A DIY laser engraver is an affordable solution for a home workshop. DIY hand engraver How to make a do-it-yourself engraver from a motor

Good day, brain engineers! Today I will share with you a guide on how how to do laser cutter with a power of 3W and a work table 1.2x1.2 meters under the control of an Arduino microcontroller.

This brainwashing was born to create a pixel art coffee table. It was necessary to cut the material into cubes, but manually it is difficult, and through the online service it is very expensive. Then this 3-watt cutter / engraver for thin materials appeared, I will clarify that industrial cutters have a minimum power of about 400 watts. That is, light materials such as expanded polystyrene, cork sheets, plastic or cardboard, this cutter overpowers, but thicker and dense materials only engrave.

Step 1: Materials

Arduino R3
Proto Board - board with display
stepper motors
3 watt laser
cooling for laser
power unit
DC-DC regulator
MOSFET transistor
motor control boards
Limit switches
body (large enough to hold almost all of the list items)
timing belts
ball bearings 10mm
pulleys for timing belts
ball bearings
2 boards 135x 10x2 cm
2 boards 125x10x2 cm
4 smooth rods with a diameter of 1cm
various bolts and nuts
screws 3.8cm
grease
cable ties
a computer
a circular saw
screwdriver
various drills
sandpaper
vice

Step 2: wiring diagram

Laser electric circuit homemade informatively presented in the photo, there are only a few clarifications.

Stepper motors: I think you noticed that two motors are started from the same control board. This is necessary so that one side of the belt does not lag behind the other, that is, the two motors work synchronously and maintain the tension of the toothed belt, which is necessary for high-quality work. crafts.

Laser power: When adjusting the DC-DC regulator, make sure that the DC voltage is supplied to the laser, which does not exceed the specifications of the laser, otherwise you will simply burn it out. My laser is rated for 5V and 2.4A, so the regulator is set to 2A and the voltage is slightly below 5V.

MOSFET transistor: this is an important part of this brainwashing, since it is this transistor that turns the laser on and off, receiving a signal from the Arduino. Since the current from the microcontroller is very weak, only this MOSFET transistor can perceive it and turn off or unlock the laser power circuit, other transistors simply do not react to such a low-current signal. The MOSFET is mounted between the laser and ground from the DC regulator.

Cooling: when creating my laser cutter, I faced the problem of cooling the laser diode to avoid overheating. The problem was solved by installing a computer fan, with which the laser functioned perfectly even when working for 9 hours in a row, and a simple radiator could not cope with the cooling task. I also installed the coolers next to the motor control boards, as they also heat up decently even if the cutter is not working, but simply turned on.

Step 3: assembly

The attached files contain a 3D model of the laser cutter, showing the dimensions and assembly principle of the desktop frame.

Shuttle design: it consists of one shuttle responsible for the Y-axis, and two paired shuttle responsible for the X-axis.The Z-axis is not needed, since this is not a 3D printer, but instead the laser will alternately turn on and off, that is, the Z-axis is replaced by the pierce depth ... I tried to reflect all the dimensions of the shuttle structure in the photo, I will only clarify that all the mounting holes for the rods in the sides and shuttles are 1.2 cm deep.

Guide rods: steel rods (although aluminum is preferable, but steel is easier to get), rather large in diameter 1 cm, but this rod thickness will avoid sagging. The factory grease has been removed from the rods, and the rods themselves are carefully ground with a sander and sandpaper to perfect smoothness for good glide. And after grinding, the rods are treated with white lithium grease, which prevents oxidation and improves sliding.

Belts and Stepper Motors: To install the stepper motors and timing belts, I used the usual tools and materials at hand. The motors and ball bearings are mounted first, and then the belts themselves. As a bracket for the engines, a sheet of metal was used approximately the same width and twice as long as the engine itself. There are 4 holes drilled in this sheet for attaching to the engine and two for attaching to the body. homemade, the sheet is bent at an angle of 90 degrees and screwed to the body with self-tapping screws. On the opposite side of the engine mount, a bearing system is installed in a similar way, consisting of a bolt, two ball bearings, a washer and a metal sheet. A hole is drilled in the center of this sheet, with which it is attached to the body, then the sheet is bent in half and a hole is drilled in the center of both halves to install the bearing system. A toothed belt is put on the motor-bearing pair obtained in this way, which is attached to the wooden base of the shuttle with an ordinary self-tapping screw. This process is more clearly shown in the photo.

