DIY Homemade Laser Cutter

[@lhxperimental]

It is amazing how accessible technology has become. With internet sharing, ideas pass around the world in no time and spawn newer ideas and the cycle repeats. Humanity is make going to make tremendous progress in the years ahead.

[@FurtherFabrication]

My thoughts exactly! It's such a great opportunity for learning and sharing. I remember being limited to the 3 books per week I was allowed to borrow from the local library hahaha. We've come a long way in a very short time.

[@billysgeo]

@@FurtherFabrication The positive side of the 'net. The one that lives up to the information super-highway that the past generation dreamed of!

[@billysgeo]

@Don Mega The technology level does not matter, it's what people decide to do with it that matters.

[@Moronicsmurf]

Until someone wanna wage war - then we make great strides to kill each other with more and more advanced technology.

[@puchomoreno]

Not in my country. Retarded 3rd world.

[@FurtherFabrication]

Hey everyone! I'm looking at putting together a 'VERSION 2' laser cutter/engraver in the new year. If you're interested in a full step-by-step build guide, in-depth resources, and how to then generate an income using a laser (so that it pays for itself). STAY TUNED! Feel free to put any questions you'd like me to cover down below, so I can help everyone out as best I can!

[@jdoc99]

Awesome!!! Can't wait!

[@The_Bufficorn]

Might also want to include things like materials able to be cut and times for say 100 mil cuts per material. People like to hear about all the possible materials this type of project will let them process. Also maybe provide Freedom Units of measurement to reach a wider audience if thats what you are aiming for. Also got yourself a sub loving your presentation style.

[@Pseudothink]

This tutorial/guide is an amazing resource for maker spaces, or anyone interested in DIY laser cutting! Thanks so much, really looking forward to V2 guide, which is sure to have significant revisions and refinements.

[@Scairborne66]

DEFINITELY staying tuned! Would like to see a list of all the parts needed, to include the .stl files for the 3d printed parts.

[@guitarrero2009]

Do it man ,do it !!

[@bevan5937]

Wow master maker! That's quite the impressive project you've got there. I remember when I built my first laser cutter circa 2011. I had quite a different set up to you but by the looks of it yours does the job quite nicely. Mine was running a 1250 x 850 bed (honeycomb of course) and a 60W tube and oh boy that thing chewed through 9mm Acrylic like nobodies business. Great to see passionate young makers like yourself sharing your knowledge with the rest of us. Keep up the good work. All the best for you future projects. Cheers Bevan :-)

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thank you for your kind comment, you know I'm actually a huge fan - ever since your initial findings and subsequent dissertation of the theoretical application of the 'mega mondo' effect in the 10.6 μm wavelength. Your research forever changed my outlook on subvisble light. Such an honor.

[@bevan5937]

Ah yes! I see you've done your research. very impressive... And yes my in depth studies on getting the perfect panel lines led me to the discovery of the MM effect. It truly is one of my proudest moments. So glad to hear that you enjoy my work. Keep on keeping on fellow maker! Regards Bevan

[@hotfuzz1913]

I can't stop watching your build videos all around nice job on the design , build and documentation not to mention the video and editing Excellent work Sir

[@herrakaarme]

It's awesome what people can build at home if they have the knowledge and skills.

[@ironknobsteelworks4063]

Some people are good at talking, some are good at doing. This lad does both.

[@DKELL111688]

Nice work! Love the larger footprint design. However, one thing worries me. Is that just clear acrylic? The view areas should be covered with a laser protection film.

[@MrLucidity]

I did a 'drunk-buy' of a 20w laser tube - I thought it would be cool to have one - and have been researching how to use it ever since. This vid helped greatly, cheers

[@spikeydapikey1483]

Good call on the outer case, that makes a lot of sense. Cheers.

[@123jerro]

I used PLA to print all the parts for my D-bot printer back in 2015 and they have worked flawlessly to date so don't be afraid of PLA unless you're planning on storing in a very hot place.

