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Laser Butterfly

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 10:14 pm
by citrusguy
This is a butterfly I made for a Christmas present. I "cut" it with a laser diode using Cut2D and a customized post processor for Mach3.

I made it from 1/16 inch thick hobby bass wood. Due to the low power of my laser diode, I burned it from both sides of the wood using Cut2D's flip feature.

Happy Holidays All,
John Champlain

Re: Laser Butterfly

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 10:28 pm
by rdean33422
That is really great!

Ray

Re: Laser Butterfly

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 10:45 pm
by glenn
Neat!
Glenn

Re: Laser Butterfly

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:06 am
by Rcnewcomb
Excellent work!

Re: Laser Butterfly

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 3:41 am
by citrusguy
Thank you, friends. I would like to point out, however, that the design of the puzzle is not mine. Credit for the design goes to a member of the ArtSoft forum
( http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index. ... 111.0.html ). I only wish I were so talented.

Regards All,
John Champlain

Re: Laser Butterfly

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 9:08 pm
by Rcnewcomb
John,

The fact that you can do two sided machining is an indicator that you know and understand your machine. (My first attempt at two sided machining was a disaster :oops: ) I look forward to seeing other projects that you will post as your skills continue to grow.

Re: Laser Butterfly

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:45 pm
by ssflyer
Turned out great, John!

BTW, what laser diode are you using?

Re: Laser Butterfly

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 4:26 pm
by citrusguy
Thank you guys. I appreciate the kind words and your encouragements.

Ron, I'm using a 445nm diode with my own design constant-current driver at about 1.1 amps. I think I could increase the power some, but at about $50 US per diode, and having already blown one diode while experimenting, I'm inclined to leave it alone for now.

I use a small blower to keep smoke from interrupting the laser beam, but at the suggestion of a poster in another forum, I will soon add a small compressed air jet to try to remove carbon from the kerf while burning.

I have also found that the laser is much less forgiving of backlash than when routing, so I will soon rework the Y axis to replace the present bronze bushings with linear ball bearings.

Happy New Year All,
John Champlain

Re: Laser Butterfly

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:27 pm
by citrusguy
My version of the Mayan calendar pales in comparison to Paul Rowntree's (http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11586), but I'm pleased for a first try.

Burned into a scrap piece of MDF - about 7.25 inch diameter. Careful examination will show the backlash (friction or "sticktion" ?) in my Y axis that I mentioned earlier.

Regards All,
John Champlain