Thanks so much for this. I have a 10W diode and looking to upgrade to CO2 but don't need a huge work area. Also in Canada so cool to see another Canadian!
I would add a safety switch that cuts power when opening the lid I designed a stepper powered bed that is fully 3d printable with aluminum bars very sturdy and powered by esp32 via a 12V buck converter I can set the bed height with a very small margin,
my mods are: added a camera, added 2 red line lasers to form crosshairs, but also make alignments easier moded k40 whisperer to accept command line arguments so I could run it via shell commands installed a raspberry pi which runs an integrated web-server to stream camera, make videos of the device when it operates. made a motorized z-axis bed from one of those scissor lifts got a 30 gallon barrel filled with 50/50 antifreeze (inhibits mold) the thermal mass of which is sufficient to only budge 2-3 degrees C even after long cut processes added a carbon filter made out of a 5 gallon bucket. Anyway, if you have any tips on how to adjust the focal point down, below the gantry frame, I'd love to know more. if I could get the foal point below the gantry, I could increase the size of projects I can place in the laser.
Laser cutter huh? That is one thing I don't have ...yet.Perhaps I have room in our greenhouse for one. Maybe not. I think I have to build a 3rd ManCave out in the back yard. The only place left is where the broken hottub is. At least I will have power there.. Thanks for the video dude.
I wear standard safety glasses. This is not advice but the physics are pretty simple- any standard safety glasses will be adequate for the 40W CO2 lasers. Definitely best you read up on the topic though
I just want to ask about the water heater, all I have seen so far cool their water, many put frozen 2 litre bottles in to their water containment to cool the water, but you heat the water?
great set of videos, I picked one of these up about 9 months ago and now I'm off to make these mods! What speeds and powers have you found best for 3 mm ply and acrylic? I have found myself having to make multiple passes on the ply which is not ideal
What is the correct method to ensure you are setting the correct power % on this laser? The Monport manual says : “Laser Power Display: This displays the current power of the laser as a percent of its maximum intensity. Adjust this setting accordingly to process various material s . For most material s, an intensity between 20% and 60% i s optimal . when aligning the laser beam, you should use a setting lower than 30% for safety reasons . Remember: Running your laser tube above 70% power can significantly shorten the laser tube's lifetime (We recommend staying below 70% power to prolong the life of your laser tube)” So I can only assume there are 2 ways to run the power on this machine. (1) If you run the power knob like the manual says, you then must use 100% for all operations IN THE SOFTWARE, and thus control the % of power with the knob (and make sure it never goes above 60% or you damage your laser tube). - OR - (2) Turn the knob to 100%, and control actual % of power via the software settings. Since my Monport K40 power display shows mA, and NOT % of power, so I’m not sure how you can set “20% to 60%” power (as per the manual) by using the display gauge. Any folks out there have the actual answer as to which method is correct? Thanks
You mentioned a rotary setup. You mean replacing the Y motor for rotating an object like... a water bottle? That would be great. Is this powerful enough to cut out thin stainless-steel (my thought it imaging animal tags for collars as we manage an animal shelter)
Thanks so much for this. I have a 10W diode and looking to upgrade to CO2 but don't need a huge work area. Also in Canada so cool to see another Canadian!
I just received my Vevor K40 from Amazon. Looking forward to following along and making a functional laser out of this!
I would add a safety switch that cuts power when opening the lid
I designed a stepper powered bed that is fully 3d printable with aluminum bars
very sturdy and powered by esp32 via a 12V buck converter I can set the bed height with a very small margin,
After watching your videos I have decided that I am going to get one of these K40 CO2 lasers, they seem to be doing a great job. Cheers
As long as you are willing to do a bit of work they are fantastic. I love mine.
Nice, now I can't wait to build it! Thanks for doing this. :D Really great work.
What's your right settings for 4mm plywood or acrylic 3mm?
Perfect , thank you!
Great Video! I see you love your K40 :)
Yes I do!
Great look!How cost totaly your k40?
I search anyone who sell a finish k40 with all the same upgrade.
Cool, thanks Eric.
