Laser Engraver Forum

Just a thought...
Put the whole thing into an enclosure (cabinet) with an interlock switch which prevents the laser being fired when the enclosure door is opened.

A major problem with laser cutting plywood is the adhesive used to bond the layers. Some of the laser material suppliers do advertise a plywood which is suitable for laser work so perhaps try a different supplier for your ply. When laser cutting plywood a relatively high pressure air-assist is requi...

I think the main criterion is to keep the machine clean, and not cut / engrave anything containing PVC. Periodically, visually inspect the machine parts for wear and check that nothing has become loose during use. If anything (ball bearing linear rails, ballscrews, etc) needs lubrication then keep a...

Very informative articles & associated videos, excellent work.

Paul.

One other thing you should consider is that laser working with wood and leather produces quite an unpleasant smell. Whilst it may be OK for the laser user to route their fume extractor hose out of a nearby window this may not go down too well with their neighbours especially if they have to endure s...

I think that overall and within your price range you would be hard pressed to find a better enclosed machine than the xTool which you mention. It would be ideal for cutting Acrylic all day long and the same goes for surface engraving of wood, leather and many other materials but for cutting through ...

In my opinion, the xTool P2 55W CO2 is an excellent machine but you should be aware that the maker’s claims for its performance may be a little (or a lot) over-optimistic and only relate to the absolute perfect conditions. I have been using CO2 lasers for some 15 – 20 years now and have found that c...

Hi Sam, I think you are right about engraving reflective surfaces and possible laser damage. It may be prudent to tilt your laser head by a couple of degrees to reduce the risk of reflected photons re-entering the optical system and possibly overloading the semiconductor resonator area. Just a thoug...

It depends on the software being used but when raster scanning it is usual for laser power (PWM) to be reduced towards the ends of each scan (and at the start of each scan) to compensate for the reduced axis speed (deceleration / acceleration) before changing direction. If your software allows it th...

It’s a long shot but perhaps check the tightness of the grub screws on the pulley / coupling of your X Axis.

Paul.