Hello there smoothie users !.
It’s a “dumb question”. I saw the laser guides and, “maybe”, wiring and another pendants are “clear”,
it’s just time to buy the things and do some testings.
I have been considering the use of a laser diode (“40w”, “80w”), or even the chance to use a real 40w CO2 laser. Even said that, as I mentioned before, tests and decisions are pending.
The question is… I’m a smoothie user, and I built a cnc machine, so, I have experience wiring and configuring the smoothieboard. (The first kickstarter release)
Laser diode installation appears to be simple. The next goal is to build a CO2 laser. The guides appears to be clear for me, but, I’m a completely newbie related with the parts or components (physical) that are required to start the building. So, I don’t know if somebody in the group could help me to know “the list of basic components” required or suggested to build the CO2 machine.
Components like laser, power supply, belt, rails, stepper motors and pump are understood, but, for example, I don’t know “the name” of the head that is connected to the laser output that allows to use the beam and start cutting or engraving over the wood (for example) moving the motors, also I don’t know if some type of “blackbox” back emf device is required to wire along the installation. Another examples can be a current meter, a temperature meter, “a blue box” designed for me to enclosure the full installation, extensions or special plugs maybe, a double metal head will be better (laser), and I could still go on mentioning additional “required suspicious parts”.
I saw multiple videos on social media to understand these unknown components for me, but, after reviewing the videos and seeing the three guides available on smoothieware site (the main guide, and two more guides talking about “blue box k40”), I have decided to answer this pendant situation to anyone that could bring me just a little bit of help to know “what” more is required to buy.
I don’t know if the list could change drastically if the CO2 laser is above 150w (for example) or it’s “similar” if it was below that number (I understand it’s simple, change power supply and co2 laser according to the expected, but what happen with the other parts ?). As I said, I’m not an expert, I’m just trying to do my best effort to understand this.
Any info will be appreciated (even if there is a page or media that can understand a newbie, it’ll help a lot). Thanks in advance…