I remember about 10 years ago, it was popular among beginning radio amateurs to make lasers from a DVD drive diode that burns discs. Despite the primitiveness of the design, with a blue laser diode it was possible to obtain a power of up to 0.6 watts, powering this thing from batteries. But the Chinese industry does not stand still and now it is no longer possible to cut foil on a CD, but wood and even metal using powerful modern laser modules of 1-15 watts. All of them are designed for use on CNC machines (read more here) and are powered by 12 volts. Naturally, they can work without mains power - on 3 lithium batteries, which allows these laser modules to be used... let's say - not only in machine tools))
But let's move on to the review. Modules of 1, 5, 10 and 15 watts will take part in it. Let's start with the youngest, which is installed in mini laser engraving machines.
Laser connection diagram
Power supply circuit for the laser module Power supply circuit for the laser module in the CNC
The modules are connected to a 12 V DC voltage source, differing only in current consumption. On the machine, a special connector on the CNC board is used to supply power, and if necessary, you can use a regular switching power supply by plugging the plug into a standard socket through such an adapter (included in the kit).
Useful: Dual-channel PWM pulse generator module XY-PWM
Adapter for external laser power supply
TTL control is carried out through a special block using PWM pulses. There is no schematic, but here is a photo of this board with parts in good quality.
TTL PSU board
With your own hands
If you want to save money and assemble a homemade mini-laser for cutting plywood with your own hands, then you will have to buy a laser gun, since a computer disk drive can only burn wood. But with a mechanism for coordination, everything is much simpler. You can also make CNC equipment yourself. The main thing is that the working element must move smoothly along the guides. Toothed belts and drives can be purchased online. As a control system, you can take a ready-made integrated element, for example, an Arduino chip.
Cutting plywood using a laser beam is a very effective and affordable technology. The reasonable price of the device allows you to buy it both for hobby and for generating income. And if you have the opportunity to make a plotter with your own hands, then you can save a lot on this.
Originally posted 2018-03-28 15:21:55.
How to choose laser power
With the most powerful head available, a 15-watt head, you can easily engrave not only wood, but almost any type of metal (some are better at burning, others worse). With a laser up to 5 watts you can engrave and cut wood, cardboard, plastic, and leather. Well, the 1-watt model won’t surprise you with any special results - only cardboard and plywood.
Laser cutting - examples
Note:
The head will output 100% of the laser intensity when you directly connect it to a 12V power source. Do not use it for more than 10 minutes in this mode, otherwise the laser will burn out. It is advisable to slightly reduce the supply voltage, at least by 1 volt - this will significantly increase the life of the diode without noticeably reducing the beam power.
Most Popular Brands
When choosing a laser plotter for plywood or a full-fledged tool for cutting out various materials, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer, especially when purchasing a used device. Today there are many brands of equipment on the market - from machines for simple cutting of wood and plywood to powerful devices for industrial use. Experts advise studying the range of the following companies:
- Koike;
- Bystronic;
- Trumpf;
- ESAB;
- ByStar;
- MultiCam.
The highest quality machines are produced by Japanese and European brands. When purchasing Chinese devices of unknown origin, you should think carefully as they break down quickly. It is noteworthy that there are no domestically produced laser devices on sale, since Russian developers have not yet mastered this technology well enough.
Almost all Japanese machines for laser cutting of wood and plywood (plasma, carbon dioxide, etc.) have effective automated control. But the cost of such cutters is very high. But brands from Europe are loved by many users and enterprises for their high degree of reliability, functionality and resistance to power surges.
Customer reviews about laser heads
The machine was packaged perfectly +, I really assembled it in 5 minutes, even without looking at the instructions +. The software is on a flash drive, it can be installed easily, but it’s not in Russian, I had to watch the video instructions +/-. The engraving process itself is like in the video, the only thing you need to pay attention to is: a simple drawing from the test folder on the attached template, engraved in 10 minutes (not quickly), and if something more significant - a photo and the size of a matchbox for more than an hour. For a long time -. The quality of the engraving, well, there are some shortcomings (I tried to engrave it on a knife, well, let’s say it didn’t work out very well. And the metal was different and didn’t take into account the fact that the knife was not even and the focal length was lost because of this), although they can be attributed to my inexperience. Overall, not bad. I gave it a well-deserved 5.
The laser worked worse and worse every day, in the end it does not engrave on the metal, the seller does not respond, I learned from other people that these lasers lose power after a month, that is, this is not the first time, I do not advise anyone to buy this Chinese product, it’s a waste of money.
