First post.. Upgrade K40 or Build my own?

[addicted2climbing]

Hello,

I am in need of a laser system to etch a logo in Black Anodized Aluminum parts. My parts are small so I can get by with the travel of a K40, but I might have an application in the future that would require a wider machine in the XLE 1200 x 900 range. I am torn between upgrading the K40 since that meets my immediate goal, but if building my own larger machine can be done for $2500 then I would consider the larger travel design. I am a design engineer that has worked in robotics and automation for 20 years so cranking out a frame and such would be easy but sourcing everything and getting the parts into solidworks to design around would take some time. Are Cad files available?

If I go the K40 route is there a site that has a list of all the mods that need to be done? Anyone have a recommendation on a USA distributor that has the K40 for a good price?

Marc

[Tech_Marco]

Hello Marc:

I ran a calculation with an estimation that for a 80W system on a LSR-XLE90120XY (1200x900) system, without water chiller and the body frame (case), the totally is roughly closed to $2,500. If you want to be safe on the budget, then go for 900x600 system and 60W. In that case, you save about $300.

For K40, you still need to do quite a lot of work to make it "DSP" ready. Overall, it will cost you about $1600. So, why not invested a little and get yourself a "Pro" level machine for better job. Remember that I'll have aluminum frame to support the XY stage.

See the frame: viewtopic.php?f=47&t=1851&p=8354#p8354

FYI, the max speed for a decent job performed by the K40 without distortion is about 400mm/s (engraving). The XLE model can reach about 800mm/s (I tried 900mm/s). Plus, you can use any size laser tube like 40W,60W,.... up to 150W Reci W8 tube on the XLE model but you can't do it on K40. If you will get the frame later, you will find that the table bed is adjustable so you can load bigger object into the machine for work (up to 6" for current setup). The last thing is that you can use beam expander, beam combiner with the XLE but not on the K40

I'll definitely go for the XLE if you ask my opinion assuming that an extra few hundreds spending is allowed (we all need to get approval from our wife


Marco