Been getting a question a lot about how big the cutting area is after removing the bed. It's about 12"x8". Perhaps a tish less. I've never cut to max size.
Hi, It looks like your working area suit your needs, but just in case if somebody is interested, I completely removed the exhaust box, the working area is now 12 x 9 inches and it the smoke extraction works as well as before. I use the system that came with the laser, as Whisperer was still in development at that time, and I didn't change out of laziness as I'm used to do it that way, and the explanation I read about Whisperer seemed, to me, like a different kind of complicated. And to people that are new to laser engraving : Do not underestimate the distilled water, I used tap water with a t-spoon of bleach to avoid mold it worked for a while then the laser was starting to engrave then the power was dissipating quickly, I though my tube or power supply was shot and luckily it was only the water, it went back to normal (actually better) after correction (distilled water, no bleach). Thank you for the video, Travis.
Travis- would you be willing to print and sell me the drag chain and nozzle for the air hose? I just ordered this and it looks like they would be great additions!
FINALLY!!! Someone who just flat out says yes, yes it will work right out of the box. No "I would really do this 1st" or "don't even start without spending $2000 more immediately." I'll take my chances because I have stuff I want made NOW! Thank you again good sir!!
Man I just wanna let you know how helpful this video is. Has every piece of information you could ever require. Other RUclipsrs should look to this when making a video on a product. Appreciate you man.
I understand this is 2 years ago so much may have changed but giving a brief breakdown of the cost of each thing visually would greatly help the video at the end.
I'm so into seeing these videos. I'm an industrial laser service technician that specializes in Mitsubishi lasers and its so fun to see these little miniature units using the same basic process that we use to cut steel for the manufacturing sector. fun thing that would improve your cut quality is to change the air assist "which we refer to as assist gas" would be to use nitrogen for your engraving processes instead of the atmosphere.
Thanks for the tips, giving me a lot more confidence in making the decision to get one of these. I also like the simplicity of protecting the shop KB with the box it came in.
After months and months of owning a K40, we finally set it up last night. This video has been IMMENSELY helpful. Now we gotta buy a 3D printer to make the drag chain lol
I upgraded my lens housing to handle the bigger lenses to, and I added the drag chain. I feel like the most important upgrade for me was adding the LED lights inside. My old eyeballs just don't work well, so the lights helped me to see when to stop and start over.
k40 whisperer was a game changer for the k40...i now have built my own 600x400 co2 laser using the k40 control board, 45w spt laser.....have had for 3+ years.....spt makes great tubes.....they are actually tested with info like peak power......made motorized bed out of 1x1 steel tube and 3d printed parts....total cost was $900....well worth it as its paid for itself many times over
Thank you so much sir. I have a small leather business and i do have a laser but it's not a co2 laser and i want an upgrade so I'm definitely getting this one as soon as possible.
I have a boss 1630 and i was able to pump O2 through the air assist and cut a hole in the bottom metal plate of a car amp for a fan. the 1630 does have a 100w tube but O2 might expand the usability of a 40w as well.
Interesting idea. O2 would certainly make it burn hotter for sure. I'd have safety concerns, though. Fire and 02 can be a dangerous combo if not done right.
Cheap lasers like this require a lot of tinkering to get it to work nicely. I try to minimize the tinkering so I can just use it as I want it. But there will be some work involved for sure.
Great video! You can supercharge that pump by getting rid of the manifold and use the larger hose all the way to the tip. I did a video on my channel about this very thing and was amazed at how well this works. Good luck and thanks again for the great video
The reason your laser is hitting the rim of your air assist is because the laser is not aligned properly, it could be the laser head is slightly twisted, or it could be some other issue. To find out for sure, Cover the hole in the blue laser head with a piece of masking tape (two pieces thick this is usually good), turn the power down to just a couple mA, move the laser head assembly to the top left and test fire the laser, then move the head the bottom right and press the test fire again. If the beam remains in the same spot on the tape, then your mirrors are aligned, but your blue laser head is rotated, if there are two separate burn spots on the tape, then the mirrors are out of alignment. What I can promise you is that Its not the fault of the air assist head. Cheers and good luck!
