DIY LASER BED BUILD - Under $30 From Steel With Highly Accurate Grid Overlay for Light Burn

DIY STEEL BED BUILD PART 1 - $30 Build for 400m x 810mm but I can spread the gap to make 850mm. When I originally purchased my OLM 3 a couple of months ago I bought the aluminum bed along with it. But shortly after I figured out I should of bought a steel bed be be able to use the magnets. But I did not read the fine print as the TWO TREES bed said 400mm x 400mm but the cutting area really is 360mm x 360mm which I made another mistake! The bed worked fine as my templates all fit on it..
But when I got my Extension kits a couple of weeks ago I had to redesign my workspace and make some improvements.. Which I figured out a way to still use both my steel bed and aluminum bed worked good after making the wood holding pins..
But the issue I will have is that the beds are different heights so that will be an issue when ENGRAVING or CUTTING larger projects. There is some ways I could raise one of them to work but I saw someone mention about the metal peg board. I found it and Home Depot and it cost $11 bucks.
So I decided to make DIY STEEL BED that would be uniform and integrate into my workspace and it seems to have worked out great. I am just finishing it up the build but it actually works really. There will be a part 2 which shows the grid overlay in Lighburn that matches the grid holds on the bed.
Again this is just idea or experiment that I just went with as no plans in advance. Just make do with what I got in the garage.. Any input appreciated.. Keep on Burning!

[@kinggubbydesigns545]

So awesome! Rad build man! 🤜🤛

[@therufflifeinc]

I need to order that Z Axis adjuster from you!! I can not find any KZbin Video Review. Trying understand how it connects to my OLM 3

[@geminiman2831]

​@@therufflifeinc Can I use this bed for co2 laser cutter?

[@MrJinga27]

Great idea

[@sannyassi73]

How is the burning on the underside? I'd think that without space for air to move it'd burn the bottom a bit. Nice idea :D

[@andyb7754]

I like the simplicity of the build but was getting sea sick with the camera movement.

[@barry.w.christie]

Just in the process of designing/building my own laser and looking for a bed solution ... this seems like quite a good idea, especially since my laser has a requirement (from me) of being able to slide 8ft by 4ft sheets of material through it, so it'd slide over this very easily. Being completely new to lasers ... what happens on the back of the material being cut if it's lying directly on a surface like this, rather than say a honeycomb (total rip off cost wise) type surface?

[@therufflifeinc]

Again this was an experiment but it works great for alignment engraving. If you are cutting anything you need to raise it up. Here I am experimenting with a couple of ideas so stay tuned.. What laser you got to be able slide 4 x 8 thru it?

[@barry.w.christie]

​@@therufflifeinc Hi again, as I mentioned I'm building my own laser, but you could do exactly the same very easily! For example, with your laser, as long as there are no artificial limits (via software) placed on your frame size, then all you have to do is make a larger frame ... even just extending your X axis and leave the Y axis alone, as long as you get to the maximum width you need, then the length can be handled by passing the material through the laser in multiple passes. I'd say there are probably no limits on the bed size via software, which I base on the fact that most lasers offer 'an extension' for only X amount of money ... the only change is your get two longer frame pieces, two longer belts and extend the wiring ... everything else is the same. I'll do one of three things, buy a XTOOL D1 PRO laser diode, a ATOMSTACK M100 laser diode or a complete laser which I'll junk the frame of and build my own ... having a full laser means wasting a lot on the frame, but you'd have everything else you need apart from your new frame, belts and wiring 👍 I'd be quite happy to send you some pics as and when I'm building it or I'll be documenting it on my own (very new) channel 😁

[@therufflifeinc]

@@barry.w.christie Sounds good. Any your right as there is not to much to the laser. Once take a look at it. I guess it would be just finding the right side belts. Thanks for the info and is your channel up? I will subscribe as I would be interested to follow what your doing...

[@TwistedBits]

​@@therufflifeinc Ok, comments don't seem to like links, I'd just typed a massive reply there and it all disappeared ... so I'll reply with my channel and you can just click on the name 😁 Channel up and running (just) ... will be covering lots of things, woodwork, wood turning, building jigs and machines etc ... just need the time to do it all now As I've already mentioned I've started buying bits and pieces for the laser, hopefully it'll be up and running relatively quickly, say in the next two months. I'm looking at either a 20W diode unit (as mentioned above), or I might go mental and buy the new Atomstack X30 Pro 33W laser ... I could use it as stands, take it apart and use it to get the big'un up and running, then once the big'un is running put it back together and sell it ... decisions decisions! I'm also thinking about a vacuum bed for the laser, for dealing with thin/bowed materials as well as fume extraction ... I think an inline vent fan would be good for that ... can get a 6" one for around £40 which will shift around 520 cubic metres of air an hour ... might just be enough, either that or it'll suck the walls in!! I've got lots of ideas and I've got a lot to learn, but that will be part of the fun and if even one person likes what I do it'll be worth it 👍 With regards belts, most of the lasers etc use GT2 timing belt as far as I know, which is readily available.

[@TwistedBits]

And subscribed 👍