....a 60 will do it all. It does take some practice to use.

Adam Baker · Post by **Adam Baker** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:09 pm

I run a 2200 watt max output CO2 Laser Welder at my job. Its part of a 5 axis CNC system. Probably not quite exactly what you were asking about, haha.

Ive never thought about the possibility of using it for other stuff, haha. I might have to play around w/ it some time.

Maschinen Krueger · Post by **Maschinen Krueger** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:08 am

60 watts, you're set. We had a demo 25watt laser at the office and I could cut 1/8" acrylic easily. .04" styrene, like butter.

Acrylic - 60watt you may be able to cut 1/2" thick acrylic
Styrene -adjust speed and strength or it will melt. If you're good you can easily create control panels.
Paper - Think scale boxes, leaves, signs
Thick paper board - scale buildings
Wood - scale crates, decking for large scale battle ships.
Metals - I don't think you can affect any metals even with with 60watt.
Etching panel lines onto existing parts? You better have several of those parts to experiment on. Instead, cut out templates from another material to scribe with.

Your experimentation with materials may yield some business opportunities your dad never thought of.

However, never cut PVC in a CO2 laser, the fumes are horrible and the smoke will ruin a lens.

The only limit is your imagination. Really. What is the bed size? 60watt will have a big bed.

Actually the above is not entirely true. CO2 lasers as a whole have a short service life before they need to be worked on and the mirrors and lenses creep with use, so dad may not want to "play around" with an expensive machine just for some "toys". Unless you can get him into model trains.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:13 am

The PVC tends to produce chlorine gas. Nasty stuff.

DaveVan · Post by **DaveVan** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:35 am

A 60 watt machine will do about anything. Here is a kit, it's not Sci Fi, that I produced for a while for the model car hobby. It takes some testing to get everything set up right. My machine has 3 different setting with 255 power settings in each....so lots of testing needed. I cut and etch plastic, wood and matt. Good luck!
http://www.frontiernet.net/~currtail/hotdog.JPG

Sylafari · Post by **Sylafari** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:34 pm

The bed is indeed huge about i dunno i'm estimating but about 2 meters by 1 meter

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:57 am

Sylafari wrote:The bed is indeed huge about i dunno i'm estimating but about 2 meters by 1 meter

Aha! Just the right size for a British secret agent.

Disillusionist · Post by **Disillusionist** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 3:20 pm

Here's a neat little procedure you can do to find out if a material you'd like to try in the laser contains PVC. I've used it a few times, and it actually works!

burnination