I agree...I'm a little better at focusing my laser nowadays. However, I still prefer my 3d printed air assist. It focuses the air on the cut, which I really like.
@@byTravis Good to hear! I had a noticeable improvement in cutting power and accuracy after I got the alignment dialed in. I hope you saw the same improvement. I found the problem I had with the 3D printed air assist was that since the air came in at an angle, for really light materials like paper it would either blow the paper itself out of position, causing irregularities in the cut, or it would cause small paper appendages to occasionally get blown into the path of the laser which were then cut off by the laser when making a secondary cut nearby. Using the one that directed the air straight down reduced the problem for me, but if you don't do much delicate work on light materials, its probably not that important. Cheers!
This was a great video. I have had my K40 for about two years and only tried to use it a couple of times. The other day I said it was time for me to get this thing working. I hope you do more on this.
VERY USEFUL VIDEO! Thank you so much. I'm in the market for a small laser cutter and this is one of the better videos with real world experiences I've watched so far. I have a RUclips channel myself, I also wanted to complement you on how you carry yourself and present information. You do a good job with that and that is tougher than most people realize. I subscribed and turned on notifications, thanks again!
@@byTravis I wanted to ask you a question. Have you used your machine to do any cutting? I'd like to be able to cut thin plywood. 1/8" - 1/4" thickness would be the maximum I'd need to cut. I've seen others do that, just wondering if you had any personal experience cutting wood/wood products with it.
if you laser hits the rim, you really must adjust the mirrors I had a similar issue after moving the laser , the air assist is something I never want to miss.
Hello I need to install a new CO2 tube but I don't have any silicone adhesive sealant as the one that came with my Chinese k40 laser dried out and now I'm unable to find any, can you please advise me for an alternative product that is easy to find ? Thank you
I just purchased a use k40+ compatible with lightburn when I try to make cuts it burns a straight line to the next cut laser stays on the whole time how do I fix that
Thanks for all your videos Please am new i bought the 40w co2 laser the update one my question is can i set the power and speed on 40w whisperer software instead of those buttons on the panel because i don't understand those buttons
Not without upgrading the controller. You can use MeerK40t, which does something similar. It doesn't really control the power per se, but it does pulse the laser to mimic a change in power.
Travis, thanks for the video. I skipped this level and picked up the 5030 50 watt Chinese model. Lightburn is more than a great product, however I don't think it supports the controller on the K40 types 'out of the box'. The K40 controller is a different animal than most controllers. If you wish to run Lightburn I believe you will need to upgrade the controller one that is supported by Lightburn. Grbl or DSP are both functional and available for the K40. Once you use Lightburn, you will never go elsewhere. There is a 30 day free trial... Go to the site and you can read how others upgraded their K40s. The other point is that of the alignment, it would be nice to advise your followers how you fixed the 'hitting the nozzle' issue. I have completely replaced the whole head assembly and removed the drag chain along with a few other items. With that machine it's difficult to check exactly what happens once the beam goes into the head. Mine is open, so that can be checked. If you beam does not hit the center of the lens, it will come out at an angle. This can be seen when the cut it not 90 degrees from the surface. Lastly, I run air assist. The basic reason is to keep 'junk' off the lens. That is a drawback with your design. I always run a few pounds pressure to ensure my lens is clean. I vary the pressure depending on what I'm doing. Generally high pressure for cutting and low for engraving. Hi/lo pressure is selected via the layers software. Thank you for taking the time...like the X-carve... Take care
I got one , put the key card in my computer does nothing but blink never downloads the machine into my computer , not sure why . Any help would be appreciated.
Excelente video. Thanks a lot. Could you share the notes files whit the information that collected from "trial and error" times pls ? Would be very useful for us. Thanks
You should be circulating the water before the tube gets hot. Otherwise you’ll have problems. If you start with cold water, the tube will be cool when you start lasering.
I loved the video thank you. I finally got mine working after two days of stress 😂 it engraved beautifully but my gauge doesn’t move from zero and if I try to Cut with it the laser just moves to the other end and try’s to keep going. Have no idea why???
