what type of Nema 23 motor + driver is recommended for a laser/engraver

[Inge Palmar]

Hi!

I am in progress of building my own co2 laser engraver/cutter.
I do have a complete rails set and mirrormounts, laserhead.
325044
So I need to find som nema 23 motors. Since the kit has 57mm mounts
I have searched and there are soo many different kind om nema 23 motors.
I will also need a spu for these also.

Any tips?

Yes, I know I need to get
Cooling parts
Assist air system
Exhaust blower
Cable carriers
Optics
Lasertube + psu
DSP system (RD6442S or AWC 708 lite?) Is RD6442S better ?
Frame of aluminum extrusion 2020 and 2040
and so on ;)

Yeah, any tips for the above parts also are appreciated

Thanks for reading and for the tips ;)

[Gary Hair]

I would suggest you go to CNCZone and browse around there. They have forums setup specifically to discuss scratch-built lasers, and everything else cnc as well. The combination of motor, driver and power supply are critical to good results and you'll likely be better off buying a package set that is known to a) work well together, and b) be appropriate for the size, speed, etc., of your setup.

[Keith Colson]

Personaly I like the TB6560 single axis boards. They are modular low cost and quite flexable. Seach ebay for TB6560 3A driver board. You will probably get change from 10 bucks. I have used them in my project and found them solid.

[Dave Sheldrake]

I would suggest you go to CNCZone and browse around there. They have forums setup specifically to discuss scratch-built lasers, and everything else cnc as well. The combination of motor, driver and power supply are critical to good results and you'll likely be better off buying a package set that is known to a) work well together, and b) be appropriate for the size, speed, etc., of your setup.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ yup

[Lee DeRaud]

Am I the only one who thinks NEMA23's are overkill for this application? Especially for the X-axis, since it just adds extra weight that the Y-axis drive has to handle. I used 23s on my CNC router, but the moving bits there were measured in kilograms, not ounces.

Reference point: my ULS uses NEMA17's for X/Y. There is a NEMA23 on the Z-axis, but that one has to be able to lift the full weight of the table plus whatever you're engraving. Then again, with the low-pitch lead screws they used, it could probably hoist the whole machine into the air.

[Keith Colson]

Lee is right that you should plan on using a lighter motor on the x axis, say a nema 17 which is in every 3d printer.

The Nema 23 motor that matches that controller well using 24 volts that I have used is Act motor 23HS8630. This could do your Z and Y axis.

[Lee DeRaud]

Lee is right that you should plan on using a lighter motor on the x axis, say a nema 17 which is in every 3d printer.

The Nema 23 motor that matches that controller well using 24 volts that I have used is Act motor 23HS8630. This could do your Z and Y axis.The thing about the Y-axis on a laser is that it really doesn't require any more torque than the X-axis. It's moving more mass than the X-axis, but it never has to accelerate very quickly: it's either moving a very small distance (raster) or at a relatively low speed (vector).

[Kim Vellore]

You can also search for usbcnc on ebay which will give a lot more options for cheap controllers and DIY laser kits if you need some more ideas. Some of the controllers have their own drivers for laser printing or use Mach3.

[Inge Palmar]

Thanks for the inputs :D

[Inge Palmar]

Lee is right that you should plan on using a lighter motor on the x axis, say a nema 17 which is in every 3d printer.

The Nema 23 motor that matches that controller well using 24 volts that I have used is Act motor 23HS8630. This could do your Z and Y axis.

I found this on 23HS8630 + driver (http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/ACT-Motor-3Axis-Nema23-Stepper-Motor-23HS8630-Single-Shaft-6-Lead-270oz-76mm-3A-Driver-DM542/703402_32519768709.html) and psu (http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/ACT-Motor-3Axis-Nema23-Stepper-Motor-23HS8630-Single-Shaft-6-Lead-270oz-76mm-3A-Driver-DM542/703402_32519768709.html). Will this do as for x and y? And I will get an motor for z table :D

[Keith Colson]

The specs look fine for x and y. Personally I would use a lighter motor for x. Those motors are 76mm long. You can get a 41mm for x.

[Inge Palmar]

Yeah..maby an 41mm for z table also.
Thanks :D

[Bill George]

I went through all this about 16 months ago, was going to make my own laser engraver and had a lot of parts accumulated. Then I remembered all the little DIY build projects I had did before. Realizing when I got done with I would be lucky to get 25% of the money I had spent for parts, and would get nothing for my labor. Lucky for me a lot of the venders took the parts back and gave me credit. I then purchased a simple 40 watt Chinese machine, (Not a K40 ) and used that for a year. I had the fun of debugging it and making it run like it should. When I found a used / rebuilt older USL laser engraver I purchased and sold the first machine for maybe a 20% loss over what I paid.

[Inge Palmar]

Bill! Great..
I think when this laser machine is completed, it will be better than bying an complete chinese laser engraver/cutter for 2000usd
Anyway, while building, I will learn more about the machine etc..

Will theese ebay optics (http://www.ebay.com/itm/3pcs-Si-Reflective-Mirror-25mm-1pc-HQ-ZnSe-Co2-Laser-Focus-Lens-Focal-Dia-20mm-/171871966706?var=&hash=item28045e15f2:m:meMO7Y-AHxPJ3mdppCpT1mw) do well?
3 pcs SI mirrors 25mm and 1 pcs CVD Znse focus lens 50.8mm/2"

[Bill George]

Bill! Great..
I think when this laser machine is completed, it will be better than bying an complete chinese laser engraver/cutter for 2000usd
Anyway, while building, I will learn more about the machine etc..

Will theese ebay optics (http://www.ebay.com/itm/3pcs-Si-Reflective-Mirror-25mm-1pc-HQ-ZnSe-Co2-Laser-Focus-Lens-Focal-Dia-20mm-/171871966706?var=&hash=item28045e15f2:m:meMO7Y-AHxPJ3mdppCpT1mw) do well?
3 pcs SI mirrors 25mm and 1 pcs CVD Znse focus lens 50.8mm/2"

Well I purchased a lot of my parts from lightobject dot com , good quality stuff and he knows what you are doing and can help set you in the right direction. You do not want Mach 3 anything for a laser controller. Its great for CNC to a point, but for laser work you need both vector and raster capabilities. BTW you will have well over 2000 USD in your project that is one reason I stopped mine.

[Keith Colson]

Hi Inge

Building your own machine is such a great experience (if you finish) The learnings and skills are invaluable. The ease of service and repair is a bonus too. Being custom built you can do many upgrades along the way. Please enjoy the journey, I know I did when I built my 3D printer. It only cost $500 and prints better than most $20K machines. I was accused of over engineering it, but it has been a reliable work horse.

[Nolan Yang]

I will recommend RDC6442G controller, because many manufacturer use it, and it's easy for you to get help from others if there is something wrong with it.

[Inge Palmar]

great experience (if you finish)
hehe...you are so right. Still learning ;)


I will recommend RDC6442G controller
You are right, I have been looking at this controller. Will order it later on.


Well I purchased a lot of my parts from lightobject dot com
Thanks for the tip :)

[Inge Palmar]

Can I use an Aquarium Air compressor (http://www.aliexpress.com/item/NEW-Free-shipping-Hailea-ACO-318-Electromagnetic-Aquarium-Air-Compressor-Pump-70L-min-220V-35W-0/32503811582.html?spm=2114.031010208.3.10.V5FdCz&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_1_79_78_77_80,searchweb 201644_5,searchweb201560_9) as a assist air pump for the laserhead ?? Or is it others that better to use ?