Hey guys, one quick question - is it possible to make laser to trace

CAD & CAM Tool Chain LaserWeb/CNCWeb Suppport
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Hey guys, one quick question - is it possible to make laser to trace the image it engraves?This is my idea:

Let’s say I have to cut a circle, but I can see only 2 options:

  1. To engrave horizontally (laser moves from left to right with wasting time on moving over white spaces)
  2. Turn on “Diagonal” mode, so the result will be the same, just the laser will move on 45 degrees angle to engrave-cut.

So if i have a circle, how to make the laser follow the line of it - move in circle as well?

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Great! Thanks! Will try

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P.S., I have tried to cut plastic Yesterday with vector file, everything works as I wanted, but it seems the cutting line is so thin that when after laser passes through the cut path, the plastic melts together again. I have done 50 passes and I have seen that laser does go through the plastic completely, but after all 50 passes, I couldn’t take out the circle without damaging the rest of the plastic, cause it was melted back pretty strong… Any ideas about this?.. Maybe I need to make a vector file with few circles close to each other so that the cutting line would be wider? Or should I use raster circle so that this would be cut by engraving the circle…? All ideas are welcome :slight_smile:

P.S., I have tried this on 2mm clear transparent and solid polycarbonate like in these pictures: https://goo.gl/25rxS7

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+Peter van der Walt K40 for a $100…? I have been looking in aliexpress, but all ranges from ~$500… I probably missing something…
Or I just need a CO2 laser itself, which I could use on the same frame/machine I use diode laser? Sorry for a newbie question by the way

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Hm… well I am afraid You are right… Ok, now I would like Your advice on this…

1.Let’s say I would find some money in my budget for a CO2 laser, Would You recommend K40 (40W) laser? Or stronger one 80w? 100w? Would it be able to cut through thin steel plate, like 0.5mm? Or how strong laser would I need? My budget ~500-600usd. If for extra $100 I would be able to get something massively better, then I would find those extra 100.

http://2.Is it possible to take of size limitations of the working area? I mean, with the current laser I have, I can simply move it precisely over the plate I am working if the plate is bigger than working area of my laser. would it be possible to make some “tuning” to be able to move the CO2 laser to cut bigger pieces then it’s working area is from the factory?

  1. Would I need only electricity to use the CO2 laser or I would need some CO2 gas tank…? Yep, I know, the question that sounds silly. I am looking for info right now on google as well. Most videos on Youtube does not show how exactly the machine works, it is only some demo videos as I have found.

Thank You for sharing Your ideas and experience, Peter. I should have had found such community before I bought my current laser…

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Hm… CBeam is very interesting… But it is made for cutting only, right? I mean there is no point to use such machine for multipurpose as for example engraving on the plastic + cutting the organic glass or etc…? Well damn me… need to figure out the best multipurpose solution… if there is such…

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Agree with this, but should always think about possibility that there is something You don’t know yet - something that makes You wide-minded instead of being conservative.

I will write down my priorities and will figure out the best solution. Thank You for such a good information.

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omg… CBeam is perfect for my needs. And CBeam XL is perfect in size and with no “in the box” type limitation compared to CO2 K40 laser as You said. By the way, maybe You know, is CBeam compatible with LaserWeb4? I also wonder if they have warehouse within the EU. Otherwise, it makes for me nearly impossible to get it, because of huge VAT + Custom fees + Shipping fees… So at the end it would cost nearly twice as it is now…

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Already emailed, thanks!..It is Awesome. This is kind of a dream You know. I always dreamed about something like this, but I did not knew what exactly to look for… This beast can be so universal, incredible… I can already see how I run my own business with it. I will definitely get one :slight_smile: Just will need some time to learn how to use it and how to create files to engrave and cut in 3d (including Z access), I mean how to generate such 3D image (maybe using SolidWorks/AutoCad?)… This is what I have found it can do is more than awesome… https://youtu.be/HVR8pABCHXI?t=1h56m46s

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By the way, Peter, is it possible to add A axis on the CBeam machine? For cutting or engraving pipes for example.

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So I can guess that by the default, CBeam will come with smoothieboard, right? Or this is something that needs to be purchased separately?

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Thanks!