introduction

[derekja]

Hi,

I"m a computer science grad student at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia. I've been studying in a summer program outside San Francisco and have absolutely fallen in love with the laser cutters at the TechShop here. I've built a makerbot, so I'm not entirely unfamiliar with building CNC machines, but there's a big difference between building a makerbot kit and making a laser cutter. I need pointers to reading materials, other build sites, etc.

I suspect that I'll spend more on a homebuilt machine than a chinese lasercutter, particularly if you count parts that I ruin on the way! But it sounds a lot more fun to learn how to build one.

Mostly just saying hello and introducing myself, so don't bother reposting information I can find in other threads, but if you have a great resource that I should read that isn't already mentioned here please let me know!

Thx,

--Derek

[Tweakie]

Hi Derek,
I have just added a laser cutting head to my existing CNC machine but, like Bart says, it will never really be finished as I keep finding out new things and upgrading etc. Here is a link to my laser page where you may find something of interest http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/27.htm

Tweakie.

[bdring]

Yes,

You will probably spend more on a from scratch homebuilt than the cheapest Chinese engraver. The Chinese engraver will have a very small work area, you might pay more than you realize for shipping and often you need to send your social security number to China for import reasons. If you scrounge parts or re-purpose another machine like Tweakie, the price falls quickly. If Chooch's laser works out he might set the cost lower.

Most of us are building are own because that is what we love to do and enjoy the communities that develop around them.

[Tweakie]

Most of us are building are own because that is what we love to do and enjoy the communities that develop around them.

You are not wrong there Bart. It becomes a way of life

Tweakie.