kmmcrafts Posted August 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2020 Well I haven't made anything new other than these toilet paper ornaments.. These are about 3.5 inch ornaments.. The first part of the video is finishing up the engrave part and is sped up 4x but the cutting is real time.. 10mm / second cut speed... 500mm second engrave speed... It was dark out so the photos of the finished piece is dark and poor quality.. I've got the settings down to where there is almost 0 smoke stain and the edges are not all charred up etc.. When I cut the first batch ( photo above ) they was really charred and looked bad.. I sanded them but some of the details got sanded out.. What I did wrong there was I put a backer board under the piece.. Guess I thought I was running the CNC and didn't want to damage my table, LOL.. but in doing that it it raised the piece 1/4" ( 1/4 backer sacrificial piece ) and raising the piece changes the focal ( focus ) point of the laser so it wasn't cutting through the material as well.. A lot of K40 users remove the table and clamping piece and make adjustable height table so they can change the focal point for different thickness of materials etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted August 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2020 Here is how they are turning out now that I’ve got the settings dialed in better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted August 23, 2020 Report Share Posted August 23, 2020 Pretty cool! kmmcrafts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfold Posted August 23, 2020 Report Share Posted August 23, 2020 Nice. I have a laser that I bought about 6 mths ago but it's still in it's box. Truth be told I'm a little afraid of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadBob Posted August 23, 2020 Report Share Posted August 23, 2020 Is that plywood you are cutting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted August 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2020 1 hour ago, Foxfold said: Nice. I have a laser that I bought about 6 mths ago but it's still in it's box. Truth be told I'm a little afraid of it. I was also afraid of mine.. still am because it's quite powerful and you don't see the laser beam or anything.. could very easily loose eyesight or catch something on fire if precautions aren't taken.. BUT... it's really quite fun and addictive now that 2 years later of seeing the box it shipped in I finally got brave and set it up... Now wish I'd have done it the day I took delivery of it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted August 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, BadBob said: Is that plywood you are cutting? Yes, 1/8" BBply.. I have the power setting at about 8mA and running 10mm a second on the speed.. They say you shouldn't run these at full power or you shorten the laser tube life.. Max power should not go above some say 15mA.. I don't know if it'd cut through 1/4" ply or not if ran more power and slower feed speed.. I've read where people cut 1/4" though.. but with modifications to the machine like air assist and.. I have mods I bought for the machine.. but for what I want to do with it.. I realize I probably didn't really need them.. Probably could turn up the power and run a faster feed rate to get the same results and be more productive... These are the biggest learning curve of these lasers is the power and feed rates to get a nice clean cut / engrave... Edited August 23, 2020 by kmmcrafts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted August 23, 2020 Report Share Posted August 23, 2020 (edited) Having worked with very powerful precision lasers at work for many years, always wear the proper eye protection when tuning or doing any adjustments with the interlocks defeated. !!! I actually had to put interlocks on the doors to the room, so if I had the enclosure open and someone ignored my signs it would turn the laser off. OSHA safety requirement. Kevin, What software are you using? Once you get comfortable with the laser itself and have some time to spare, try a free trial download of Lightburn. Take a look at some of their videos. As with anything there are learning curves . And yes do not use anything other than DI water for cooling! And occasionally follow the MFG recommendations on keeping the optics clean. Focus is absolutely critical ! You may also want to figure a way to clear the smoke faster or it will coat your optics. I am impressed with how it cuts. I see you are boxing your ornaments, My wife suggested that for our second year of selling ornament Huge improvement in sales. Have fun!! Edited August 23, 2020 by Rolf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted August 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, Rolf said: Having worked with very powerful precision lasers at work for many years, always wear the proper eye protection when tuning or doing any adjustments with the interlocks defeated. !!! I actually had to put interlocks on the doors to the room, so if I had the enclosure open and someone ignored my signs it would turn the laser off. OSHA safety requirement. Kevin, What software are you using? Once you get comfortable with the laser itself and have some time to spare, try a free trial download of Lightburn. Take a look at some of their videos. As with anything there are learning curves . And yes do not use anything other than DI water for cooling! And