Cantilever Laser Engraver by GeoDave

Last crawled date: 3 years, 3 months ago

10/20/2020
If you do not mount your electronics above the bottom of the 2020 extrusion, you could use a longer 2020 & extend it back further attaching that back screw that holds the plates together with a T-nut in the bottom of the 2020 instead of a locknut. This would give you more support for the cantilever. If you are enclosing your engraver, the enclosure would obviously have to be deeper depending on how far you extend it back.
9/26/2020 Update
Fixed a minor t-nut hole locations that someone spotted on the MotorMount_Above.stl part & replaced it with MotorMount_Above_V3.stl & the new assembly files have _V7 in the name. It was only off .13mm (.0051 inches) at the most, but not really an issue if you have printed the parts already.
Here is very short video of this machine working. https://youtu.be/HgV3grxkY44
I also added optional CantileverStablizer.stl. New assembly files show how this is assembled & there are 2 photos that show it also. It mounts below the IdlerMount_Above_V3.stl using a M5x20mm screw instead of the M5x12mm for just the IdlerMount. You can use 1 or 2 wheels. If using 1 wheel, you need a M5x30mm screw, one precision washer & a locknut. If using 2 wheels, you need a M5x45mm screw, 2 precision washers, a 3mm spacer & a locknut. If using this optional part, be aware you need a clean surface for the wheel to roll on as an debris it rolls across could affect your laser engraving.
This is a cantilever laser Engraver design based on https://www.modelflying.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=147510 . I incorporated most of his design, but made some changes. The main change was moving the cantilever belt to above the 2020 extrusion. My build log can be found here: https://forum.v1engineering.com/t/cantilevered-laser-engraver/19179 You should be able to build this from $160-$200 & even less if you have a lot of the parts already. I used a 600mm length of 2040 & a 500mm length of 2020. 500mm for the cantilever is probably pushing it, but will see how it goes. I have put all the parts together & tested the laser, but have not put it into operation yet. For the electronics, I am currently running grbl firmware on a keyestudio CNC shiled V4 with a raspberry pi 3b Plus connected to it running v1pi (https://jeffeb3.github.io/v1pi/). I will probably switch the electronics to a custom board of the Eleksmaker mana 3-axis board eventually. I used 42.5" of GT2 belt for the cantilever arm & 31.5" for the 2040 motor but left a little extra on there in case I make it longer.
I have uploaded a fusion 360 assembly file as well as a sketchup assembly file so you can see how all the parts go together or modify them. A BOM is also included, but have not double checked the screw & nut count.
Warning:
Be sure to get some good laser safety glasses that protect your eyes against the wave length laser you are using. I found the electronics the most difficult part of this build because of the laser connections. Be sure to understand how to connect your particular laser before attempting this project because you could easily destroy your laser.