Step 4: software

Fortunately, the software for this brainwashing free and open source. Everything you need is on the links below:

In and all that I wanted to tell you about my laser cutter / engraver. Thank you for attention!

Successful homemade!

Lasers have come into our everyday life a long time ago. Guides use light pointers, beam-assisted builders set levels. The vocation of the laser - to heat up substances (up to thermal destruction) - is used in cutting and decorating. One of the applications- laser engraving. On different materials, you can get subtle patterns with virtually no restrictions on complexity.

A rich selection of engraving machines, mainly made in China, is presented in the implementation. The equipment is not very expensive, however, purchasing it simply for the purpose of entertainment is impractical. Much more fun to do homemade laser engraver with your own hands.

How to make an engraver from a printer?

How to make an engraver with your own hands? Making a CNC engraver from an old printer is not difficult at all. It's like an Arduino constructor. Detailed instructions will undoubtedly help you navigate everything.

However, first it is necessary prepare all the required components for the CNC:

• 3 studs from the hardware shopping center;
• duralumin U-profile;
• 2 metal bearings;
• a piece of plexiglass;
• regular size and large metal nuts;
• 3 stepper motors, can be taken from an old printer.

It is also necessary to have such devices at hand:

• saw;
• screws;
• screwdrivers and other devices.

Only one thing that will need to be done outside the home is to weld the base for the CNC machine, although it is also allowed to make it bolted.

Machine production stages

The manufacture of the engraver begins with the fastening of the lead screw and the profile. The final stage is the use of a sled.

Progress:

The engraving machine in this modification, developed by our own hands, can be an ordinary home dremel. Attach your engraver allowed with plexiglass.

So the do-it-yourself desktop laser engraver is ready. Now it only remains to connect it using the limit switches. This homemade device makes it possible to carry out stone carving in a domestic environment, but does not make it possible to separate it.

How to assemble a laser engraving device using a diode from an old DVD drive?

Your laser can be produced from a DVD drive. An optical beam that is made with your own hands is unlikely to cope with iron or wood.

However, it will be completely possible for them to share:

1. paper;
2. a small sheet of plastic;
3. plastic wrap;
4. other simple and delicate items.

In addition to the above alternatives, a DIY laser from a DVD drive is allowed to come up with a lot of all sorts of tasks. In particular, its potential is well revealed in the creative field.

If no thread is needed, with a laser from a DVD drive, you can:

1. burn patterns or pictures on wood surfaces;
2. illuminate various objects, distant at a great distance;
3. use as a decoration at home;
4. make straight lines (since the beam is clearly visible), which will be especially useful when building and repairing.

What is needed to get the job done?

To make a ray, you need certain elements. They are always sold in ordinary electronics shopping centers, therefore, you won't have to put in any extra efforts.

Thus, for the purpose of production, you will need:

Disassembly of the drive must be carried out with special care. Inattentive handling can not only damage the mechanism, but also damage your own eyes. The problem is that the beam has the ability to blind at some time and negatively reflect in visual acuity.

Now a homemade fixture should be provided with electric current. The power supply of an ordinary diode must be 3V, and the consumption must be up to 400 mA. These values ​​may vary depending on the write speed to the drive. The laser does not require huge performance. So, for a drive with a write speed of 16X, 200 mA is enough. It is allowed to increase this value as much as possible up to 300 milliamperes, otherwise it is possible to spoil the crystal and forget about the homemade laser.

A homemade collimator is easiest to make with an ordinary laser pointer. The cheapest Chinese option is also suitable. All that is needed is to remove the optical lens from the "laser" (it is visible). The width of the half-line will be more than 5 millimeters. Of course, this kind of coefficient is huge and cannot claim the title of a laser in any way. The stock collimator lens will help to reduce the diameter down to 1 mm. Although, in order to achieve such an effect, it will be necessary to work thoroughly.

Making a laser with your own hands is a very interesting process. It does not require any specialized parts or large economic costs. Completely pretty neat and shallow knowledge of electrics. If production is successful, you can start using the device. Cutting beam effortlessly bursts balloons, burns paper and leaves prints on wood. Nevertheless, when applying, one should not forget about technical safety.

