[FS MELB, AU] K40 Laser Cutter/Engraver 40W + LinuxCNC PC - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jmdejoanelli
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2017, 10:53:54 am
content: Hi all,For sale I have a Chinese K40 laser with custom electronics and LinuxCNC control PC. I apologize, but I can only sell to people able to pick up this guy, as shipping will be a nightmare. This item is in Melbourne, Australia.Price is $500 Negotiable, link to Gumtree ad and pictures here:https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/essendon/power-tools/k40-laser-cutter-linuxcnc/1149892948Here's a video of it in operation:https://youtu.be/Ap0X9lsgJbwI'm really sad to see this go, but I'm moving into a small appartment and just don't have the space for it anymore. I've had so much fun working on this thing and I really wish I didn't have to get rid of it.It's the same laser you buy on eBay for ~$600, but I've ripped out the crappy control electronics and put in some stepper drivers and a parallel port interface so it can be connected to a PC.I've set LinuxCNC up on an old Dell PC and this works great controlling the laser. LinuxCNC parses gcode and generates signals on the parallel port to control the steppers. You can easily generate a cut and engrave program, as there are simply two different gcode commands for these. I would normally cad a design up in autocad, then CAM the design with CAMbam software to build the gcode.This is by no means a tool for a novice, being custom means you may have to do some debugging now and then, but for the most part it just works! Last time I operated it the cheap chinese power switch burned out, you'll need to replace this, which is a simple job. I was going to laser cut a whole new custom front panel for it, maybe this can be a project for youThe laser tube has about 20 hours of cut time on it, so practically new. It's 40W power rated. It has an air assist system, normally I just run this off a compressor, and experiment with flow rates to get a nice cut depending on the material and thickness.I designed and laser cut a z-axis bed, shown in the pics, but I never got round to finishing it. It still works as a basic adjustable cutting bed though, just not connected to the controller.I've been cutting mostly 3mm plywood, which it does a pretty good job of, I've also cut 5mm acrylic, and 3mm MDF (gotta make sure you use lots of ventilation for this).You can respond to this post directly, or contact me through the gumtree ad if you have questions or are interested.Cheers guys,Josef

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2017, 01:52:43 pm
content: Very nice. If you weren't half a world away, this would already be in my garage...GLWS.

author: jmdejoanelli
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2017, 01:59:17 am
content: Thanks for saying so, hopefully some others closer will think the same 🤞Also note, the price is negotiable, $500 is really just a number I picked half way between a thousand and zero. The important thing is to get this into a good new home 😊It would seriously break my heart to have to dispose of this at my local landfill!

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 04, 2017, 04:27:58 am
content: I would sorely be tempted to make an offer - except I'm up in Sydney.I've been salivating at the idea of getting a laser cutter/engraver and a 3D printer, but I just can't justify it to the satisfaction of SWMBO.Landfill? Please no. I would share your pain.

author: jmdejoanelli
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2017, 04:50:26 am
content: I might even ship it within Australia if an offer is reasonable enough, however I suspect it would be a difficult task given the fragility of the laser tube, and I'd hate it to get to the other end broken. I think the safest bet would be to ship it on a small pallet, which I could obtain quite a easily from work... I still have no idea how it made it to my door all the way from China 😕

author: johnh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2017, 08:27:45 am
content: I live in Melbourne and I am sorely tempted but SWMBO will disagree as I don't have anywhere where I run it. "no garage"

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 04, 2017, 08:57:57 am
content: I have a garage....Organising it is my responsibility....But....

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2017, 10:43:37 am
content: Quote from: jmdejoanelli on June 04, 2017, 04:50:26 amPerhaps use the original packaging it came in. Bubble wrap and double boxing will help a lot to ship fragile items.

author: jmdejoanelli
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2017, 09:40:02 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on June 04, 2017, 10:43:37 amOnly problem with that is I threw away the horrible packaging ages ago 😒

author: jmdejoanelli
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2017, 09:41:30 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on June 04, 2017, 08:57:57 amBut.........?

