Quoting Yigit Turgut <y.turgut@gmail.com>:

> 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). ...
> ... 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.

At first this seems shocking, but after some quick research it seems =20
you may be right.  A lightweight diode laser can be mounted to my XYZ =20
workcell (which would be far easier to enclose for protection)... =20
http://www.veisystems.com/nose/images/2010_0821-PnP-Overview-02.jpg


> ...
> 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$

Interesting, and it seems like a very low-cost experiment.  Though so =20
far all I see is US$200+ for 1W 808nm.  Still investigating.

Thanks,
-Neil.






--=20
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