Yes it can. On Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 11:32 AM, Roy Hopkins wrot= e: > Yigit Turgut wrote: >> Information in this thread is misleading unfortunately. You don't need >> a gas laser to do this. They are big and heavy. There are up to 100W >> laser diodes at 808nm wavelength (IR). Interaction of wave with matter >> is divided into 3 parts which are ; reflection / absorbsition / >> scattering. When you arrange a =A0high power beam to an object =A0these = 3 >> events depend on the dielectric properties (aka dispersion parameters >> ; conductivity, permittivity and permeability) and the length of the >> object. This can easily be seen from Maxwell equations. The incident >> angle is also a parameter and defined by Fresnel Equations. If you set >> the angle straight and drive your laser precisely between optimum >> specs (TE cooling, beam splitting and detecting other part etc). If >> you don't need an accuracy that human eye is not sensitive (+-1mm out >> of symmetry) you can easily cut a Coke can with a 1W laser diode. >> Acrylic and 0.04 metal is a butter for a 1W laser diode. >> >> As Bob stated earlier in this thread, fiber lasers are cool and they >> can have tunable frequency outputs. This tunability =A0will be between >> approximately 1200nm-1700nm in communication wavelength range.Even if >> you change the source of your fiber system (put a lower wavelength >> diode) this system will not work accurately. When you have smaller >> wavelength penetration depth will be lower thus reducing the quality >> of cutting process. Also fiber cable will melt if you put a really >> high power laser diode at source side. Tunable lasers are not for >> cutting and such, they are for communications. >> >> Go and buy a 1W 808nm laser diode, they will usually operate between >> 1.8V to 2.2V. Design a simple PWM driver circuit and interface to PC >> using USB or RS232 then you will have a simple laser cutting system ; >> BOM; 50-60$ >> >> On Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 6:50 AM, Tony Smith =A0wr= ote: >>>> At one point, I looked into getting a laser head and attaching it to >>>> my CNC mill to do my own laser cutting (mostly acrylic, but also some >>>> ~0.04"-thick metals), but could not find much info online re: what >>>> type and power of laser I needed. =A0 One laser company (ULS) >>>> recommended their 30W all-in-one laser head for ~$4000. =A0I expect a >>>> coke can would require similar power. >>>> >>>> Anyway, it seems that there are some laser-knowledgeable people on >>>> this list, so if anyone knows where I can get info on different laser >>>> types and powers that I can use to cut acrylic, I'd love to know. >>>> Might pick up the search again. >>> > Could a 1w laser diode be used on a CNC mill to make printed circuit boar= ds? > Roy > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .