Thread: The Butchered Blade

What make of laser engraver do you use?

It is a home invented made from scrap parts brand. I think the laser itself came out of a DVD burner.

Originally Posted by RezDog

It is a home invented made from scrap parts brand. I think the laser itself came out of a DVD burner.

Yep.. Mike the mad scientist!!

Started out building my own from CD burner units from old PC's in the basement.
Then the realisation that my best stock burner head would only generate approx 300mW in the (red)633 nanometer wave range and wouldn't be up to my projects, I lazed out and bought a cheapie NEJE Chinese unit that was already up and running at 500mW and (blue) 445 nm wave.
It can print 512x512 pixel sized images from jpeg's, or approx 3.5 cm square. Can control the speed of burn, and speed of stepper motor for smoothness of lines, as well as preview your burn area with low power laser pointer to ensure the burn is where you want it.
Manual focus requirement for different heights of projects, but an OK starter unit for scale and tang projects.
If I need a bigger work area, I can reengineer the laser system and build a bigger plot table. Also, my CD burner units already disassembled make great replacement axis's for the ones on the machine if and when they fail
How much laser I need at home?? Still to be determined.. But I should be able to get over 1W and still be able to contain the rays and control the results.

Cheers gents.

I got a headache from trying to understand that!! [emoji21]
Does that come with a beginners guide...Professor! [emoji4]

No wonder... beats the heck out of my magnifying glass, sunny day and shaky hand…

Here's a couple shots of the practice pass, and then the actual burn on my first ivory job.. I had to give the ivory a mat finish again for the etch to work, took it back down to 220 grit otherwise it didn't mark anything.


And how small it can print, basically .5 mm characters.

So, the single page instructions that came with the unit says it can etch leather, paper, rubber and plastic, not acrylic, shell, bone, or anything reflective.
Think I can cheat that by negating reflectivity on my pieces. Basically if the material absorbs the light energy from the beam it will heat up and etch, if it reflects it, it won't,, that's laser theory 101 right there..

Mike even though I don't understand how this works..... just keep on talking and posting pics, your craftsmanship is fantastic.

Think I can cheat that by negating reflectivity on my pieces. Basically if the material absorbs the light energy from the beam it will heat up and etch, if it reflects it, it won't,, that's laser theory 101 right there..

I first read this post quickly and thought, “Oh lord, get the net and the water board, we will need one or both.

I thought you said “by Negating Relativity”.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Think I can cheat that by negating reflectivity on my pieces. Basically if the material absorbs the light energy from the beam it will heat up and etch, if it reflects it, it won't,, that's laser theory 101 right there..

I first read this post quickly and thought, “Oh lord, get the net and the water board, we will need one or both.

I thought you said “by Negating Relativity”.

Don't give him anymore ideas.!! [emoji33]