Laser control box

Laser control box is nearly finished. Front plate machined and electronics mounted. Still need to add the connectors.

Laser controller

Rather than buying a Synrad UC-2000 controller from eBay, I have modified my existing controller design to supply the required PWM signal to the laser.

This is a PWM frequency of 5khz, with a minimum tickle pulse if 1uS and a maximum PWM ratio of 95%. All according to the Synrad spec sheet.

Laser lasing!

Well I received the PSU a few days back and have rigged up a CW test to fire the laser. I'm happy to report it does lase!

27v PSU adjusted to 30v

Here you can see the laser spot at the top right burning into the plywood. This straight from the output, no focusing head.

Pacer CNC laser mod

I've been toying with the idea of adding a small laser to my pacer cadet 600 cnc router. I have already successfully I stalled a 2.8w blue solid state laser, that can mark and cut some materials, but not to my satisfaction. However, now I have see it can work, I plan to add a syntax J48-1 10w co2 laser directly mounted to the Z axis in place of the router. 

I have found a laser on eBay that claims to output 14.6w, when they are new they deliver about 15w, so hopefully this should have some life left in it. 

The laser has been OEN modified to have a 15pin D type connector to supply power and control. No key switch, and fuse has been tucked inside. I could change all this back to a normal setup, but think I will leave it for now.

I need I by the optics, which are around £700 unless I find them on eBay. And I need to modify my existing laser control electronics to generate the required tickle pulse needed for the J48-1. Unless i pick up a cheap UC-2000 controller. I missed a cheap one the other day, but no guarantee it would have worked!

More to follow...