The laser etcher is sitting in front of me at the moment. However, it doesn’t feel like cooperating. It’s very small and cat themed, but the main problem is the focusing and the control system. Currently, it works and can do laser “etching”, however it does it by stopping over an area pulsing the laser using PWM for a short while before moving to the next point, creating an array of dots. This works fine for images but is completely useless for PCB’s or for variable heat activation (seperate project). This also means that it is veeery slooow with it having to stop for each dot. The focusing lens also uses pure chinesium threaded plastic, meaning it can swivel on the thread on the end of the diode laser. Dodgy as, but I have been able to focus it right down to the point where the individual dots are in the 0.1mm> ballpark.
So, first thing on the list is to swap out the potato that is driving it now and drop in a ramps 1.4 board and see if using PWM with continuous motion makes a difference. If not, we’ll have a proper go at fixing this thing up, possibly a smoothie or an fpga based board if it needs the extra grunt.