[@mikecrane2782]

Extremely well done from start to finish. Pleasure to watch, and enjoyed your thinking & commentary. Good luck with your other projects, and yep, I'll be making a laser cutter one day, and your project is very informative. Cheers

[@charlietame1892]

Very well thought out project, I wish the designers of some of the stuff I have to work on and repair put as much thought into their work as you did.

[@lorandlayton1756]

Just a thought You could do well by selling this machine in the kit form !

[@amessman]

Wonderful video, I'm still on the fence about buying or building but your video certainly will make building a lot easier, can't wait to check out your other content!

[@AtulSohan]

*"i Hope that something was helpful for someone!!"* that is an understatement Brother. Knowledge and experience is to be shared ! nothing is a waste , i mean nothing there are literally 1000s of people who have made DIY laser cutters but each one is different and you sharing your experience means that i dont have to make the mistakes and i dont have to reinvent the square wheel , Thank you for sharing Plus Great narration and editing . I understand making videos of projects is hard and it takes 3 times as long for the project to complete thank you for sharing . i Hope you make more of such projects and post them online . Thank You Again

[@MRdoA77]

I have bought a lot of chinese machines and I wondered about building one from scratch. It took me a few months but I built a 100w with a 5x8 foot bed using hybrid nema 34 steppers and a 708C controller. I am looking at manufacturing them full time from my shop.

[@chris746568462]

Brilliant project. I have just finished building a 3D printer with the T slot aluminium. I used a metal bandsaw and then milled the ends for squareness. Takes a long time but i wanted accurate dimensions. Thank you for confirming that a wood mitre saw can cut it quicker with good dimensional tolerance, I have been wondering about trying it.

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thanks, and no problem. Awesome! I built my 3d printer with t-slot too, very useful stuff. I was hesitant about using a wood saw for aluminium at first as well, but by dialing it in with a few test cuts and going slow, it actually works really well.

[@glennmartonic6376]

amazon sells a 10 inch aluminum cutting miter blade for 20 bucks

[@chrisnurse7658]

Great project to share to mate. When you consider that the large format lasers cost $1000s and even just to have a big machine shipped to Perth is $1000, building one makes a lot of sense!

[@bneben]

Awesome vid. Just finished my own build - I took a quite different route but had similar size constraints. Ended up with 495x720mm cut size using the same 40w tube with plans for a Reci w2 soon. Wish I’d timelapsed my build now!

[@originaltrilogy1]

How much did it end up costing you?

[@paulsenior69]

Well done! Thank you for uploading! I used a laser for a year nearly daily and rebuilded our lately.I switched from three to two mirrors by turning the laser tube 90 degrees and let it directly shoot I the second mirror. This was it needs a lot less recalibration.

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thanks! hm interesting I hadn't considered removing the 1st mirror, how does the tube fit in the enclosure - because wouldn't it need to be sticking out parallel to the end of the y axis?

[@paulsenior69]

Further Fabrication yes, correct. Don't know if it's working, but here is a link to a photo of the setup. drive.google.com/file/d/1_EqXSbv9Fm90gInfqRwfimIQC_ZlGP24/view?usp=drivesdk So you need a little bit more space but on the other hand calibration is much easier, took me maybe 3 minutes in total.

[@FurtherFabrication]

Nice one, thanks for showing the photo! it's very cool to see a different method being used

[@glennmartonic6376]

sounds really big....even for a 700mm k40 laser

[@arthursauret7323]

That's insane dude, your project is awesome

[@whiskeysquiker]

Very helpful. I'm currently in design phase of a simple 10watt optical diode laser, but I want the option to upgrade easily later should I choose to go CO2 (and finances permitting) but right now I got about 250 bucks to blow so I am pricing everything out during design. Figuring out what I can make and what I shouldn't make vs. purchase. Also what I can print for now and maybe upgrade later. This will be a fun addition to my little print farm. Gah, I need a bigger shop. Appreciate the time you took to document the whole process.

