wraggster
November 23rd, 2013, 09:02
http://hackadaycom.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/raspilaserengraver.jpg?w=580&h=434
If you’ve got a lot of spare parts lying around, you may be able to cobble together your own laser engraver (http://funofdiy.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-raspberry-pi-controlled-mini-laser.html) without too much trouble. We’ve already seen small engraver builds that use an Arduino (http://hackaday.com/2013/10/27/microslice-the-tiny-arduino-laser-cutter/), but [Jeremy] tipped us off to [Xiang Zhai's] version, which provides an in-depth guide to building one with a Raspberry Pi.
[Xiang] began by opening up two spare DVD writeable drives, salvaging not only their laser diodes but the stepper motors and their accompanying hardware, as well as a handful of small magnets near each diode. To assemble the laser, he sourced an inexpensive laser diode module from eBay and used a vice to push the diode into the head of the housing. With the laser snugly in place and the appropriate connecting wires soldered on, [Xiang] whipped up a laser driver circuit, which the Raspi will later control. [Xiang] worked out the stepper motors’ configuration by following [Groover's] engraver build-(we featured it a few years back (http://hackaday.com/2011/03/11/bench-top-laser-engraver-does-some-cutting-too/))-attaching the plate that holds the material to be engraved onto one axis and the laser assembly to the other.
Check out [Xiang's] project blog for details explaining the h-bridge circuits as well as the Python code for the Raspi. As always, if you’re attempting any build involving a laser, please use all necessary precautions! And if you need more information on using DVD burners for their diodes, check out this hack from earlier in the summer (http://hackaday.com/2013/05/06/dvd-laser-diode-used-to-build-a-laser-engraver/)
http://hackaday.com/2013/11/23/raspi-mini-laser-engraver/
If you’ve got a lot of spare parts lying around, you may be able to cobble together your own laser engraver (http://funofdiy.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-raspberry-pi-controlled-mini-laser.html) without too much trouble. We’ve already seen small engraver builds that use an Arduino (http://hackaday.com/2013/10/27/microslice-the-tiny-arduino-laser-cutter/), but [Jeremy] tipped us off to [Xiang Zhai's] version, which provides an in-depth guide to building one with a Raspberry Pi.
[Xiang] began by opening up two spare DVD writeable drives, salvaging not only their laser diodes but the stepper motors and their accompanying hardware, as well as a handful of small magnets near each diode. To assemble the laser, he sourced an inexpensive laser diode module from eBay and used a vice to push the diode into the head of the housing. With the laser snugly in place and the appropriate connecting wires soldered on, [Xiang] whipped up a laser driver circuit, which the Raspi will later control. [Xiang] worked out the stepper motors’ configuration by following [Groover's] engraver build-(we featured it a few years back (http://hackaday.com/2011/03/11/bench-top-laser-engraver-does-some-cutting-too/))-attaching the plate that holds the material to be engraved onto one axis and the laser assembly to the other.
Check out [Xiang's] project blog for details explaining the h-bridge circuits as well as the Python code for the Raspi. As always, if you’re attempting any build involving a laser, please use all necessary precautions! And if you need more information on using DVD burners for their diodes, check out this hack from earlier in the summer (http://hackaday.com/2013/05/06/dvd-laser-diode-used-to-build-a-laser-engraver/)
http://hackaday.com/2013/11/23/raspi-mini-laser-engraver/