UL-25E "surplus" Laser Engraver rebuild
Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 3:59 pm
Every now and then a deal shows up on Ebay or Craigslist that is too good to pass up.
Case in point: I picked up one of the Chinese M40 CNC engravers in zero bid Ebay purchase for $900. I couldn't let that pass when I was seeing the same laser for $1500 elsewhere. I have worked to upgrade it for Mach3, closed loop water cooling, air assist, and stepper controlled Z axis height adjust. Still I have always hoped that one day I could pick up a higher quality system.
I have the skills to build a system from scratch, but I feel that if the right deal comes along then I can simply fix up a system that has already passed the engineering hurdles. Perhaps you have already seen the build log done by Andrew Kilpatrick on his $500 Craigslist laser - A deal than none of us would pass on - http://www.andrewkilpatrick.org/blog/?page_id=914
Let's consider for a moment what he was actually getting for his $500:
1. A used Synrad RF laser - 25 Watt (of unknown operating condition)
2. High quality linear bearing rails. (likely of good condition since they are very hard to wear out)
3. Stepper motors, drive belt and pulley system. (already engineered for highest efficiency movement.)
4. High quality mirror and lens holders. (with mirrors and lens of an unknown condition.)
5. A Z-lift mechanism already built in.
6. A metal enclosure that has already passed the engineering hurdles for air flow and laser safety.
In a breakdown of individual component cost I would think that the stepper motors and rails alone would fetch $500 on ebay, so this was an AMAZING deal!
Case in point: I picked up one of the Chinese M40 CNC engravers in zero bid Ebay purchase for $900. I couldn't let that pass when I was seeing the same laser for $1500 elsewhere. I have worked to upgrade it for Mach3, closed loop water cooling, air assist, and stepper controlled Z axis height adjust. Still I have always hoped that one day I could pick up a higher quality system.
I have the skills to build a system from scratch, but I feel that if the right deal comes along then I can simply fix up a system that has already passed the engineering hurdles. Perhaps you have already seen the build log done by Andrew Kilpatrick on his $500 Craigslist laser - A deal than none of us would pass on - http://www.andrewkilpatrick.org/blog/?page_id=914
Let's consider for a moment what he was actually getting for his $500:
1. A used Synrad RF laser - 25 Watt (of unknown operating condition)
2. High quality linear bearing rails. (likely of good condition since they are very hard to wear out)
3. Stepper motors, drive belt and pulley system. (already engineered for highest efficiency movement.)
4. High quality mirror and lens holders. (with mirrors and lens of an unknown condition.)
5. A Z-lift mechanism already built in.
6. A metal enclosure that has already passed the engineering hurdles for air flow and laser safety.
In a breakdown of individual component cost I would think that the stepper motors and rails alone would fetch $500 on ebay, so this was an AMAZING deal!