[@Submanca]

That is frigging gorgeous!

[@chriskiwi9833]

That was really nice. I agree that it is nicer to roll your own rather than buy.

[@1kokkerrot]

This video just earned you a new subscriber 😁 I'm a cnc and laser machinist and always wanted to build one.thanks

[@benjaminisaacs4668]

KZbin just suggested this video! Great to see another Wellington NZ Maker!

[@TheRainHarvester]

I wish the tubes didn't wear out after a couple years...it's the only thing stopping me from making one. So tempting. Nice job!

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thanks. Yeah it's totally a pain, I just had to replace mine after 18 months. You just have to factor it in as a consumable

[@TheRainHarvester]

How much was the replacement? I heard you can take the old one to a neon sign shop to have them refilled. I don't know how much that would cost.

[@FurtherFabrication]

I hadn't heard of refillable ones, that would sure be handy! Depending on the power of the tube it's normally a couple of hundred dollars (I have pretty hefty shipping to deal with as well though because of my location).

[@TrikaArts]

Wow just wow, this is the kind of stuff i love want a laser cutter? Just build it yourself. I wish it was as easy as that hahaha I compliment you sir

[@supcoinjournal7720]

Great video! Looking forward to V2!

[@flyboy3d]

I work with industrial level co2 laser cutters and have always wanted to make my own but the ones we produce are far too expensive for the average Joe to get. Definitely will go with your route.

[@humbertorodrigues2361]

Awesome design Further! Im currently exploring 3D Printing and starting to do the same in the CNC Laser Cutter and i came across with your project. Thank you very much for the enlightenment and for sharing!

[@jacekpankowski1082]

Fantastic videos, congratulations on a job well done. May I ask what the total cost of making individual laser models for cutting is?

[@RICRend]

Outstanding machine, you certainly earned my sub. Great job man, really dope to see people innovating like this. Inspiring!

[@jennygao7542]

Very interesting! May I ask how much it cost for all the bits and pieces apart from ur time?

[@rusticagenerica]

May the God bless you for your stupendous work and this award-winning video !

[@waaduu6189]

That came out great. Well done mate! What about the corrugated boxes shown at the beginning. Manufacture them for shipping of your products?

[@alexvonbosse5090]

Very interesting information at the proper time! I'm in the process of making my plans for a homemade laser cutter/engraver using a CO2 Laser. Thanks for sharing your information and knowledge and keep up the great work!

[@thumbwarriordx]

"How quickly they go together" Damn straight. I was helping my sister put together a milled Chinese 3D printer kit for my nephew and it took like 8 hours compared to the one I built a few years ago out of the railing in just over 2 hours.

[@juanete69]

Still expensive for most people. But nice project. How thick is the steel or titanium you can cut? I would like build it but I prefer to try with a CNC because it can make 3D pieces.

[@SF-fb6lv]

I don't know what to say. Amazing! Just finding all the parts would be a full time job. How did you learn all this?

[@karlfimm]

Great build. We've got an 80W laser (700x500 bed) and it tends to be the 'goto' machine when I want something in a hurry.

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thanks, yeah it seems to be a good comfortable size for most things.

[@glennmartonic6376]

wondering how big is your 80w laser....designing and taking into acct possible upgrades. 1200mm+??

[@karlfimm]

Physically, it's a big beast - about 1160*870*960, but the bed is 700x500. www.redsailcnc.com/X700.html Bought it a few years ago and found it very useful. I'm sure you can get the equivalent cheaper now, however.

[@alexandermilleriii499]

With talent like that, I'm sure this channel will succeed.

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thanks dude

[@alexfishman2961]

Wow! You've got some great skills!!! Amazing!

[@juliangoulding]

Awesome to see this vid finally getting the views it deserves bro! I’m calling 1mil!

