> Some random thoughts...
> If you want really small carbide router bits, the PCB industry uses
> some down in the 0.020" range (about 0.5mm)

Yes, I'd thought about PCB router bits. The catalogue I first looked
at was for a local bit supplier who makes them with 1/4 shafts for
standard hand routers. I expect PCB bits would work well on
wood if they can cope with GFRP. Perhaps a bit wary of hitting
a very hard knot though, which can cause even a big flute to burn.
I'd want only 1 or 2mm of the bit proud to avoid snapping as it
would be solid carbide and brittle

Wood of course is very variable. I've already found that to get the
best burn you have to jiggle the laser up and down very slightly to
compensate for any irregularities in the wood's surface putting the
beam out of focus. Possibly this could be done with a constant
vibration of either the whole burn head or the lens. A fine depth
gauge for the beam might be workable but it would be on quite
a small scale, although a coarse depth gauge would be needed if
the wood isn't perfectly flat overall

> The whole thing suggests PC to me. A second hand PC, cheap
> web cam on a stand with a good light, Inkscape and some of the
> available plugins and you're about there

I'm hopeless with PCs. But I do like to think I'm good at making
things from scratch and love my shed time

Joe
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