Franken-40 - Highly Modified K-40 Laser introduction (previous version)

A highly modified Chinese K40 Laser Cutter.
Specs:
Expanded 12" x 24" cutting area
Motorized Z-Bed (max height: 5")
45 hacksaw blade laser bed (blade every .500")
Cloudray K Series Set Head & 1st 2nd Mirror Mounts Dia:20 - FL: 50.8
CNCOLETECH 3PCS Si Mirror Coated Gold Dia: 20mm
TEN-HIGH Focus Lens, ZnSe Dia: 20mm - FL: 50.8mm
Separate electronics enclosure
Additional 12v PSU
Raspberry Pi 4, 8GB
Arduino Uno with CNC Shield for Z-Axis Control
Air assist
Water temperature gauge

[@congruewoodworks1474]

Also, Hell of an idea with the hack saw blades bed!! Thank you. I paused the video right when you introduced it and searched if my local HF has them in stock. lol.

[@grzegorzolech7208]

Thank you very much for this video and for the close-ups of the individual elements. It helped me a lot in calibrating the mirrors. The mechanics were not difficult, but aligning the toe-in was difficult due to the inaccuracy of individual elements in my machine.

[@mirkomueller3412]

Have mine about 2 years now, thought about many modifications, did some, but not all yet BUT it never came to my mind to use the whole space like you did. This is ... magnificent !!! Why the hell have i never thought of that ?

[@DavidR8]

I absolutely love this build! So clever and well executed.

[@seabeepirate]

I successfully converted a K40 with the Makerbase MKS DLC32 v2.1. The documentation is really terrible and there is a bit of wiring to do but now I have a 32bit controller with TMC2209 drivers and lightburn compatibility. The DLC32 firmware isn’t open source as of yet I think but I didn’t haven’t to mess with the firmware to get mine working. Up next I’ll be crawling the forums for how to set up the wifi connection as a port lightburn can recognize so I don’t even have to plug into the machine. Even after all this I still come back to check out your machine. Great video!

[@thelazerwhisperer]

I've fitted a 80w tube to my k40 with 100w psu, cohesion 3d board. Aeon laser cutting head. Aquarium chiller 6 inch inline exhaust fan and air assist. Planning on building a lot larger build to put everything in soon

[@xfarsys]

the the power of that bed is over 9000!

[@guyincognito4912]

Epic build Bill. I'd happily pay for plans and a part list. I tip my hat to you sir

[@TimAKingJr]

Awesome build, Bill. I've been thinking about upsizing my K40 bed, and I'm glad I haven't yet. You did a great job. In addition, tell me more about your micro sailplane kits. I'm an RC pilot too, and I love my sailplanes!

[@mikesfarmmikesfarm3977]

I am really interested in what you are doing, I will mod mine more now. Thanks for taking the time and sharing.

[@jonpardue]

Thanks for making this video, what a great build! Inspired to mod the K40 now.

[@rottie007]

that bed design is a work of art ! fair play to you

[@markferrick10]

Just found this. Fantastic mods. Awesome job. Now I need to find you modified files. Thanks

[@NinjaHempKnight]

I have a laser on the way. Love your mods!!

[@br0k3nilluzion]

This is awesome man !!!!!!! Cant wait to jump head and shoulders in on this build !

[@seabeepirate]

Hey Bill! Instead of upping your infill, try increasing your wall count. Doing 3-4 layers thick instead of 2 will have a bigger impact on strength with less material and time. Great work! I’m looking at one of these myself.

[@oo9467]

Excellent build and good video description keep them coming

[@MicroRotors]

Thanks 👍

[@StigBSivertsen]

Did not know this was possible, just awesome 🙂

[@forgeteverythingyouknow5413]

This Rocks Man. If you ever get around to uploading those parts to thingiverse, a whole lot of people would be in your debt.

[@MicroRotors]

Thank You! The build videos have all the links, but here is a link to the stuff I made. www.thingiverse.com/billscnc/designs

[@sitgesvillaapartmentneilsc7924]

@@MicroRotors thank you very much from Spain Bill.

[@waschbaers_werkstatt]

Great setup, very inspiring! Thanks for the build parts!

[@sputnikxxx]

nice inspired just ordered a k40 hope to do something similar

[@fonzrave3072]

super build Bill !

[@IronAngelForge]

Wow! That's a beast - are the printed parts your design or something you pulled from thingiverse/ect? This is a route I was already rolling around in my head, started digging and now you've posted this and it pretty much cements that I need to do the mods and conversion

[@MicroRotors]

Some is mine and some is from thingiverse, and some of those were modified.

[@patrickmaartense7772]

absolutely agree with the hacksaw bed !!

[@MrUnknowDj]

Can I get the files for the 3D print parts somewhere?

[@kelvantides1842]

Very nice!

[@antoninomanfre1387]

Ciao Ottimo lavoro, puoi postare le modifiche fatte, i collegamenti e lo schema con arduino e rasberry?

[@StevePrior]

I love the bed idea!

[@f0dd3rz]

Thanks for this, very useful. And I think you need to change the batteries in your smoke detector : )

[@savikate]

Great video. Good job!

