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Buildlog Title: MattyZee's mostly 2.x Laser Build

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Builder: MattyZee
Member Since: 2011-03-03

Monday, June 4th 2012 - 2:58 AM

I finally got started building my 2.x Laser Cutter. Being in Australia i couldn't find any reasonably priced aluminium extrusion so i decided to make it a welded steel construction. That solved the problem of sourcing expensive aluminium and also gave me some flexibility in making a (imho) more aesthetically pleasing shape.
The following is a CAD model of the modified 2.x assembly.

AAAssembly.JPG

The gantry and Y-drive is pretty much 2.x design. My frame is a little deeper than the 2.x design and allows me to use all 560mm of travel. I have also tried to maximise the X travel. This results in a final working area of ~525x430mm.

More on the frame to come...

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reader comment Comment from: Greolt on Monday, June 4th 2012 - 3:22 AM
Matt

Glad to see you are up and running.

I will follow this with interest.

Greolt

Monday, June 4th 2012 - 4:04 AM

Thanks Greg. I might be calling on you for some help getting Mach3 up and running later on.

This is the CAD model of the frame only.
Frame.JPG


I used my CNC wood router to make a jig that allowed me to tack weld the side of the frame together more easily. This corrected any error in angles when cutting the material to length. The slots go all the way through the MDF and allow both side to be tacked without removing it from the jig.
IMG_1357.JPG


And here's the progress so far... Total cost of steel ~$30. So I'm pretty happy with that.
IMG_1356.JPG

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reader comment Comment from: Greolt on Monday, June 4th 2012 - 4:14 AM
One thing I would change if starting over is to make the vertical part of the lid a bit higher.

So that when the lid is open, the table is at or above the opening height (for most materials)

Greolt

Sunday, June 17th 2012 - 12:50 PM

Finally finished off a few last touches to the frame and got it powder coated last week.
IMG_1416.JPG

I couldn't resist temporarily screwing on the y beams and gantry even though i will need to remove them.
IMG_1417.JPG

This weekend, all I had time for was to make the aluminium tray that the electronics will mount to.
IMG_1422.JPG

But i think its time to buy the last few big ticket items (laser tube & optics).
Unfortunatley I won't get any time over the next couple of weeks to do anymore on this due to work commitments. :cry:

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reader comment Comment from: baz on Sunday, June 17th 2012 - 2:14 PM
Hi Matty
Your build looks great :D I am in a similar situation to you, in which aluminium extrusion is extortionate here in the UK so I have decided to go with steel (I am also more familiar with steel a and do a lot of welding) Is there any chance you could share your CAD (3D) drawings so that I can have a look at how you have gone about it. I have started doing a CAD mock-up of my own design, but to be fair yours looks a lot better!
Good luck with the build,
Thanks,
Baz
reader comment Comment from: gavztheouch on Sunday, June 17th 2012 - 4:25 PM
I really like your MDF jig Idea Matty, this looks like it will be a tidy looking machine.
reader comment Comment from: Greolt on Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 11:32 AM
Matt

How is your build going?

Greolt

Friday, August 3rd 2012 - 1:14 PM

Progress has been a bit slow. Tonight I have assembled the X and Y axis. Hopefully this weekend I will have the motors wired up. Then onto the table and Z drive.
P1030995.jpg

I am quite happy with how my frame has worked out. The motor and bearings look quite neat IMHO.
P1030997.jpg

P1030996.jpg

Here is the front idler for the Y axis. These photos make everything look like they are on a weird angle...but they aren't. I ended up machining them out of Aluminium on the Mechmate rather than buying 1/2" HDPE. I have a plastic chopping board that i will make the other brackets from that only need to be 1/4" thick.
P1030998.jpg

Hopefully i'll have some more progress to show by the end of the weekend....

Oh, and this week i ordered my laser tube and optics :D

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Friday, August 3rd 2012 - 1:23 PM

baz wrote:Is there any chance you could share your CAD (3D) drawings so that I can have a look at how you have gone about it.

PM me your email address and i'll send you my CAD file for the frame. I will eventually post it here once i finalise my Z axis design.

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reader comment Comment from: diegocim on Friday, August 3rd 2012 - 2:20 PM
Hi, MattyZee

Your machine is looking great... I'm looking forward to start my own in few months, I'm sure I'll have the same problems with the frame, aluminium is quite expensive in Brazil.
Could you post the electric information that you decide to use? The pwm board, drivers and motors....

Thank you
reader comment Comment from: greenvandan on Saturday, August 4th 2012 - 1:20 PM
I'm really digging the aesthetic as well, particularly the slopes. Cant wait to see it with some skins on.

Edit: and the milled aluminum hardware!
reader comment Comment from: Evgeny_Crimea on Monday, August 6th 2012 - 5:48 PM
MattyZee wrote:I will eventually post it here once i finalise my Z axis design.


Hello. Please share your drawings. I want to build such a machine, and a profile in the Ukraine, no! :(
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