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thanks homie! yeah it was super random, youtube just starting recommending it or something

[@juliangoulding]

Yeah I think it sometimes takes it a while to figure out who to suggest it to. Had the same thing happen to my Ebike vid. Nothing and then all of a sudden, boom 200k

[@wendyvalerie6624]

You are a genius. Thank you for sharing your talent.

[@recovered_file]

Hi there ! Incredible work. Can you tell me if it’s possible to use a metal and ceramic laser tube instead of this classic glass laser tube ?? How to control a metal laser tube ?

[@skidz8426]

Thanks for putting the price in the description. I was thinking to my self this doesn't look like a cost-effective build, but $2000 USD very much is if you're trying to cut engrave anything larger then 12" but if not a $400 machine is going to be the way cheaper, plus I wonder if you can just use those components. I'd like to know how much the box alone cost.

[@robertgsmith5761]

Is there a books 📚 on building a laser cutter like this with analysts of what parts to use ?

[@ORDWIFEY]

You got skills!! Great Work!

[@ovidiuvelecico6873]

i love it! i'm still figuring out the electronics part, don't have experience with that.

[@kermets]

Mmmm a fellow Kiwi...... I like the use of the clothes peg Spring at the end......Cheers Brett

[@rtscreativedesign8976]

Great video, thank you. I just wanted to ask what you considered with the laser power supply and tube. I guess everything else is just personal preference but i have no clue which would be a good make to use. Would Cloudray products be OK in your opinion. Best John C

[@FurtherFabrication]

Yeah I've used Cloudray many times and they've always been good.

[@krautmaster7922]

Beautiful work!!! Looks really professional!

[@kristinaweber6179]

Hey thanks of the video iam thinking about building a similar laser. What is the precision, max. Speed and whats the maximum thickness of wood the laser can cut trough. A detailed data sheet would be great. Thanks in advance

[@larraineavery5997]

Loved your videos do you have any plans & a parts list or can you make the parts & send them out ?

[@douglasbrier3549]

Great work mate

[@chadcory]

great build! I have a k40 that I'm going to upgrade. I think this is going to be its new look. Thanks man!

[@FurtherFabrication]

Awesome! good luck with the upgrade!

[@chadcory]

@@FurtherFabrication I really appreciate your cad file it opened in fusion 360 great. I'm going to be making a build video and talking about the build on a podcast I'm on(The makerz @ podnutz.com)

[@FurtherFabrication]

no problem dude - i'll check it out

[@kamikazekk-df4vz]

One of the best DIY project i seen! Very interesting and smart result, well done.....and you obviously have a new sub!

[@greengoatman]

Just finished my own design and its such a great tool to have!

[@qtour99]

Fantastic work dude. You should be proud of yourself. I'd like to second some comments saying you should sell this in kit form. Put me on the list if you do! Great video

[@rickt1866]

CLEAN BUILD NICE WORK.

[@fliptop62deceived95]

Nice!!! Also liked peg spring.

[@runicevan5624]

that's one hell of a cnc plotter

[@blackend00]

great work .i'm going for a 3d printer using those aluminum gantries , basically the same thing only with more Z axe distance , but seems there is a lot of details need to be taken in consideration .

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thanks. yeah there are lots of little things you only really discover once you start building, you just have to have open to small changes and expect to get frustrated by things haha doing a 3d model first always helps as well

[@jordymoors]

Being in the final stages of my own 80W build, I would appreciate it if you could elaborate a bit on the 'accessories' like the air assist, exhaust, and laser bed. For the air assist I've read everything ranging from an aquarium pump to a full blown industrial compressor. What are you using, are you happy with it, how's the noise, and does it require extras like air filter or water traps? For the exhaust, are there any specs you can give that you've found to work well? Do you direct airflow to/from the workarea by any means (slots in specific places, or a downdraft under the table? I've seen you use a tiny fan on top). As for the bed, I've seen you use various things like nails, t-slot, and construction rebar, is there anything in particular you like, dislike or would recommend? I was planning on using a honeycomb, but am open to alternatives. As an aside, how's the V-slot holding up? Does it require regular maintenance like re-tightening and/or cleaning to keep it running smoothly? Does it allow for decent speeds (ballpark number on the speeds you can achieve?) I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate a bit on the above since those are the last bits I'm unsure about and could use some advice from someone with IRL experience :) Thanks in advance, I enjoy the build and videos!

