CO2 Laser

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Main > Digital Fabrication > RepLab Tools > Laser cutter


Introduction

A low-cost laser cutter ($1-2k) can be made using laser engraver parts.

  • The CO2 laser tube - $500 for 80 Watts
  • Laser tube mount
  • power supply
  • focus lens - $65 at [1]
  • lens mount
  • reflection mirror
  • mirror mount

Design Rationale

The enabling point of a practical, low-cost laser design is the ability to do significant cuts (1/8") by performing multiple passes over the cut pattern. If each cut does 10 thousandths of an inch in steel for an 80 watt laser - then 12 passes give you a 1/8" cut. This is sufficient, for example, to laser-cut a 20" Sawmill blade

From [2]: Lasercomparison.jpg

Resources

Suppliers

  • American supplier of tubes and components - [8] - but pricey at $4k for 80 watts
  • 100W RF laser from Synrad

Professional Consultants

Independents