@funinthefalls I’m almost done costing all the components out, and will have pricing for you in a day or 2 on the Single Board, and hopefully tenative pricing on the Switchable variant a few days after that.
I can’t figure out how to PM in this forum. I’ll let you know as soon as I have hard pricing and lead times (my protoype run is getting thin and it’s not even here yet)
Sounds good.
@Scott_Marshall
I am definitely interested in a plug and play set up so please bear me in mind. Also with beta teating. I am a complete NOOOOOB and have never even touched an arduino/smoothie board let alone played with gone. Heck, I don’t even have my K40 yet, it arrives tomorrow!! pete.sobye@icloud.com is my email if you want to get in touch.
@Pete_Sobye Pete, your’re exactly the kind of K40 person I built this stuff for.
There’s plenty of stuff available for experienced electronics hobbiests and engineers, but they are probably less than 50% of the K40 users out there. Even they often don’t want to fool around tracing out all the circuits, ordering all the parts one at a time, as still possibly in making a mistake.
Most people can learn the software by trial and error, but with the electronics, you usually only get one mistake and you end up burning up a couple hundred bucks worth of circuitry.
My assortment of products include complete upgrade “modules” with detailed instructions that can be installed with a screwdriver. No soldering, no schematic reading. (I DO provide all the schematics and technical info - no secrets here).
I will be releasing a product list and pricing in the next couple of weeks.
In mentioning my products to you, I kind of opened the floodgates, I had intended to wait until I had product ready to ship before letting the cat out of the bag, so to speak. The reaction verifies that there is an interest in this concept, which is good, as I have a lot of time and money in designing these products. (and my laser has been apart a couple hundred times - at least it seems like it!)
It will realistically take you a month or more to get the laser dialed in, learn the software, and make the “normal” upgrades.
In front of an aftermarket controller, you’ll want an air assist head, new lens and mirrors, and most likely a better exhaust blower.
(My power supplies allow use of cheap and powerful 12V marine bilge blowers,and water pumps). My stuff includes a cheap and easy to install 12v or 120v fan speed control. There’s also combo lighting kit/fan speed controller. They are available now, and will be listed in my official release price list.
Free mods that will help are:
#1, remove the factory “duct” from the exhaust. This is done by removing the 4 screws around the exhaust outlet, and removing the sheetmetal duct. It serves no useful purpose and restricts the flow to the point of useless. The factory fan actually works ok with this free fix, as long as you don’t put a long restrictive discharge tube on it. I used the expandable dryer duct, but galvanized is better, flow wise. If you don’t have air assist, you’ll have fires with stock blower, even with the duct out.
#2 While you’re at it take out the factory “worktable/clamp” and drop in in the nearest scrap metal pile (with the duct).
Some people build screw adjustable tables, but some screen, expanded metal (Walmart sells “disposable grill toppers” which are just light expanded aluminum mesh and the right size once you trim the edges). and an assortment of wooden shims works well. This goes hand in hand with the air assist head (see below)
#3 Align your mirrors! This is huge, and totally free. You may need to remove the rail assembly to remove the duct, so that’s a good time to learn this, as it will knock the adjustment out a bit. It’s usually out a bit from the factory.
Not Free, but the best bang for your buck is right here. Saite Cutter on ebay specialize in XY plotter/cutter parts and laser parts. They are reliable, ship fast, and their stuff is 1st rate. See link. Buy their cutter head (you’ll need a new lens, the old one is too small), lens and maybe the mirror kit. I installed this set and it transformed the laser. You will need an air compressor or pump. It’s worth it. The air assist blows air onto the kerf. It keeps fire from forming and the way it’s designed protects the lens from spatter and smoke. That’s all terrific, but the real kicker is it has a little thumbscrew on the side that lest you adjust the focus within about 3/8". That means you don’t have to fool around adjusting the work height to the Exact height, just get it close, and zero in with the adjustable head. (it’s what make the Grill topper/wood block thing practical.