[@FurtherFabrication]

That's awesome, congrats on getting it almost finished! Those are some really excellent questions: - The air assist I'm using is the same little aquarium compressor that came with the my original k40. It puts out enough air (no technical figures, but a 'gentle breeze') to keep smoke from entering the nozzle, but not aggressively enough to clear particles from the cutting path. For me this has been fine, it functions and hasn't broken. It would most likely be beneficial to have something a bit more powerful - but it's low for me in upgrade priority. - Exhaust is something you'll have to feel out a little bit with what it is you're cutting and the length of the run. The set up I've been using for the last few months as - minimum viable solution - is the K40 exhaust fan (essentially a bathroom fan), sucking from the back. With two 150mm computer fans blowing in from the front (positioned as needed). This remarkably has served me just fine. My exhaust run is also only about 2 feet long out a window, which probably helps. - Bed was a bit of a surprise, I wanted honeycomb but couldn't source it at a price I could pay. So 90% of the time I actually use strips of plywood with nails sticking up through. This leaves me with zero smoke marks on the underside and is really easy to adjust placement. - V-slot is holding up fine and accuracy is no problem - now that you mention it I should go round and double check the connections at this point - I have cleaned the rails several times but that's to be expected. The belt tension and motors are more of a bottle neck concerning speed, but I've always been limited by the power of the 40w tube dictating working speed. I typically engrave at 200m/s but can go almost double that if needed. Hope that helps!

[@quanbasketballer]

greate work , I got a question, why you use the vslot aluminium with those tire for the x axis in model 400 but you change that to square sliding one in the model 1200 ? is that make the x-asis more stable?

[@cedrix57]

Very impressive. What training / background do you need to be able to follow your $5 plan? And could it take more than a month for an inexperienced person to achieve this?

[@scottmorgan5370]

Grade: A++ Excellent work young man... God Bless ya my friend...

[@KeithWitzel]

I like it.... could you make a parts list for a size that would for a final cutting area handle 1800mm X 3000mm?

[@SuperMatt2112]

Great video even though I'm a bit late to the party, this was WOW amazing, someone else commented about how technology is becoming so advanced and available to just about anyone, I;ve said for a long tim, the internet is our collective consciousness on training wheels, just imagine the speed of learning if or when telepathy becomes the norm... not sure, but I think this is where humanity is headed over time, but its a process. IDK just thinking out loud anyway, Thanks for sharing this amazing laser project, truly inspiring.

[@rock3tcatU233]

Wow, you sir are a gentleman, genius and a genie!

[@Сачёк]

SUPER!! Your work is the best motivation !!!!

[@sz72909]

I would very much appreciate a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to building Version2. I have no problem building the mechanics, but I lack the knowledge in selecting the proper and reliable electronics/controller/power supply, and the firmware necessary to make the laser functional. Thank you.

[@MasterCraftFishing51]

wow you did a wonderful job on that project .

[@bevan5937]

So sick my dude

[@FurtherFabrication]

Dude I'm still waiting for your cafe racer build vid

[@RoadRunnerMeep]

Great work, always wanted to build my own laser cutter and this makes for great education. What's the thickness you can cut through?

[@riiyung1081]

Hi dear, I come from a laser factory in China. CO2 laser machine DN-1390 90W promotional price of our company is $2600. If u need, you can contact me at Whatsapp: [phone] Mail:[e-mail]

[@ajc4477]

Very, very clean design.Thanks for posting.

[@theboilershop1728]

Very well done do you have a back ground in electronics? Understanding electronics looks like that hardest part. I intend to start playing with Arduino to get a basic understanding how things work before I start building.