In the description, the working area does not correspond to reality, it is less than about 2 centimeters, when cutting cardboard, all the smoke comes out, it is impossible to breathe. The stand or the structure itself is slightly uneven, which is why the focal length is different everywhere. The 1.5 mm cardboard does a good job of cutting.
I bought 8w power and pulse up to 15w, it shoots through 2 mm plywood quickly, delivery is about 20 days and it takes a very long time to ship, it may be out of stock but everything is of high quality.
The product meets the quality requirements. If you adapt, you can engrave with high quality. Advice: 1. Do not look at the operating laser even with glasses, 2. Install only on a flat surface, as shifting occurs from the motor pushes. It doesn’t burn everything, which is understandable: only 15 watts, it burns 4 mm plywood in 3-4 passes.
Packed perfectly. Works well, engraves, cuts. I tried to engrave metal on the sample sent, it worked! The body itself is knocked down and smooth. The software is quite simple, there are detailed instructions.
Operating principle and types of devices
The working element of the device is a laser beam , that is, a powerful light beam. When it comes into contact with the surface of the plywood, the place of contact is subjected to strong heating, and the wood fibers simply burn out. This is how non-contact laser carving occurs. Laser power depends on the equipment model and its configuration. This characteristic also determines the scope of use of the device . There are several types of devices on sale:
- Desktop. Suitable for a small workshop or home, as it is designed for processing small workpieces. Power indicators - from 80 W, cost - from 40,000 rubles.
- A professional machine for shaped cutting of plywood is used in the small business segment for engraving and making design elements. Power - from 200 W, cost from 160,000 rubles.
- Industrial . Laser power for cutting plywood is from 2 kW. These are full-fledged complexes with high productivity. Such equipment is used in enterprises for the production of large batches of products. Cost - from 400,000 rubles.
DIY laser for cutting wood and plywood: myth or reality?
A simple laser cutter can be made from available materials, but it will not cope with wood and thick sheets of plywood. To create an entire machine, you will need to purchase expensive parts:
- stepper motors or electric motors from the printer to move the device along its axes;
- transistors and boards for motor control;
- DC-DC regulator;
- cooler for emitter;
- electronic board with a digital display for displaying information;
- controllers;
- laser with a power of at least 30 W;
- Limit switches;
- timing belts and pulleys;
- frame;
- computer and USB cable for communication with the cutter controller;
- boards for making the working frame of the apparatus;
- metal rods with a diameter of 10 mm.
In addition, you will need bearings, bolts, ties, screws, etc. The laser cutting machine is a shuttle type device. Its moving elements and guides serve to move the working head along two axes and regulate the cutting depth. Stepper motors that move the laser head are mounted on fixed parts of the frame frame and connected to moving parts via toothed belts.
To perform engraving on plywood and wood, a special program is loaded onto the PC, transmitting commands to the controller. It regulates the movement of the carriage with the laser, adjusting the movements of the working head to the selected pattern. Professional software allows you to apply images of any complexity to plywood with the high precision inherent in laser cutting technology.
Thus, with proper preparation and the availability of the necessary parts, you can independently assemble a medium-power laser machine capable of cutting thin sheets of wood or plywood.
Plywood for laser machine
For cutting with a laser machine, the so-called indoor plywood or FC (the abbreviation stands for “plywood + urea-formaldehyde glue”) is suitable.
It is better not to use moisture-resistant plywood or FSF for laser. It is very difficult to cut with a laser. So, this plywood with a thickness of 4 millimeters is cut using the same parameters as ordinary FC plywood with a thickness of 12 millimeters. Other times it just burns. And, as they say, do you need it? This type of plywood is easier to process with a milling machine.
In addition, there is bacilite plywood for making, for example, spacers. It is cut either with a milling cutter, or with a waterjet, or with diamond cutting equipment. In this case, ideally it is better to use waterjet, because the same milling cutters burn when processing bacilite plywood (we read - we spend a lot of money on consumables), and all due to the fact that it is impregnated and coated with a special strengthening chemical composition, in some cases epoxy resins.
There are also special grades of lightweight aircraft plywood. This is just space for a laser specialist. Its advantage is that it cuts very well, and at the same time it is very durable, because it is intended for aircraft modeling. In a word, she is perfect. This plywood is produced in a thickness of 2 millimeters.
The higher quality the plywood, the easier it will be for you to process it. Choose plywood with a minimum number of knots. They interfere with normal cutting.
Plywood for cutting on a laser machine must be ordered from specialized companies. Regular hardware stores and hypermarkets sell plywood that is not suitable for laser processing.