Links you’ll want:
Mirror Alignment.
http://www.floatingwombat.me.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/K40-Alignment-Instructions.pdf
How to install the lens correctly, and in depth optics info.
http://www.ophiropt.com/
Other links:
http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/laserfaq.htm#faqtoc
Setup:
Saite Cutter Air Assist head:
Loaded Head (w/Mirror & Lens)
Pump: (can’t personally vouch, I use shop air, but many people use a pump)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HQ-Hailea-Air-Compressor-Pump-Aquarium-Fish-Laser-Engraving-Cutting-80W-80L-Min-/252371628440
Mirrors (you want 20mm):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3pcs-Si-Reflection-Mirrors-Lens-10600nm-CO2-laser-Cutting-Engraving-Dia-20-25-mm-/262410725203
Duct (use only fireproof)::
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-inch-x-25-ft-Flexible-DUCTING-duct-for-exhaust-fan-blower-/121232851992?hash=item1c3a0a8418
Food:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-8-X-12-X-12-Baltic-Birch-Plywood-Great-for-Laser-Cnc-45-pack-/182133175460?hash=item2a67fbb4a4
I’ll be in touch.
Scott
Have fun!
Scott
@Scott_Marshall You don’t know how much this excites me. I am a HUGE K40 fan but I am not so keen to soldering and tinkering. I guess I could get there but I have way too many other things that take up so much time (hello, these things don’t pay for themselves (yet!)). Keep me in mind as well. I am very interested in what you have to share and don’t mind supporting the community. You have already been so much help as it is.
@Scott_Marshall Thanks for that wonderful information Scott. Prior to your post I ordered the air assist head from Light Objects but will definitely look into the alternative mirrors.
As for the duct, I will take your advice and ditch that too.
I still have the original fan in the back and will look into a different tube.
The Clamp was ditched as soon as I opened the lid.
While writing this I am looking into the Saite head and mirrors. If you say it will transform the cutter, I may get this setup and sell the Light Object one when it arrives.
Thanks again for the advice. Would you be able to send me a direct contact email or are you happy to discuss here?
Pete
@Scott_Marshall another quick question Scott. The Saite head has an Mo mirror but the set they sell are SI. Does that matter?
Get the Moly, they are tougher and last forever.
I bought a set of mirrors (Mo) and lens from Saite not to long ago, maybe they’re just out of stock?
Pete, you’ll find some perfectionists that will tell you the Molybdenum Mirrors are inefficient, but the difference is undetectable, and you can clean them with little fear of damage. (it’s like 99.6% vs 99.7% difference with the silicon)
That’s critical for a K40 as they are hanging out unprotected and DO get dirty. Dirty or scratched mirrors are less efficient than clean ones, so it’s a win - win. They do cost a little more up front, but last nearly forever.
Here’s the set I bought if memory serves.
On sale!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ZnSe-Focal-Focus-Lens-3-MO-Reflective-Mirror-40W-CO2-Laser-Stamp-Engraver-K40/172050707677?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D36860%26meid%3D8c0556590aa34ee9a309c54121d5f029%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D252283989821
@Scott_Marshall spot on! Your links should be done sort of sticky topic all by itself.
The list if free/cheap mods is good too. We get hung up with modding these that we forget they’re pretty good without necessarily buying any new/replacement parts…
Several of us have been working to try to set up what amounts to Stickys on here, and have made some progress, but it’s slow going.
There is a couple of places designated, but the 3 of us (Yuusuf, HalfNormal and Myself) just haven had the time to move much into it. I need to look into the mechanics of it so we can send people to it. We’re thinking it will be a “reference section”.
It seemed like a great idea last winter when I was stuck in and bored.
I guess I fixed that…
I’ve been so busy with the board development, I haven’t had time to get all the stuff together. I’ve been working so hard I’ve killed a keyboard, and this one’s getting iffy…