 How to make a simple DIY Laser Engraver with Arduino
Making a laser engraver on an Arduino platform is nothing compared to an industrial laser cutter.Â
A typical laser made on this platform would use around 1.8W 445 nm laser cutters. It is nothing compared to industrial laser cutters who use a laser with 50 W or more. However, a wavelength of 445 nm can give strong radiation that can be dangerous for the eyes. Hence, experts advise on using a safety goggle.
An Arduino UNO projects laser cutter can cut through cardboard and paper and engrave all types of wood. This type of laser cutter can be made by anyone, whether one is a student, teacher, or engineer. All one has to do is to follow instructions.
Step by step process for making a laser engraver
Step 1 - Materials from Arduino shop
It is impossible to make a laser engraver with parts, and therefore the user has to make a list of items required. Nowadays, essential items needed are obtained from an Arduino shop in Dubai as it is cheap than other online platforms. Even additional parts like wooden sheets and threaded rods are obtainable from any local DIY shop.
Parts like the Arduino UNO, stepper motor drivers, Motors, Laser module heat sink, motor drivers, power supply, ball bearings, jaw and liner shafts, switches, control buttons, emergency buttons, and laser drivers are purchased from an Arduino shop in Dubai.
Materials from your local DIY company
The items required for the project, such as M10 threaded rods, MDF sheets, and Materials from Nuts, can be brought locally.
Step 2 – Design
Deciding on the design will take some time, and one can draw all the parts on one’s computer before making it. The laser machine is made up of MDF sheets. Once the drawings get printed, they can be placed on wooden sheets, and then the design is finally cut with a jigsaw. When all the parts get sawed as per the drawing, holes are drilled.
- Step 3 - Assembling
The step is to assemble the electronic case with parts that include mounting doors with a hinge and lock. The base plates, the shaft support, and motor support are all placed beside the engraver. The wooden piece, steeper driver, control panel, working sheet are attached, after which the e electronics come into function.
- Step 4 - Putting the electronics on the control panel
The wires are laid one at a time to avoid a mess. The board, relay, power supply, laser, and control buttons like start, pause or stop. One can use old computers fans to cool the laser and stepper motor drivers. Other parts like laser drivers needed to use the laser, and stepper motor drivers are connected to the Arduino using wires. The limit switches make sure the engravers stop working when something goes wrong.
- Step 5 - configure the software
The software used for laser engraver is downloadable. One also needs the download the latest version of the Arduino IDE and upload it to one’s Arduino. To engrave something, the user needs to send codes called g-codes. These codes get generated by using a program called Inkscape.
The above steps are a simple example of how to make a Laser Engraver with Arduino.