It sounds like the limiter switches is bad. There's a tiny toggle button type switch at the end of each of the axis. When the gantry bumps into that, that's when the computer knows when it reaches the end. That would be my guess, anyway.
I am looking for a laser engraver to do cylinders only, simple wording, no graphics, is something like the k40 overkill for my needs and if so what would you recommend, also I am a complete moron when it comes to tech, basically I'm old! How difficult is the software learning curve. Thanks
Hey there ! I am having issues with the key "USB" , every time I plug it into my pc it states USB malfunctioned, therefore I haven't been able to use it. I have been looking around for information but honestly I can't find a resolution to this issue. The USB is marked it says lihuiyu studio labs - 2019.08.15 .If you are familiar with this issue what would you recommend me to do?. nice videos I have the exact same laser engraver but the brand is preenex. I'll appreciate it if your can help me out with this one !, Thank you!.
I used toworkforce theKirk Stieff silver company. The computer engraving dept. got one of these lazer engraving machines. With in 2 weeks every thing in the computer engraving dept. had a film of static charged metal dust. It got so bad that it shorted out the computer. You should probably get a de-ionizing system and a heavy ventilation system. We only used pewter and silver, mostly pewter . Good luck, safe work.
hi Travis, before i had to reinstall everything on my laptop i had a copy of your one note settings somehow. do you have a link to reinstall it please? its really helpful.
I’ve been using my k40 for about 18 months, off and in. I’ve used Corel to make all my DXFs, then bounce into k40 whisperer. One thing I haven’t been able to figure out yet-is there a way to make it ‘solid fill’? Like in your Bigfoot example, what if you wanted all of the black lasered onto the surface, not just the outlines? The work around I’ve figured is hatching patterns, but Corel’s auto hatch isn’t recognized in k40. I’ve had mild success with manually drawing in the hatching, but that’s kind of time consuming and a pain in the ass.
Thanks. Some folks really like it. I personally don't really like measuring percentage. I'd rather know the actual output in mA. I think there are some readouts that will do that. I would like something like that.
Mate this is just great, I 3D print but im getting this machine from a friend to play with (coughs *keep until he builds a new house). The info for some one as like me is appreciated.
I guess it depends on the size of the marble and how detailed you'd want. The curved surface might pose a challenge. I have engraved on glass, which seems to work OK. The trick is to make a gray graphic instead of a black and white graphic. The pulsing/dithering created by the gray seems to work better on the glass.
@@byTravis Thanks for the info, but what about flat marble, can it do pictures on marble or granite? Do you think it might be able to do stuff like this? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133043856455?_trkparms=aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D232216%26meid%3D70df2e840d1044e4a2d7d4992433d50b%26pid%3D101286%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26mehot%3Dpp%26itm%3D133043856455%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26algv%3DWatchlistVariantWithMLR&_trksid=p2380057.c101286.m47999&_trkparms=pageci%3A3c016d3d-ab28-11eb-812f-22fd91241e30%7Cparentrq%3A2c64fa8b1790a77dcceff997fffac30d%7Ciid%3A1
thanks for this. Bit concerned that I'm about to get my first one and don't know if I actually need the mods, particularly removing the bed to get the full 8"x12". My research continues...
The mods I mentioned in the video are what I'd suggest. Specifically the bed, and the air assist. The bed, you'll figure out you'll want to remove right away. It's easy. Nothing to it other than unscrewing a few bolts. Air assist is will help with flareups as well as clean engraving/cutting. Good luck!
Huh. I haven't been paying attention to prices, but that seems very strange. You can always add a analog meter, to it too. They're pretty cheap. I haven't installed one, but I'd imagine they'd be easy. Lots of RUclips videos on the process.
I've heard of people doing that. The only concern would be the additives in the water might interfere with the laser in the tube. That is the main reason you use distilled water, is to make sure the minerals in tap water doesn't affect the laser. I'd give it a quick google, or check one of the FB groups because I know people do that.
