DIY CNC Laser - Adding a 5W Laser to My Homemade CNC Router

After reading the comments I came up with a couple suggestions:

1) Add a laser pointer to the set up and have the pointer lined up with the spot where the laser burns. The pointer would then give you a visual reference without having to turn on the burner laser allowing you to zero the laser without the need for glasses.

2) (a) An optical safety addition: add removable piece of properly colored plastic that extends down past the bottom of the laser an inch or two above the cutting surface. This will insure that the potential laser on glasses off potential harm, has no affect. (b) Or you could just add a box around the piece being burned, cut or engraved; whichever the case may be.

I swear this man is like a video game character. The one you run into that builds a rocket launcher out of a tomato can, then later adds a tactical nuke attachment made out of an old iPhone.

Hi can you please please tell me what laser software is compatible with mach3 please

Good evening beautiful videos and beautiful realization ... I currently manufacture a cnc and I want to add a laser of 15 or 20w ... I already have the card in usb 4 axes for my cnc without output for a laser ... What type card to control only the laser should I add ...? Thank you ... Philippe

what software do you use?

What you will need to find out is if the Laser Module can handle Pulse Width Modulation. Typical Laser Engravers will have that so as to set the laser turning on percentage. 100% would have the laser pulsing very fast and more intense, while 50% would provide for the laser to provide a lesser burn effect in the material. This is where you would have to play with the settings to get the parameters set for each of the material you want to laser engrave. Mach3 does provide the ability to produce PWM signals to a laser device.

man you're awesome. but i didn't get how does switching between router and laser works..? i mean the switch and the position settings... too fast there man... can you keep adding things to it? like another router, with different tool for example? i'm newbe) sorry

very cool

why you rape them screws and tools like that? XD
I love your videos!

Intro: 11/10 👌🏻

Friend can you tell me when i can buy all Kit complete and specs? thanks!

Every time you say "zed" it makes me cringe.

Based on the fact it can burn wood, I'm sure the answer will be "it fkn hurts"... but I have to know, have you accidentally put a finger under it yet?

I've always wanted a CNC, more specifically to build one. Your videos have been a huge help. Always very clearly explained. After watching pretty much every video you made, I've convinced myself that its time to start building mine... and now I've added a laser to my plans 😁.

VERY well done!!

Hi. I can't find the wiring diagram. Can you please be more specific? Where I can find it?

Do you have a link to the laser and control board that you purchased. That or where to get? Too many questionable products online so I'd prefer to use this one as I've seen in your video how it works.

Why you choose add laser diode base and not co2 base?(co2 can cut ,diode can't)

I use UCCNC with the UC300ETH-5LPT and a C10 BOB. I need to know what hardware I need (ie: laser/controller) to integrate a laser into my setup.
What laser hardware do I need (I have/know nothing for laser)

Thanks was wondering how i was going to set up the laser i just bought. this made it real easy. thanks

Can this laser set up cut 3/4 mdf or just engrave

Isn't it great that a Schwarzenegger impression is the only one anyone can do correctly opposed to a Chewbacca which, well we all know how that goes.

bout how long did it take to burn your small logo

I've been searching high and low for a manufactured laser router combo, and have only found devices smaller than my needs, quality but I'd be sacrificing some of my ideas for size. After a couple of beers I stumble onto your channel and BAM, You my friend have just become my Yoda, thank you, thank you thank YOU! and free plans? where do I send my donations, thank you for real!

Hello. Is it possible to control the laser power using the spindle rotation signal? I'm asking because almost all laser module have a PWM controller, and I'm not sure if the Mach3 interface can output PWM to control the laser power. Thanks in advance!

Saya pakai board mach3 usb dan driver tb6600 bisa ga

I purchased a small laser similar to yours but it seems that it is either on or off, no adjustment for the strength of the laser, as least that’s my understanding, is that the same as yours?
How do you control the on and off of the laser so it doesn’t burn the surface from one area to the next?
Thanks

este ano ainda vou construir uma , otimas dicas

Great! I have a question though, I also have a CNC on which I can switch between the spindle and the laser diode but I can't find a way the make a design that use M3 and M5 to replace the Z axis command... yes I'm new to this! Do you have a video where you explain that? Or can you give me some clues? Programs, post processor, etc. Thanks!

Nicely done. I am looking at adding a diode laser to my home made CNC. I am also running Mach3. What are using to create the G-code when running the laser? Thanks for sharing.

Are you using the PCM signal to modulate your laser? Thanks

Nice

What cam software do you use? It has options for laser vs router?

Dude… u killed it 🤙🏽

will this cut paper?

How did you generate gcode , did you use vectroc aspire and Mach 3 ? When I choose j-tech post processing laser doesn’t work on CNC ( when I bring it to Mach 3 )

Did the laser control board come with the laser. I ordered a laser module and it didn’t come with a control board, how do I get a control board?
Thanks. Neat setup

A couple of questions if I may... Why 5w why not 8w? Can you still cut as well as burn with a 5w? I also noticed that your safety glasses were green whereas others I seen on clips have been amber, why is this?

You can send me photo your seting ? I not know how seting pwm signal for laser on mach 3 :)

Can you cut wood veneer for inlays on the lazer?

My dear, I watched the video and I liked the idea
But I have several askes
First, I prepared the mach3 so that the sapendle works and stops through the gcode I take so the pwm
The question is if you ride a laser head how will this head work through gcode orders

Hello, thanks for your video. Could you recommend a software to create toolpath for laser? How do I control laser power? Thanks for any advise ahead of time.

First of all "a Great video" but i Must say that your house keeping skills (wiring) are great, i have a 4x4 diy cnc since 2017 and still working on the house keeping. Keep up the great work. also i notice you use Belt drive i use .25 chain drive and love it, i have only had to make adjustments once since i started and travel speeds are high.

In my case 3wire laser 12v,gnd&pwm …..pwm connect with pin 1 and external power supply for laser also but laser always power on its not control by mach3 …any idea about this issue ….external power supply gnd wire should connect with mach board?

How does mach3 turn the laser on and off during the engraving process without PWM?

Awesome! Thinking about adding a laser to my Chinese benchtop engraver machine. You gave me a lot of ideas.Thanks for the great video!

Thanks for the information on installing and wiring the laser. I do have a question as to how you turn the laser on and off, also how you eliminated the Z axis up down movement? Having this information will insure I configure my laser properly.

Great technique and approach. Good stuff.