Lasers have long been a part of our everyday life. Guides use light pointers, builders use a beam to set levels. The ability of the laser to heat materials (up to thermal destruction) is used for cutting and decoration.

One of the applications is laser engraving. On various materials, you can get subtle patterns with almost no restrictions on complexity.

Wood surfaces are great for scorching. Especially appreciated are backlit plexiglass engravings.

There is a wide selection of engraving machines for sale, mainly made in China. The equipment is not too expensive, however, buying it just for fun is impractical. It is much more interesting to make a laser engraver with your own hands.

You just need to get a laser with a power of several watts, and create a frame movement system in two coordinate axes.

DIY laser engraving machine

The laser cannon is not the most difficult structural element, and there are options. Depending on the tasks, you can choose a different capacity (respectively, the cost, up to a free purchase). Craftsmen from the Middle Kingdom offer various ready-made designs, sometimes made with high quality.


You can even cut plywood with such a 2W cannon. The ability to focus at the desired distance allows you to control both the engraving width and the penetration depth (for 3D drawings).

The cost of such a device is about 5-6 thousand rubles. If you do not need high power, use a low-power laser from a DVD writer, which can be purchased for a penny on the radio market.

There are quite workable solutions, production will take one day off

There is no need to explain how to remove a laser semiconductor from a drive, if you know how to "do things" with your hands - it is not difficult. The main thing is to choose a durable and comfortable case. In addition, a "combat" laser, albeit low-power, requires cooling. In the case of a DVD drive, a passive radiator is sufficient.

The handle body can be made of two brass pistol sleeves. Used cartridges from "TT" and "PM" will do. They have a slight difference in caliber, and fit well with each other.

We drill out the capsules, and in place of one of them we install a laser diode. The brass liner will serve as an excellent radiator.


It remains to connect the 12 volt power supply, for example, from the USB port of your computer. There will be enough power, the drive in the computer is powered from the same power supply. That's all, do-it-yourself laser engraving at home almost from garbage.


If you need a coordinate machine, you can attach the burner to the finished positioning device.

Popular: Do-it-yourself home smokehouse - a variety of options

A laser engraver from a printer with a dried ink head is a great way to bring a broken machine back to life.

Do a little bit of paper feeding (not a problem for flat plywood or metal plate) and you have practically a factory engraver. The software may not be needed - the driver from the printer is used.

With the circuitry, you simply connect the ink supply signal to the laser input and "print" on solid materials.

Homemade laser engraver for working with large areas

Any drawing for assembling the so-called KIT kits from the same Chinese friends is taken as a basis.


Finding an aluminum profile is not a problem; making carriages with wheels is also not a problem. A ready-made laser module is installed on one of them, the other pair of carriages will move the guide truss. The movement is set by stepper motors, the torque is transmitted by means of toothed belts.


It is better to assemble the structure inside a box with active ventilation. Acrid smoke emitted during engraving is harmful to health. For indoor use, an outdoor hood is required.

Important! When using a laser of this power, safety precautions must be observed.

Short-term exposure to human skin causes severe burns.

If you are working with metal plates, the reflected glare of the beam can damage the retina of the eye. The best protection will be red plexiglass. This will neutralize the blue laser beam and allow real-time monitoring of the process.


The control circuit is assembled on any programmable controller. The most popular are the Arduino UNO systems sold on the same Chinese electronics sites. The solution is inexpensive, but effective and almost universal.


The most common option is to connect to a personal computer. The design and engraving parameters are created using any standard graphics editor.

Good day to all. I've been going to talk about this tool for a long time, but I've only got myself together now.

And so I present to your attention a MANUAL ENGRAVER or a manual router. I have found many applications for such a thing, from drawings on glass to sharpening in hard-to-reach places.

Before you is the appearance of the device. Consists of a box for an electric drive, a cable (took the speedometer cable from a car), a holder and a cutting part.

And so in order.

Inside the box is the motor from a reel to reel tape recorder. Bigger engine power is not needed. The motor shaft is connected to the drive cable by means of an adapter coupling.

The cable sheath is rigidly connected to the body.

Also, the outer sheath of the cable is rigidly connected to the holder handle. I turned the handle out of fiberglass. Inside, a stepped hole is drilled so that to hold the cable sheath tightly, the rotating cable runs freely to the working body, and a tube is also inserted at the end of the holder, inside the cator the chuck drive rotates.