Yah. I have one that I built one using Geeksmithing's plans. When you connect it, you basically unplug the Y axis from the control board and plug in the rotary. You can see his video here: ruclips.net/video/GOF0u9qsFOI/видео.html&ab_channel=Geeksmithing
Hey, could you please make a video on how to setup the machine right from box? And how long would you think it take to engrave a photo on 150mm*200mm acrylic? Just an estimate. Thank you
It would depend on the picture, material, settings, and software. But on my K40, I'm guessing it would take about an hour using K40 Whisperer. That should give you a rough idea.
I just got a new laptop and it’s windows ten to I had to re download Inkscape and now all buttons are different. Anyone know if I can get the classic look /skin back?
03:30 this is verry verry true. unless you live in a place where they have the cleanest tap water in the world. where you can't even measure any conductivity in the tap water what so ever. (and even then. use distilled water)
Good night friend, I need your generosity. I have a machine like this, but I lost the installation program and drivers. Could you give me a link where I could download it? Thanks.
I wouldn't install anything that came with your laser. To be honest, I don't trust them. I'd just download K40 Whisperer and use that instead. Links to everything I discussed in the video is in the video description. good luck!
Thanks for your video, i have one question, what distance ist the correct from the Laser to the surface of the object you want to grave? And when you put out the original bed, what ist the size of the workspace and how high could a object be whit your adjustable bed?
I split my laser stuff off to a new channel. Here's a video that should help with setting focal length. ruclips.net/video/u4YHbDBBofg/видео.html With the original bed removed, it's about 12"x8" and a little less than 4" deep. You could cut out the bottom of the laser to get more depth if you need it. There isn't anything vital on the bottom, just sheet metal that could be cut with snips or a grinder. Hope this helps!
I just use a 5gal bucket filled with distilled water and blocks of ice. Works just fine for me. Depending on the day and how long I've been using the laser, I might swap out the ice once or twice. I freeze 2liter soda bottles.
Thanks Travis for your video. Very easy to follow and very informative. Any chance you can 3D print some more air Assist’s and sell them over eBay etc.? Cheers Helen from Australia
@@byTravis thank you , I resolved the problem , even though I appreciate your advice , thanks to be this kind of person who help another one ... God bless you
do you need to connect a PC to it or can it read from an SD card or a USB flash drive or is there a way to set up wireless connection sort of like octoprint with a raspberry pi? I would want to put this in the basement and I don't have PC down there
You'd need a PC to send the signal to the laser. I'm sure someone figured out how to use and SD card, but that would require extensive modding. I have an old computer in my shop. You don't need much since the software isn't all that powerful.
@@byTravis ok thanks Maybe someone in one of the communities will figure out a way to make an octoprint type solution some day Other wise I guess I could use my old laptop then It's a vaio win 7 i3 from about 09 or 2010
It won't etch per se where it would it would be engraved deep enough to have texture. What it will do is discolor the surface. It will depend on the the stone, too. You can check out my video on etching slate tile on my other channel: ruclips.net/video/u6sWDCqp-5U/видео.html
Id image its safe with the safety door closed but I still wouldn't trust the safety glass as its from china so I'd always wear certified glasses that I purchased from a known vendor!
I'd almost always err on the side of safety. With that said, my understanding is that the wavelength of the laser is small where it dissipates quickly. But, it's best to do your own research and make your own decision. I'd try to always keep the lid closed for sure and I try to avoid any risky situations. Plus, safety glasses are a good investment compared to the alternative.
When I download the K40 whisperer and run it and click initialize lazer, I just get a USB error laser USB device not found. Can you give me any insight to whats going on?
I had to change my USB cable out. You can also check the USB connection on the laser. It might be loose. Wiggle it around and see if it connects. I had to resolder mine.
I have a k40 laser and lately When I turn it on and it start making a loud noise in the control panel so I turn off and turn on couple times and then he goes away. Did you experiment something like this before. Please I need help im worry it’s breaking and its the middle of the sales season for me. Thanks
I would think maybe it would. All i think K40 Whisperer is is a gcode sender (with a nice interface). If not, I know folks use LightBurn. It costs money, but in the grand scheme of things, spending $40-80 for software isn't much of an investment. Plus, LightBurn is supposed to be pretty amazing. They have a free trial too, to make sure it works the way you want it. Good luck!
