Mokey is an inexpensive DIY laser engraver

All makers love lasers and so they make nice store instruments. Even low-power lasers can engrave quite a lot of supplies. Slicing materials requires extra energy, with the most well-liked chopping lasers being CO2 with energy between 10W-100W. However the small, inexpensive stable state laser modules can minimize some supplies, like acrylic, if you happen to get a strong sufficient mannequin. If you would like an inexpensive manner to make use of a type of, then the Mokey Laser v1.0 is price taking a look at.

Lasers like these can engrave and minimize materials, which implies they will completely harm you — your eyes are particularly weak. When you’re going to construct one thing like this, be sure you perceive function it safely. It isn’t proven within the video, however you must completely use some sort of shielded enclosure that may deal with the wavelength and energy of the laser you employ. Even with such an enclosure, you must put on the suitable security goggles.

This design cuts prices by using 3D printer-style components and by omitting the optics which might be crucial for CO2 lasers. As a result of stable state laser modules are so compact, it’s sensible to maneuver them on a gantry in the identical manner as a 3D-printer’s extruder as an alternative of redirecting the laser beam with mirrors and lenses.

The construction of the Mokey Laser v1.0 is 8020 aluminum extrusion, which additionally acts as rails for the V-roller wheels on which the gantry rides. Many of the different components are 3D-printed, with customary stepper motors and GT2 belts offering movement. An Arduino Uno board controls these stepper motors by means of a CNC Defend V3 with A4988 drivers. When you construct this, you’ll have many software program choices. As proven, it runs GRBL 1.1 and that’s suitable with nearly each open supply g-code sender on the market, together with some which might be add-ons for Inkscape so you may management the laser from the identical software program you employ to create toolpaths.

The whole construct price with the invoice of supplies offered is $402.61, which makes this fairly inexpensive for the dimensions and functionality.