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Thread: laser for cutting dollar tree foam board

  1. #1
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    Default laser for cutting dollar tree foam board

    Hello, I am wanting to put a cheap but effective laser diode on my diy cnc machine to cut out pieces of dollar tree foam board. What should I get? (My cnc machine does not move super fast)
    I would like to get something from this site https://sites.google.com/site/dtrsho...nkkitpage/home
    Unless you have a better place to get what I need.
    Thank you!
    Kammo

  2. #2
    soforene's Avatar
    soforene is offline The Troll formerly known as Herbert Von Poople-Futtocks
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    "You expect me to talk?"
    "No Mr Bond, I expect you to cut out pieces of dollar tree foam board...."


  3. #3
    swamidog's Avatar
    swamidog is online now Jr. Woodchuckington Janitor III, Esq.
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    how thick is the foam? "dollar tree foam board" tells me nothing.

    Quote Originally Posted by Kammo View Post
    Hello, I am wanting to put a cheap but effective laser diode on my diy cnc machine to cut out pieces of dollar tree foam board. What should I get? (My cnc machine does not move super fast)
    I would like to get something from this site https://sites.google.com/site/dtrsho...nkkitpage/home
    Unless you have a better place to get what I need.
    Thank you!
    Kammo
    suppose you're thinkin' about a plate o' shrimp. Suddenly someone'll say, like, plate, or shrimp, or plate o' shrimp out of the blue, no explanation. No point in lookin' for one, either. It's all part of a cosmic unconciousness.

  4. #4
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    Dollar tree foam board is 3/16" thick.
    It has as thin paper coating on the outside top and bottom with a foam core.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    ... as it's white, 445nm and 2Watts max. only could be insufficient - sometimes the 300mW@405nm diodes are better in cutting white material than the 2W@445nm-diodes :-/

    Can you get this foam board coloured?

    Viktor

  6. #6
    swamidog's Avatar
    swamidog is online now Jr. Woodchuckington Janitor III, Esq.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kammo View Post
    Dollar tree foam board is 3/16" thick.
    It has as thin paper coating on the outside top and bottom with a foam core.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Foam-Board-Cutting-Detail-Cuts-1W-Laser.jpg 
Views:	18 
Size:	60.1 KB 
ID:	46407
    a quick google for "jtech photonics" finds some youtube videos of them cutting foam with a "2.8W 445nm laser".

    listed here for 345$
    http://jtechphotonics.com/?product=2...-power-adapter

    my guess is one of these:
    https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf...odes/9mm-445nm
    suppose you're thinkin' about a plate o' shrimp. Suddenly someone'll say, like, plate, or shrimp, or plate o' shrimp out of the blue, no explanation. No point in lookin' for one, either. It's all part of a cosmic unconciousness.

  7. #7
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    I know they make a black paper white foam and a black paper black foam. I would rather use the white though..
    I am looking into the youtube videos now..

  8. #8
    swamidog's Avatar
    swamidog is online now Jr. Woodchuckington Janitor III, Esq.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kammo View Post
    I know they make a black paper white foam and a black paper black foam. I would rather use the white though..
    I am looking into the youtube videos now..
    if you can afford it, i would suggest going with a co2 laser instead of diode.
    suppose you're thinkin' about a plate o' shrimp. Suddenly someone'll say, like, plate, or shrimp, or plate o' shrimp out of the blue, no explanation. No point in lookin' for one, either. It's all part of a cosmic unconciousness.

  9. #9
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    Well thats the thing, I don't have much of a budget for this and I am only using it for personal use. I wont make any money from it so it wont pay for itself.
    I know the co2 lasers are the best way to go but I wont be using it enough to make sense of the cost. Plus I hear the co2 doesnt have a long shelf life.
    I am liking the one from the first link you listed though!

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    Quote Originally Posted by swamidog View Post
    if you can afford it, i would suggest going with a co2 laser instead of diode.
    Chris I know you are very knowledgeable about these laser cutters. I'm trying to think outside the box a little. What if he took a 808nm pump diode. I know its not as high a wavelength as the CO2, but may give the results he is looking for far cheaper than a CO2.
    I've thought about doing this my self.

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