Laser Cutter - Rotary Axis

 For my previously mentioned laser cutter. I made a rotary axis that will be hooked up soon. I made sure to use a similarly sized motor to the one I'll be stealing power from on the Y axis, so I don't have to mess with the current. It will use a 2 position 4 way switch so I can change which motor gets the power. Just plug, and switch! The construction is very rigid with epoxy everywhere. I have attachments planned for tilting, live center, and steady rest. I'm also working on some way to protect the wood in case a stray laser attacks the tool.

DIY Laser Fume Extractor

 After purchasing a hobby laser cutter as any DIYer should, I quickly realized the fumes pumping out the window would be a problem. When the gas leaves the building, air must replace it, or it'll get sucked back in through any cracks. An open window in the bedroom helps. However, should any vapors return, I'd like them to be made harmless (and odorless). To mitigate this, I researched solutions and spent weeks designing my own. It must fit in the tight space under the laser cutter, be easy to open for filter replacement, and have quality parts.

 The construction is plywood screwed together, with silicon at all corners. The design is such that any leaks simply pull additional air in. So there's no risk of leaking gasses where it shouldn't. The worst* that can happen is the gas isn't filtered completely, and still gets pumped outside.

There are perfectly cut blocks slid into place over each component. This acts as a barrier to keep dirty air moving through the filters, and is removable for maintenance. Each loose part is lined with neoprene or window stripping. The perfect fit is because I also modeled this entire setup in 3D.

The finished product does a fine job, and isn't loud at all. Each of the filter and fan components is rated for around 250 cubic feet per minute capacity. Since the fan is at the end of the filter, it pulls in the walls of the box, creating an even better seal. No, that isn't a car engine filter attached to the fan. It's a HEPA filter, making sure any smoke or carbon is filtered out before running through the fan. My fancy test was lighting and blowing out a candle to see where the smoke pulled into the box. No leaks! At least not externally. Putting a scented candle at the inlet and my nose near the end yielded no odors, so it seems to be working. The purpose of this was not to go cheap, although it definitely saved money over any plug and play option.


Known downsides are the cost of filter parts. They weren't crazy, but there are other ways. The inlet being so close to the carbon filter is also an issue. It may develop preferred paths, lessening the filter ability over time. I can rotate the filter over time to help with this, or stick a piece of paper over the closest section of filter to diffuse the gasses around more, at the expense of a little suction. Cheers!

Injection Mold Machine Clamp GIF

Short clip showing the clamp action.

Injection Mold Machine (part3)

Consider this a test of the control layout, noise interference, and my sanity. Just kidding, I'm only lazy. I usually need to make some kind of custom breakout board for these projects, but I may just delve into PCB layout software to have them professionally made (solder traces are a total waste anyway). The modular bits, like the Arduino board I'm using, will stay as is, and basically become my cheap PC/104.

Injection Mold Machine (part 2)

Early testing shows the clamp mechanism works. Despite the rod sleeves not yet attached, there was no binding during actuation like I was afraid of. Next, I'll attach the rest of the clamp end and see about securing the back end of the actuator. I may end up attaching more linkages to the forward section, but hopefully it won't come to that just yet.