by TLHarrell » Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:22 pm
The recommended skin material is Alupanel, which is basically a PVC "cardboard" with a thin aluminum skin. Since you have a CNC machine, you could actually cut the skins to be folded at the corners providing a very nice, seamless exterior.
As far as the electronics go, I'd put the laser PSU in the same bay as the tube, with a grounded steel panel between it and any other electronics. Don't run motor wiring anywhere near or parallel to AC power or high voltage tube connections or it'll induce currents and make strange movements.
The bed being adjustable is a tradeoff. On one hand, it makes adjusting focus fairly easy. On the other hand, it can be a pain to maintain perfect level. I've had both (FSL Gen 4 and FSL Gen 5) and I prefer the non-adjustable bed with the focus on the laser head instead. My machine doesn't have front opening clearance though, but instead I can drop the entire floor out of it and set the machine up on risers to gain clearance for the occasional larger piece. If I build my own, I'm definitely going for a front opening and rear pass through in the design. There's always going to be some point where your stock supply is too big to fit, and cutting it down can get to be a chore. Having a bed with 4" of adjustability with a laser that can only cut 1/2" thick material just isn't as practical.
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