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 05, 2017, 12:02:43 pm
content: .... I risk getting 'the look' - even if it were free.(and that's at the safer end of the spectrum.)

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2017, 02:09:14 pm
content: Quote from: johnh on June 04, 2017, 08:27:45 amQuote from: Brumby on June 04, 2017, 04:27:58 amI know a great divorce lawyer

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 05, 2017, 03:03:19 pm
content: I'd really like to find an angle. Suggestions anyone?

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2017, 05:55:43 pm
content: Tinkering in you lab/shed/garage/house is time better spent than down in the pub, and she can be sure there are no other women around to distract you...

author: jmdejoanelli
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2017, 08:42:08 pm
content: I know when I was pitching it to SWMBO, I leveraged her love of arts and crafts and said we could produce artsy engravings to sell. We engraved a couple of batches of little wooden spoons for some weddings, made a bunch of snow globe stands and that was it. It was still fun for me to do all the CAD/CAM work and she lost interest quickly and we didn't do anymore. But I still got my laser cutter!

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 06, 2017, 03:19:30 am
content: Quote from: Towger on June 05, 2017, 05:55:43 pmI don't think that will fly.I stopped in at a Jaycar store one late shopping night many moons ago. I was a regularand the manager and I got on well. I was on the phone to SWMBO and he chimed in with a comment like "It's your shout!" or something to try and make out I was in the pub. She didn't believe it. I told her I was in Jaycar ... and she said "Now that, I believe."

author: jmdejoanelli
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 02:23:26 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on June 06, 2017, 03:19:30 amI'd much rather go to Jaycar than the pub...

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 07:25:19 pm
content: Well. Did you even try bringing up the subject with here? Or, just buy it and hope she does not notice/suffer the consequences.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 07:46:37 pm
content: You're just trying to get me neck deep in it!Please - I can do that eminently all by myself.I do have an application that I could use to sway her... but I need room to place an object 71cm x 44cm - with a cutting zone of 43cm x 43cm at one end - ideally. Units that could take that size are stupidly expensive. I have a number of alternate cutting zone dimensions that get smaller - but with the trade-off of double handling and manual processes. The object size of 71cm x 44cm still needs to be accommodated somehow. The material is less than 2mm thick.Find me an answer for this and I will get her attention. Getting approval is another question. Household budgets and my To Do list tend to set some priorities that just can't be ignored.

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 08:17:57 pm
content: Whatever you do, don't route the exhaust through a shared vent with the cooker hood. My wife wasn't happy when it backed up and I vented the fumes of cutting extruded acrylic (stinkier than cast acrylic) into the kitchen.

author: jmdejoanelli
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2017, 12:49:31 am
content: Quote from: Towger on June 07, 2017, 07:25:19 pmIt's always easier to beg for forgiveness after than to ask for permission before.

author: jmdejoanelli
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2017, 12:54:06 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on June 07, 2017, 07:46:37 pmIn the past, for parts larger than my cut area, I've designed in tight fitting part splits similar to dovetail joints, but on a flat plane. Add some epoxy when you put them together and it essentially becomes one piece. I'm wondering if this is what you meant by double handling and manual processes though...

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2017, 03:17:08 am
content: The part is a single piece. No glue can be used.By double handling I mean to take the part, do half the cut, then flip over and do the second half (it is symmetric).By manual processing I mean to make one of the cuts - which is a simple straight cut - by hand using a blade and straight edge. This reduces the active cut area needed - but still .... the 71cm x 44cm piece has to be accommodated, with the cut area located within a specific zone of that piece.I can see cabinet mods being necessary as a minimum - and that has the potential to be a real headache.Mind you ... this is only for a "selling point" to help appease SWMBO. I still have my own desires.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2017, 03:18:58 am
content: I'm already in the rabbit hole on this ... aren't I?