Laser Engraver Upgrade

I’d also like to share the project I’ve been working on and just got working a little while ago!

After how the laser cut inlay worked out really well, I decided to extend the laser from it’s original max cutting/engraving length of 400 mm to 8 feet!

This is the original machine:

I replaced the black 40×20 extrusion with an 8′ one:

But that length of 40×20 on it’s side was not very rigid – it vibrated like a rubber band in the middle – so I attached a roller wheel to the underside of the carriage:

I used 4 and 6 strand plenum wire to extend the motor and laser connections:

here it is with the cat track rolling around!

Gonna be interesting testing it out! I still need to figure out the software side of it – I’m hoping it’s as simple as changing the canvas size in lightburn.. I’m going to attempt another pair of veneer inlayed skis, but this time not just at the tip of them!

…

I got it working in lightburn with a couple hours of googling! you can edit the grbl settings right in the laser software!

here she is on her maiden voyage:

cutting the topsheet for my next pair now! will post updates when it’s done. gonna take a while – about 20 cuts, some with engraving too and then veneer tape them all together.