Features of laser cutting
- Increased accuracy significantly reduces the amount of waste, which makes this method of working with material economically profitable. Simplicity of execution. The ability to cut into any number of workpieces, regardless of the complexity of their configuration. High speed of operations. High quality of the finished sample. No further sanding is required.
But in order to do such work, you need to have a laser machine for cutting plywood.
The principle of its operation is as follows. The cutting of the material is carried out by a gas laser, while constantly blowing the area being processed to prevent ignition of the wood or significant charring of the edges. All process control is automated, and work is carried out depending on the specified program.
Many sites provide recommendations for making your own laser machine for cutting plywood. However, the feasibility of this raises some doubts.
Firstly, even sheets of plywood of the same grade are not the same. The production technology of this material has its own nuances.
Not to mention the thickness of the samples, it is also important what wood the veneer is peeled from, the average number of knots per 1 m2 and a number of other points. The choice of operating mode of the laser beam depends on this. Is it possible to take all this into account and configure it properly without much experience?
Secondly, the cost of assembling the device will not pay for itself. If you just need to decorate a specific building with openwork plywood crafts, then you can contact a specialized workshop.
By the way, services for industrial processing of blanks are not that expensive. The average price for 1 m of cut ranges from 30 (thickness up to 5 mm) to 130 (more than 21 mm) rubles. How much “footage” (and, accordingly, money) is needed to decorate a gazebo, veranda, and so on?
But to assemble a laser machine for cutting plywood yourself, you need to spend at least 50 thousand, and even then, on the most primitive one. Does it make sense if it is needed for a “one-time” use?
Thirdly, such a device brings in good income if the business is put into production. But a professional, caring about the quality of the product and the speed of work, is unlikely to assemble something like this from improvised means. There is a fairly large assortment of appropriate units on sale, so you can easily choose the optimal model.
Prices vary widely, since the cost is determined by the capabilities of a particular product, as well as various “services”. For the cheapest one you will have to pay at least 88,000 rubles.
Principle of operation
The layout, the workpiece is processed using a beam, which on the surface of the material looks like a spot, the diameter of which is several microns. The beam is formed thanks to a lens, which is installed at a short distance from the base part of the part. The beam moves thanks to a drive that is pre-programmed for the technical parameters of the element being processed. Most often used in wood processing:
- Gas, with a beam diameter of 10 microns, formed using a gas tube.
- Solid state laser. The beam diameter of 1 micron is created using neodymium glass.
Plywood laser cutting technology
Laser machine for processing plywood
A targeted thermal effect on a decorative natural material partially destroys it. This occurs due to the formation of plasma, similar to arc welding. However, the plywood does not melt, but burns out.
The main component of the machine is the laser installation. It generates concentrated radiation that affects the material. For this purpose, CO2 lasers are used. Semiconductor models do not have sufficient power and can only be used for artistic burning.
The procedure for performing shaped laser cutting of plywood.
- Creating a drawing. Depending on the capabilities of the equipment, this can be done electronically or you can apply the pattern to the surface yourself.
- Selecting cutting mode. The determining parameter is the laser power. It depends on the thickness and structure of the plywood. If the degree of heating is exceeded, the width of the cut will increase.
- Formation of the drawing. Its speed is affected by the laser power. The higher it is, the faster the process is performed. However, this increases the area of darkening at the edges.
This is a general description of the technology and may change depending on the parameters and functionality of the equipment. The average laser power is about 20 W. It directly depends on the thickness of the plywood and the complexity of the pattern.
For work, it is best to use automated CNC wood processing centers. This will increase accuracy and improve productivity.
List of cutting equipment
Professional laser machine for plywood processing
To complete a professional production line, it is recommended to purchase specialized equipment. But in addition to the laser installation, it must contain other components.
To ensure maximum automation of work, the laser head must move freely along the length and width of the wooden surface. To do this, install a special carriage that moves along guides.
In addition, the following components are required for normal operation:
- electronic control unit. It controls the operation of the laser, gives commands for its movement relative to the sheet;
- combustion products exhaust system. Despite their small number, without forced ventilation the concentration of harmful substances will quickly increase;
- interface for entering information - drawing, machine operating modes, etc.
To perform a small amount of work, it will not be practical to purchase expensive equipment. The best option is to use the services of specialized production companies. In this case, you only need to correctly draw up the design and select the material on which it will be applied.
In the video you can see an example of how the machine works to form a pattern on the surface of a plywood sheet:
