Easy DIY Laser Engraver: Build Your Own from a DVD Drive
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- Опубликовано: 10 фев 2025
- Turn an old DVD drive into a powerful laser engraver with this easy-to-follow DIY guide! Learn how to assemble the hardware, including the laser diode, stepper motors, and Arduino controller. We'll also walk you through the software side of things, including setting up the GRBL software and uploading your designs. With a little bit of effort, you'll be able to create your own custom engravings on wood, plastic, and other materials.
Here are some of the things you'll learn in this video:
How to collect and assemble the necessary materials
How to build the laser engraver frame
How to install the laser diode and stepper motors
How to set up the Arduino controller and GRBL software
How to create and upload your own laser engraving designs
This project is perfect for:
Makers and hobbyists who want to learn about laser engraving
People who are looking for a fun and challenging DIY project
Anyone who wants to create their own custom engravings
More information in the instructables: www.instructab...
Buy an engraver on Ali: alli.pub/5vqaho
OR on Amazon: amzn.to/3wkkUwU
Arduino nano on Ali: ali.pub/1r4w1d
OR on Amazon: amzn.to/2xLTQbE
A4988 step motor drivers on Ali: alli.pub/5vqazd
OR on Amazon: amzn.to/3qQa5l7
IRFZ44N on Ali: ali.pub/1rievf
OR on Amazon: amzn.to/2zfHdqA
Laser 405nm 500mw on Ali: ali.pub/1r4w95
OR on Amazon: amzn.to/3qQ9ShP
Laser 445nm 500mw on Ali: alli.pub/5vqb8w
OR on Amazon: amzn.to/2yuRBx2
Laser 650nm 150mw on Ali: ali.pub/1r4wl7
OR on Amazon: amzn.to/2yvWTZf
Firmware GRBL - github.com/gne...
Laser engraving software - lasergrbl.com/en/
Firmware GRBL - github.com/gne...
Laser engraving software - lasergrbl.com/en/
3D models - www.thingivers...
Despite the fact that my English is almost perfect, maybe you could notice a small Eastern European accent, it's because I'm Russian, and answering the question "why don't you make videos in both languages?" I actually do, and my Russian channel is here - / shhitov
(the videos are the same, so for English-speaking viewers it makes no sense to subscribe)
Out of so many arduino project video I watched, you have the best soldering skill.
Wanted to do something like this for a long time.This looks much easier and doable and also useful. You've inspired me. Great work! Thanks for sharing.
This is really nice. I'll need to try this - just salvaged two DVD burners yesterday for parts :)
Поздрав из Србије! Одличан пројекат и одличан видео. Дао си ми одличне идеје. Само напред!
Wow this is very interesting years and years later. I’m going to attempt to build this with your video and hopefully pull it off. My soldering skills are decent but I’m a noob when it comes to resistors and capacitors etc.. very interesting thank you for sharing you work!
did you make it
I have the feeling people who have the skill to take on this project don't really need a how to. The rest of us just just have a real hard time to follow your steps. O.o
nope. for experienced people, it's a great source of ideas. for newbs, it's a great source of experience. for the rest of us, it's great source of envy.
id104335409 yea basically just rough examples and ideas and idk I've yet to even see this thing in action. I'm not totally convinced. He Shows us a bender image and immediately cuts to an engraver cutting out a completely different image with the framing of it completely cutting out the engraver contraption.
Евгений Лыков you have broken it down quite beautifully ebrehnn
Yes, seems like this video is only for professionals, not for amateurs!
You made soldering the 4 points on the motor look SO easy. I've had to go through 2 drive trays thus far.
Tips?
use flux, tin the soldering tip, use appropriate temperature
Поржал с "Дрисня для видео" :), а так - отличный проект и отличный английский!
That's pretty damn neat actually, haven't though of using optical drives as ready made axes.
Russian Great Scott! Well done pal. Greetings from Ukraine
Do not wire the laser as it is in the schematic at 2:54 unless your laser has a constant current source built in to it.
If it has'nt then the one he uses with the LM317 regulator should be used. Otherwise you will just burn the laser diode out.
In the schematic it just has 12volts switched straight to the laser through a FET transistor connected to the 2 resistors (10K and 47ohms.) Pin 11 on the Arduino sends a small signal to switch the FET on and connect 12volts. If you are going to use the FET method then it should be switching the constant current source on and not the 12volt directly to the laser.
Lasers are current hungry devices and they need a constant current to prevent them from drawing too much and burning out.
That's exactly what I was thinking, I found it pretty weird how that wasn't mentioned. Better yet, he should use a step down
I think the LM317 is used to power it, but didn't show it in schematic since many people have laser diodes that have built in power regulator. Can you explain and provide a schematic how we interface the LM317 to power the laser and use the Mosfet for modulating the laser?
He buddy u seam to be knowing much about the laser part I have some doubt about it can u help please
You are so careful EXPLAINING EVERYTHING, you must be the best utuber ever!!! ( I am being sarcastic)
Putting “(I am being sarcastic)” show that you think that what you said could be taken as not sarcastic which shows lack of selfie confidence and also that you think that you are one of the few that thinks this, however you are wrong
this video is very professional and informative
Hi Constantine! Thats a nice work for making phone case... Thanks a lot!
I learn so much from tutorials in fast forward.
LM317 isn't a step-down DC-DC, it's just a basic linear adjustable regulator.
Hello , Need to go step by step. What we need to make it and how to do. Missing lot of thing. Thanks
Need to go step by step
What we need to make it
And how to do
Missing lot of thing
Of course it is... all these types of videos are
Hello sir,
Why my stepper motor is not continuously and moving in perticular axis while pressing the arrow keys and even movement is not content sometime it moves to Relatively large distance some times very little, sometimes not at all no matter how long I press the moving command keys or at any Step Level and sometimes the software misbehave ( not only this but other cnc software giving same problem), 1st i thought its Smps causing the noise I changed I even rapped stepper wires around choking ferrite but same issue so far it moves somewhat constantly but very tiny amount why?
I am using clone uno with ch3 type installed driver?
What causing issue
Fantastic work, bro!
Ohh yyeahhh!! Dude, you are a boss!! I've had 3 optic carriages lying around for such a long time, intended for this purpose.. I decided ill make the mech/elect setup in whatever way i feel like it should be. But since I don't have much experience with arduino, i keep procrastinating this project because i was afraid that I'm going to have to force myself to sit thru a few hours of tedious RUclips tutorials made by some slowly explaining automation geek that feels like he needs to talk about every damn nut and bolt he uses on this diy build for 5 minutes each hahah... BUT NOO!! No need for that boring stuff at all!! This guy just makes the whole project exactly like i had in it in mind! and managed to condense the whole thing from start to finish into just over 8 mins of properly focused, correctly angled, clearly visible, nicely edited, high def video!! YAY!!! I'm so excited now i feel like getting started right away lmao, thanks so much for sharing this awesome tutorial bro! im subbing for more, 👌👌👌🔥
the one that talks too much is you lol but true
Linktw0 so did you do it
great work form scrap. what type of laser should use for engraving? If it has any specification pls mention me.
thank you for the video, I guess you can use a zero delay ssr for the laser
i took appart a dvd player (with rewritable capability)
and it did not have stepper motor. it had dc motor (2 wires) and endstop
and it did not have laser diode. it had holographic unit.
(apparantly a combination of laser diode and optical sensor. it is a flat package with 10 leads)
Can you please make an elaborative version of this project. Explaining technial or non technical part.
if you use an irlz44 as your power fet, you won't need any heatsink- won't even get warm.
Yes I know. I did not put the IRFZ44 on the heatsink, it's for LM317
Awesome build but I need help. Any plans for the hardware build? I am stuck and not sure of the measurements.
Great Project. I wish u all the best.
The video helped a lot thanks
Also your English is fine
Do you have a video where you do them slowly... it would be very helpful from you, since i have a school project related to this.
woow. genius. supporting you 110%
you could use the drive cases to make the structure.
Great project thank you👍👍👍
Good job! Congrats.
2:52 i like your circuit diagram. ;)
Thank You for this video. This is here bit.ly/2zMIolU
I bought one! :) Have a nice day!
ruclips.net/video/fi57H_X-AcY/видео.html
What ist that at the bottom left in the circuit?
Wow! Nice work
Hi guys! "How to Do" I'm following your scheme but I've got a question about. I saw how you use LM317 and where is located before laser diode but what I don't know and I am not able to see is where goes IRFZ44N before step-motor and it's driving me crazy!
Thanks man! It's a very nice project, congratulations!
Great work! In grbl, I'm assuming you are using 256 steps for the laser power scaling. In this case $32=255 and not 256 as you've stated. The laser power starts from 0 and goes to 255 covering 256 steps. If you set that to 256 then you are starting from 1. Its not a major difference but when start laser power from 1 it means that its on even if its really really dim.
first thing I had no problem understanding you. but could you please give some more information on how you connected the motors. do you know what type of connector you use for those plastic and copper strips, and how did you go about doing
He connected the motors to a stepper motor controller, how you connect them depends on the specific controller you buy.
First go school
At 3:54 you can see he just cut off the ribbon connections and soldered wires from an ethernet cable directly to the pads.
i know this is sorta off topic, but how did he know to connect the motor driver input pins to the arduino pins 2,3, 5,6?
buenas puedes pasarme las medidas plásticos y maderas y aluminio muchas gracias
hit comment button to soon sorry. looks a really good project but would appreciate any info on those ribbon connectors
Nice job! Subscribed
IS IT SO POWEREFUL THAT CAN BE ENGRAVE GLASS LIKE STAIN GLASS WORK
MAYBE BY ADDING X4 OR BY MOUVE VERY SLOW
CAN YOU TEST IT AND TEL US IF IT IS POSSIBLE OR NOT
Will you get blind if you get damaged by the laser?
I hope he does it with some description
one board is arduino nano the other small red ones are pls tell i have made that burning laser and the hull cantt figure out that board name pls ?
you can convert 3d printer into either CNC milling or CNC laser engraver
awesome...this is can be 3D printer? thank you
great job 👍👍👍
Nice video! Please, how is that orange tool name? Where can I buy it? I mean, the one to help mark hole centers on aluminum angles. Thanks.
It´s a 3D printed part, he later uses it for the other axis. He linked it in the description.
Cool Thing! Going to try this.
Can we get rid of that LM317 and heatsink and replace it with a DC-DC step down buck converter?
Yes sure. An even better idea - use a 12V laser diode driver
@@HowToDoEng I'd also recommend, there are some better budget options instead of arduino that are far better! Overall looks pretty good
@@benlogic8592 Could you name some
@How To Do What glasses would you recommend?
@@abdoustube survival lasers, od rating and wavelength depend on what you want I got mine for like $40 usd. Go on lpf and ask if you have any other questions people on that forum are gods.
How To Do 12v laser driver
Wonderful work...
Bro pls share total project cost in rupees
It´s not self maken - it`s self made!
great ! my first cnc diy make the same like you
what difference (from the user view) between these diodes? is the result will be the same?
good job, thanks for the video
Very creative
cheaper to buy from china?
maybe if you use new dvd drives but lets be real here, you can get as many dvd drives as you want basically for free
Sharky I'd love to hear from where.
check ebay, check craigslist, ask friends for old computers... pretty sure you also can find them in bulk on ebay
Go to a company. They throw out old pcs all the time. At least if they don't rent them
He meant the whole engraver, not just the module.
i mean you have to be a bit creative, you could basically use anything with a linear component, printers, scanners, whatever, basically take 3 of them mount them onto each other so they can move in 3 axis and bobs your uncle.
Can i use Focusable 500mw 808nm Infrared IR Laser Diode Dot Module 12V+ TTL+ Fan Cooling Laser Module For CNC Engraving Machine
Sir please explain the part of program code in full details in another video
hello, what camera did you use to rcord this video? it's awesome!
Also possible with a 3D printer? Just adding the laser, configuring the right height and trying not to burn your heat bed. ^^
We learn so much from videos in fast forward. Do you really think someone could build a laser engraver following your video? Slow it down. Explain each step.
I am going to make this
please give a how to video about this.....and please try to give more details
Great tut. Thanks
In the video u showed on lm 317 DC to DC converter but in the circuit diagram lm 317 is not used
The circuit diagram is correct?
This is really Great!!
is the lazer beam enough to cut 1/8" plexiglass?
at 3:17 is the circled part that's connected to the laser and resistors the lm317?
Great job ! A bit fast, especialy on the software part. It's inproper to pretend engraving with DVD drive as it suggere that you are using the laser from the DVD.
I'd like you to tell which laser at which price it is you suggere to buy.
Thank You !
Could you use this to cut trough masking tape for making small stencils,or could you possibly use this with UV diode and UV 3D printer filament and essentialy make your own 3D printer for less than 100 dollars?
No
very nice. i have try your project
now I want a laser engraved tatoo with the image of Bender
Can be used to engrave metal surfaces too?
Hi friend! Can you help me, please? Can I use your grlb software and laser grlb editor at arduino mega 2560 and cnc shield ramps v1.4 and 3 stepper motor? Is it possible? Are they appropriate for my component?
Great video !! "Share it, it's really help". It's like Borat Engineer :D
Very nice!
In the pin GND and VMOT a adding capacitor 100 uF to protection Stepper Motor of voltage spikes.
YES this is what im talking about
Thanks a lot for this!
Great video!
Can I use your grlb software and laser grlb editor at arduino mega 2560 and cnc shield ramps v1.4 and 3 stepper motor? Is it possible? Are they appropriate for my component?
What r all the requirements you used for laser engraving machine
Amazing man :) thx for sharing this...
What is that at the bottom left in the cirquit diagram?
@@n0rm_n94 on the second one, kind of mosfet power transistor
Я не понял распиновку LM317. Какая нога куда подключается? Спасибо заранее.
U should make one that uses the lasers to laser print circuit boads
Hey Konstantin
This is a really cool project you made there and i would like to try to do it too but i have a few questions i hope you or andybody else could answer:
1. Whats the length of the alumminium angel you cut off or does the height not matter that much?
2. As you already told someone else in the comments you could get rid of the LM317 with the heatsink when you use a 12V laser diode driver, could you recommend any driver or should i just buy one that supplys the needed current?
3. How did you know how you have to connect the stepper motors to their drivers? In the drawn circuit it just shows where each coil has to be connected to the driver but how do i know where the motor has the connections for each coil?
1. Depends on the size you desire and the other parts you are using.
2. Pretty much yes, one that supplies enough current. I still recommend looking at data sheets to make sure it works with your laser
3. Read the data sheets for your motor and controller for more information.
Ok, thanks for your answer!
I also searched for some answers online and found this if anybody else wants to know:
1. I think I´ll just take what I think will fit for the weight of the dvd drive and the laser to hold it stable
2. As somebody else mentioned in the comments a buck converter is also a good way to convert 12V to 4V the voltage and they are pretty cheap
3. You can easyly find out through searching "DVD drive motor connectors": electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/134930/wiring-up-a-4-pin-dvd-drive-stepper-motor
"дрисня для видео"
Как же я орнул...
which motor driver is used in this diy laser engraving
LM317 uses way too much power for what it does, I suggest a 12 V driver for the laser
Where i must connect 3rd wire of laser diode. Thank you so much
what is the name of the green checked pad below the engraver?
Can be used to made PCB Boards?
It can also be used for quick tattoos!
Hello . Is there a way I can increase the work area of a laser engraving machine with nema motors
That's a big heat sink for mosfet
I am interested
Yes me too
hi, sir i am using ardiuno uno. how to change and assign control pins for this uno type controller. at the i am having l293d driver for stepper motor and it requires four control signal from the controller please help me with this.
you can control dual h bridge chip with old grbl but just dont waste your time on this stepper drivers are much better solution. tho you could get additional chip (dont remember the model) to drive this dual h bridge chip like stepper driver only with direction and step controls. there is plenty of info on the net to realize this
Can you cut cardboard with that laser?