The chuck consists of two halves, fastened with a screw. Such a chuck can clamp a cutting tool from 2 to 5 mm in diameter. The main thing Do not forget about the balancing of the cartridge and the full compatibility of the drive square of the potron and the windows of the cartridge itself.

Since working with such an instrument, the hands are busy, and it should not rotate constantly, I made a pedal for it. Simple construction.

As a commutation device, he used an ordinary push button.

Metal engraving is always eye-catching. This craft has fed artisans for a long time. And today it has not lost its relevance. Craftsmen can transform everyday objects into real works of high art by decorating them with fancy miniatures. Sometimes you can see whole paintings of considerable size, made by engraving artists. And few people know that absolutely everyone can do this business.

Photo 1. Souvenir engraved hunting knife, an ideal gift for hunters.

DIY engraving can be a profitable and interesting business if you really want it.

You can decorate small metal objects by engraving with your own hands at home. This activity will arouse the respect and envy of friends and acquaintances. In Zlatoust, thousands of craftsmen are engaged in such a craft at home. Engraved items are expensive. A saber - about 300 thousand rubles, a hunting knife - up to 100 thousand (photo № 1). Agree, this is good money. How to make engraving on metal at home with your own hands? For this lesson, you need to prepare the simplest equipment that can be found in any house, in any apartment.

Starting experiments

Decorative patterns are engraved on plates, knives, pistols, sabers, medals, cups, apartment numbers. All patterns and inscriptions are preserved almost forever and do not require expensive and rare consumables and special equipment for execution. The pattern can be applied to steel, aluminum, brass, copper, metal alloys. The method does not pollute the environment. It is impossible to wash off or erase the drawing using the usual methods and means.

Photo 2. Engraved wedding rings, usually with the wedding date and the initials of the bride and groom written on them.

1. Nail polish that a wife doesn't really need.
2. Sharp toothpick.
3. An ordinary match may be needed.
4. Salt.
5. Car battery charger. It can be successfully replaced by charging from a mobile phone.
6. Glass or porcelain dishes in the form of a glass, mug or jar.
7. Nail polish remover.

The work is done in this order:

1. A spoon is taken and covered with nail polish. The entire surface must be varnished very carefully, otherwise there will be a marriage in work.
2. With a match or a toothpick, a pattern, a name, another image is scratched through a layer of varnish.
3. 2 tablespoons of salt are poured into a glass beaker or jar. Some add a spoonful of salt and a spoonful of baking soda.
4. Water is poured into the vessel, the salt is thoroughly stirred until it is completely dissolved.
5. We connect a car or other charger with a positive terminal to the workpiece, and a minus terminal to any metal object that will be placed in a vessel with water. This object can be another spoon, a piece of thick wire, a metal plate.
6. The rectifier is connected to the network. Almost immediately, an etching reaction will begin in the glass with a darkening of the liquid. It lasts 1-5 minutes. It depends on the magnitude of the current. The product is checked periodically. After reaching the desired etching depth, it is removed from the container.
7. The varnish is washed off with a nail polish remover. The result should look something like this (photo # 3).

Photo 3. Personalized engraved spoons and interestingly, engraving can be done on various metal objects in a simple household condition.

In this way, you can handle any metal objects at home. If you make an inscription with varnish, then it will be convex on the etched background. For better work, it is recommended to purchase a special tool - an engraver. It can be operated from the electrical network and from the built-in batteries. The set usually comes with borax of various shapes. They can work on glass, plastics and other materials. Engraved engagement rings are a great gift for newlyweds (photo # 2). But you can do it yourself only when you are completely confident in the result of the work.

Back to the table of contents

Glass engraving

Photo 4. For home engraving, you will need ordinary salt, nail polish, varnish cleaner and a glass of water.

Do-it-yourself engraving on the glass surface is done chemically and mechanically. The mechanical method involves the use of a nozzle, which is driven by an electric motor. Procedure:

1. The drawing is transferred to the glass with a dark marker.
2. A damp sponge is applied to the image on the glass. This must be done carefully so as not to smear the drawing.
3. Wear protective goggles when working.
4. After completing the pattern, it is washed and examined for gaps. If necessary, the missing places are processed again.