[@GeorgeZaharia]

you know that old saying " if it works, dont mess with it" i bought a k40 also and before it i had a mpcnc, with swappable diode and milling thingy, and a 3080 before that... thing is they all have same components and electronics, difference is the co2 tube and beefier power supply on the k40... but overal they are all 4 aluminium profiles and 2/3 stepper motors... and honestly after 5 years of owning them... i could probably use the 3080 take the 5k it costs to buy a "pro laser cutting" that in reality is a k40 with a 100-150Watt tube and befier power supply... and build a industrial machine cause in parts... hardware components around 2 to 3000 USD and then is all a matter of wiring it all up and swap the motherboard and stuff. and lets say another 2k to reach the 5k for cooling and smoke exhaust... and u got probably a 25-50k DIY machine from a 3080 bone structure... but as you said in the beginning of the video... the way i have them setup now they work for me... i dont need them to do more... they are perfect as they are... and honestly the more you fiddle with them... the more crap u brake and u sort of waste cash repairing them instead of making stuff with them... but if u got a 3080 or a k40 cheapo original... its a good gateway to cnc machines... what actually brought me into cncs was my 1st ender 3 3d printer... was amazed how reliable and simple it is as parts for the price it came at. awesome stuff love the upgrade you did.

[@prototypeeight9503]

I really need the plans! When will you put those out?

[@GianlucaCori]

hello, nice video, congratulations, but what is the use of the raspberry?

[@sotm2]

Do you have a link for the Z table build?

[@mrmark1999]

I would like to see the rulers on the side

[@sotm2]

How much trouble did you have getting your morrors aligned correctly??

[@richdavis9789]

now you got me thinking!!!! which is damn dangerous!

[@tomsuica8731]

Subscribed btw! AMazing machine!

[@curtl8640]

Bill - Great work! I am nearly done with the printing and assembly of my upgraded K40. Can you please share what arduino build you are using with the CNC shield? I have not found one that I can load and get to work. Thanks

[@jaredyoung7514]

Billy, Literally don't have to make the z-bed. How much to build one and ship to me?

[@Dex2R7]

Hey Bill. Is it possible to use the stock stepper motors? I don't mind buying some new ones but I don't understand why people swap them out on these bed upgrades.

[@MicroRotors]

Yes, there's no need to replace them.

[@redbad]

Hello there. With the machine being open in the bottom, how do you deal with the fumes extraction?

[@MrAmity009]

Beautiful job if i may say Are you willing to share the stl files for this conversion?

[@skysurferuk]

Nice build. Any chance of your code? Love that bed, I will adopt that when I can.

[@bunnyboy5158]

Hi where did you get the raspberry pi from

[@nathanblanchard8897]

1:30 “very cheap” Those were the days :(

[@muserbellamy1140]

Good build where did you position fume extraction outlet thanks

[@dzikusdzikusdzikus]

Hey, do you need to make some changes in control system or in some software settings? How you deal with larger work space?

[@jamessheridan88]

Do you have the links to the models you printed?

[@MicroRotors]

Stuff is being added. www.thingiverse.com/billscnc/designs

[@rickmccaskill7888]

Love your hacksaw blade table. Could you let us know where you posted the design file for the frame? Thank you.

[@LanceMcGrew]

Another guy I wish was my neighbor :)

[@congruewoodworks1474]

Liked and subscribed! How did you wire the limit switches on both ends of each axis to the stock M2 controller? My stock k40 only has limit switches on the top left of x+y, it would be nice to have it on both ends to avoid the grinding (3:27).

[@MicroRotors]

In series.

[@gurumultitask9979]

Look a good from 3d printed

[@danfraser5626]

Awesome setup! Mine arrived a few weeks ago and am finally getting it setup after almost a full rebuild. It arrived with quite a few damaged parts. Thank god for the 3D printers, lol. Will you release your build parts/lists on thingiverse?

[@MicroRotors]

It's being added up to my Thingiverse Channel, ... www.thingiverse.com/billscnc/designs

[@danfraser5626]

@@MicroRotors do you happen to have a parts list like lengths of 2020 and 2040? Also lengths and numbers of M5 screws? I plan on ordering some 2020 and 2040 soon. That’s not the big deal, I want to order the screws etc from aliexpress, those take a month to arrive, lol

[@Tigercojones]

@@MicroRotors Hello, cant´t found the Sawblade bed on Thingiverse. Please can you upload this files? Thanks !!

[@Studulikeuk]

Great looking build. I have a heavily modded k40 also but would like to go bigger. Just one question is how well does the smoke extract with such an open bottom?

[@MicroRotors]

I have yet to smell anything.

[@Studulikeuk]

@@MicroRotors that sounds good. I'm guessing if you have a good extractor is a bit like a vacuum cleaner sucking everything out. I think I need you to live close enough to me to help me do mine. Lol Congratulations on your build. The best I have seen and although I hate to say it, better than mine. Lol

[@gregalot200]

Where do you get your plane plans?

[@RokasSondaras]

can you provide your 3D files?

[@tomsuica8731]

You no post your 10 turn potentimteamneter!!