Terrific video...been thinking about one of these for a long time
Just got mine, sweet video bud
Thanks
Good video!! I want to buy one of these at a good price but to cut carbon fiber plate in 5mm could I?
can this cutter cut very small details on mylar film?
thank you , mine is an identical base machine. I will have to do these upgrades :)
Can you provide the link to your air assist?
my mods are:
added a camera,
added 2 red line lasers to form crosshairs, but also make alignments easier
moded k40 whisperer to accept command line arguments so I could run it via shell commands
installed a raspberry pi which runs an integrated web-server to stream camera, make videos of the device when it operates.
made a motorized z-axis bed from one of those scissor lifts
got a 30 gallon barrel filled with 50/50 antifreeze (inhibits mold) the thermal mass of which is sufficient to only budge 2-3 degrees C even after long cut processes
added a carbon filter made out of a 5 gallon bucket.
Anyway, if you have any tips on how to adjust the focal point down, below the gantry frame, I'd love to know more.
if I could get the foal point below the gantry, I could increase the size of projects I can place in the laser.
what is the crimping tool you used called?
Here u are amzn.to/3BQ8cMA
Laser cutter huh? That is one thing I don't have ...yet.Perhaps I have room in our greenhouse for one. Maybe not. I think I have to build a 3rd ManCave out in the back yard. The only place left is where the broken hottub is. At least I will have power there.. Thanks for the video dude.
WOW 😲
Very nice video, thanks for sharing!!!
May I ask you which speed you use for cutting?
Previous vid takes wires out with no pic “well live and learn” I guess he learned 😂
Do you have eye protection on when cutting like in the video? If you do can you tell me what ones I should get please?
I wear standard safety glasses. This is not advice but the physics are pretty simple- any standard safety glasses will be adequate for the 40W CO2 lasers. Definitely best you read up on the topic though
Just curious how many passes do you cut 3mm ply and what speed ..great video
One pass 3 mm/s Acrylic 5mm/s
what happens when you press the emergency stop, for example, it cools down faster
kills all power iirc
Just wondering if the Vivor K40 runs on 110V or 240V? Can't seem to find that. Thanks
Both
what software do you use to make your desings and would you be willing to share them? I just perchased a K40 waiting for it to arrive!
@Wrangler Frye He uses Inkscape.
I just want to ask about the water heater, all I have seen so far cool their water, many put frozen 2 litre bottles in to their water containment to cool the water, but you heat the water?
Winter is cold in Canada
@@MkmeOrg Oh yes I guess ice doesn't flow so well,
@@squirralien1863 no, tends to expand an break things!
great set of videos, I picked one of these up about 9 months ago and now I'm off to make these mods! What speeds and powers have you found best for 3 mm ply and acrylic? I have found myself having to make multiple passes on the ply which is not ideal
github.com/MKme/Laser-Cutter
thanks for this, saved me $100 over choosing one with a pre-fitted analogue ammeter
Welcome
But wont provide cutting templet readymade like other machin
What is the correct method to ensure you are setting the correct power % on this laser?
The Monport manual says :
“Laser Power Display: This displays the current power of the laser as a percent of its maximum intensity. Adjust this setting accordingly to process various material s . For most material s, an intensity between 20% and 60% i s optimal . when aligning the laser beam, you should use a setting lower than 30% for safety reasons .
Remember: Running your laser tube above 70% power can significantly shorten the laser tube's lifetime (We recommend staying below 70% power to prolong the life of your laser tube)”
So I can only assume there are 2 ways to run the power on this machine. (1) If you run the power knob like the manual says, you then must use 100% for all operations IN THE SOFTWARE, and thus control the % of power with the knob (and make sure it never goes above 60% or you damage your laser tube).
- OR -
(2) Turn the knob to 100%, and control actual % of power via the software settings.
Since my Monport K40 power display shows mA, and NOT % of power, so I’m not sure how you can set “20% to 60%” power (as per the manual) by using the display gauge.
Any folks out there have the actual answer as to which method is correct? Thanks
You mentioned a rotary setup. You mean replacing the Y motor for rotating an object like... a water bottle? That would be great.
Is this powerful enough to cut out thin stainless-steel (my thought it imaging animal tags for collars as we manage an animal shelter)
It cannot cut metal. Period. It couldn't cut aluminum foil. CO2 lasers are simply reflected by metals.
👍🏾🤙🏾
Why are you heating the water you don't want higher Temps should keep. Below 20 centigrade not higher. Heat destroys tubes
He is in Canada... cold winters...