[@one8thone5thracer3]

Just found your channel. Great video. Do you know if they make fiber lasers for DIY market?

[@Laflx]

Amazing work!!! Would you do a DIY fiber laser some time soon?

[@cliffchism9187]

A very impressive job of design

[@greenacresfarms]

Loved your build. I may have missed it, but what did you use for the build plate/laze plate. I normally use honeycomb, but I was liking your slat design better.

[@ScottTurnerformeindustrious]

Amazing! Great work!

[@FurtherFabrication]

cheers mate!

[@GrahamMealand]

What materials can you cut? I'm really impressed with your end product and the simplicity of your design. A true inspiration to many people i'm sure.

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thanks mate. Just standard CO2 laserable materials, 95% of what I use it for is just wood and plastics.

[@ryanmacewen511]

Awesome man. Reminds me of my first printer build. Subscribed! Awesome video.

[@freddykoopmans6985]

Hi , nice build. like the way you solved some of the problems. I did see the budget you spend for building this laser, and I did check your size ( which is between the commercial sizes to big and to small for my use ) If you have to build it again do you think you can build it for a lower budged or better for the same money?

[@mechtech_stuff]

excellent video series

[@momenhesham4244]

Great work Why z axis stroke is too long? What's used for?

[@WoodworkingEngineering]

Impressive build. How much did for the aluminum frame? Let’s say everything but electronics and laser? I’m building a CNC and I’m using iron, just to compare costs.

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thanks, I can't remember exactly, but it was a significant proportion of the build - that stuff is not cheap. I thought about welding up angle iron as my frame for cost reasons, but decided against it because I felt the extra versatility of the slotted alu was worth the cost, in my instance.

[@WoodworkingEngineering]

@@FurtherFabrication Ok, sounds fair. I was able to keep the frame under 100€ on my build, while keeping the same rigidity. But I'm still building it, I look forward to wire the electronics and see if everything is running fine... crossed fingers :D

[@АлексСадко-ж7х]

Awesome build ! Thanks for video. Hope that some day you will be selling such constructer laser kits of your design.

[@billysgeo]

That alignment tho... DAMN!!!

[@jaredpenner5941]

Great build, you definitely earned my subscription. I think you have me convinced to build my own. Do you have a list of parts and suppliers?

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thanks for the sub Jared! you should absolutely build one. I don't have a full breakdown of parts yet, but if enough people are interested i'll put something together!

[@jaredpenner5941]

Further Fabrication sounds great looking forward to it.

[@brandao.rafael]

I'd very much enjoy that!

[@RedNapalm]

Further Fabrication would really love the parts breakdown. I’m in Australia and I’m having a hard time finding a cheap source. Thanks mate!

[@Venancer]

@@FurtherFabrication would love to build your design. Please list parts and part specs. Thank you.

[@goldbunny1973]

I'm upvoting this after 10s, this is a lovely video to watch, it's beautifully done! (I am however wondering who has a door or a room that can't fit an 8ft x6ft x3ft extrusion frame through it.)

[@christopherkett6346]

This is going to be an odd question, but are you sure the dimensions of that profile is 20mm X 40mm? It just looks bigger much closer to 40x80.

[@MrvelvetviruS]

Amazing! Looking forward to built it here in Colombia! Regards.

[@jothain]

Hold on. What is that CAD program at 1:11? I don't recognize it.

[@albworkshop]

nice build, thanks for sharing, if you could provide us the components list, It would be great

[@FurtherFabrication]

Thanks man, I've got the CAD file with most of the major parts in it available for download in the description. I didn't think so many people would be interested so I haven't got an exact parts list yet.

[@albworkshop]

I'll check it, thanks

[@QuebecoisSti]

awesome DIY cnc laser cutter! Keep up the good works!

[@surajkumar-pg2nc]

great !!!! but where do you got all there perfect parts?

[@gilbertodiaz-castro626]

How did you go about dealing with the toxic fumes created by the burning of different materials?