occasionally follow the MFG recommendations on keeping the optics clean. Focus is absolutely critical ! You may also want to figure a way to clear the smoke faster or it will coat your optics. I am impressed with how it cuts. I see you are boxing your ornaments, My wife suggested that for our second year of selling ornament Huge improvement in sales. Have fun!! Yes, safety eye protection is a must.. I'm amazed they are allowed to sell these open design lasers to most anyone.. even these K40 enclosed machines to be honest.. If anyone ever gets one.. be sure to check the wire connections.. I've read on the forums that some the wires are just twisted around rather than having a connector... Mine had all the connectors but some of them they didn't even crimp the connector to the wire and in my initial set up I inspected the wires.. my ground wire wasn't even crimped and pulled right out of the connector, LOL These are cheap very basic lasers but very powerful and can be run as a business money making machine provided you don't mind tinkering with them and doing simple modifications.. If one doesn't mind the tinkering a person could have a nicely upgraded cutter for about $400 and to buy a name brand machine comparable is nearly $2000 .. I paid $320 for this one and I have another $60 for the air assist that I haven't even set up yet.. I'm running K40 Whisperer for the software . It's a free program that's quite powerful.. My control board won't work with lightburn... but they have a upgraded control board that is just plug and play so you can run lightburn.. I may give that a try at some point.. board isn't too awful expensive.. can't remember if lightburn was free or not now.. I did research it some time ago.. but since it's all new to me I thought I'd run what the machine control board came with first.. The smoke exhaust is one thing about all the K40 groups say is the first and most needed upgrade.. I found that raising the lid about 1/16 or so makes the smoke flow faster.. Probably cheaper to buy a more powerful exhaust fan but I've kinda wondered if putting a small computer cooling fan at the front of the machine would be a benefit since i have those laying around.. or maybe just adding some louvers in the front of the cabinet.. They only have two holes drilled on each side of the cabinet.. about 1/2 ish holes so I'm thinking the bigger issue could be more about air flow rather than a more powerful exhaust fan.. My first mod is going to be a safety switch to the door.. I've caught myself twice now opening the door before killing the power switch to the laser.. While it shouldn't fire without having the computer telling it to fire.. I still don't think it's smart to stick your hand in there and grab your finished piece with power to the laser still on, LOL So I'm going to add a safety switch that'll cut the power if the door opens.. Two other mods are a water flow meter and a water temp gauge.. I have a air assist set up for it but I need a larger diameter lens for the new laser head unit.. Edited August 23, 2020 by kmmcrafts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjweb Posted August 24, 2020 Report Share Posted August 24, 2020 Kevin, where did you get all this knowledge of the k40, are there any sites just for beginners, I was thinking about getting one but first thought I should have some know how about them, RJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmcrafts Posted August 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2020 1 hour ago, rjweb said: Kevin, where did you get all this knowledge of the k40, are there any sites just for beginners, I was thinking about getting one but first thought I should have some know how about them, RJ Here is a good start.. https://www.youtube.com/user/SarbarMultimedia/videos https://www.youtube.com/c/Thinklaser/videos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdToptD2gZucQsMrOAnFhA https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDyNU1TLem7uaiAQDV6ZsvQ And then our very own housekeeper here on the village... Travis https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt-bWfn-g1ELeE-7aJcsDFA I've probably left out a bunch of places.. I've been interested in these for a very long time.. Steve Good I think did some laser stuff too at one point.. also a lot of the CNC router stuff kinda pertains to the Laser stuff somewhat too.. I've followed some of these for probably 10 years.. There is a couple good groups on FB as well and a few forums.. They used to be forbidden to talk about on any scroll sawing forums and groups but more and more people are getting interested.. Maybe Travis should put in a laser and CNC category ... Lot's of folks here somewhat have interest.. but refrain from talking much about them much because these machines was and still is very much hated on by those that do what they call Hand Made done with the hands.. Technically a lot more to these and CNC's that is done by hand than what most realize.. If the internet was around back in the day I bet you could read old arguments about the Treadle vrs Powered scroll saw... Now days is about craft shows and online selling... scroll saws and lasers / cnc's etc etc.. times change.. BadBob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjweb Posted August 24, 2020 Report Share Posted August 24, 2020 Thx Kevin, I will check out all these, RJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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