A lot of those meters measure percentage instead of milliamps. As long as the digital meter measures your milliamps, I think that is the one you're looking for. You can also add a analog meter, too. They're pretty cheap. I haven't installed one, but I'd imagine they'd be easy. Lots of RUclips videos on the process.
It won't print an image. You might be able to do the cutting, but you'll have to modify it quite a bit by adding a camera and upgrading the software to Lightburn. You might have to update the controler board, too, depending on what you want to do with it. Remember, it's using heat to cut. I think you'll be able to pull it off, but it will take a lot of experimenting and tinkering.
There was a thumb drive, but it was for software. I certainly wouldn't install it, though. I just use Inkscape for design, and K40 Whisperer on the PC to run the machine.
Been getting a question a lot about how big the cutting area is after removing the bed. It's about 12"x8". Perhaps a tish less. I've never cut to max size.
Hi, It looks like your working area suit your needs, but just in case if somebody is interested, I completely removed the exhaust box, the working area is now 12 x 9 inches and it the smoke extraction works as well as before.
I use the system that came with the laser, as Whisperer was still in development at that time, and I didn't change out of laziness as I'm used to do it that way, and the explanation I read about Whisperer seemed, to me, like a different kind of complicated.
And to people that are new to laser engraving : Do not underestimate the distilled water, I used tap water with a t-spoon of bleach to avoid mold it worked for a while then the laser was starting to engrave then the power was dissipating quickly, I though my tube or power supply was shot and luckily it was only the water, it went back to normal (actually better) after correction (distilled water, no bleach). Thank you for the video, Travis.
Hai
Travis- would you be willing to print and sell me the drag chain and nozzle for the air hose? I just ordered this and it looks like they would be great additions!
@@Yves95128 thanks man
@@Yves95128 ءظ محمد ح
گ. د من كقدضء
FINALLY!!! Someone who just flat out says yes, yes it will work right out of the box. No "I would really do this 1st" or "don't even start without spending $2000 more immediately."
I'll take my chances because I have stuff I want made NOW! Thank you again good sir!!
has the machine served you well?
@@michaelrael3278 I ended up not getting one. Multiple factors drove that decision, safe working space being the biggest.
Man I just wanna let you know how helpful this video is. Has every piece of information you could ever require. Other RUclipsrs should look to this when making a video on a product. Appreciate you man.
Thanks! I’m glad you found it useful.
I understand this is 2 years ago so much may have changed but giving a brief breakdown of the cost of each thing visually would greatly help the video at the end.
I'm so into seeing these videos. I'm an industrial laser service technician that specializes in Mitsubishi lasers and its so fun to see these little miniature units using the same basic process that we use to cut steel for the manufacturing sector. fun thing that would improve your cut quality is to change the air assist "which we refer to as assist gas" would be to use nitrogen for your engraving processes instead of the atmosphere.
Thanks for making it simple enough for some of us nervous folks. You explain in a way that isn’t overwhelming
Thanks for the tips, giving me a lot more confidence in making the decision to get one of these. I also like the simplicity of protecting the shop KB with the box it came in.
After months and months of owning a K40, we finally set it up last night. This video has been IMMENSELY helpful. Now we gotta buy a 3D printer to make the drag chain lol
I like that lab jack. never knew they existed but now I can't live without them
I upgraded my lens housing to handle the bigger lenses to, and I added the drag chain. I feel like the most important upgrade for me was adding the LED lights inside. My old eyeballs just don't work well, so the lights helped me to see when to stop and start over.
k40 whisperer was a game changer for the k40...i now have built my own 600x400 co2 laser using the k40 control board, 45w spt laser.....have had for 3+ years.....spt makes great tubes.....they are actually tested with info like peak power......made motorized bed out of 1x1 steel tube and 3d printed parts....total cost was $900....well worth it as its paid for itself many times over
Thank you, to the point. As we say in Scotland "Ronseal, does what it says on the tin".
Thank you for this excellent video, very informative without any clutter and straight to the point and no annoying music. Liked and Subscribed 🙂
Thank you so much sir. I have a small leather business and i do have a laser but it's not a co2 laser and i want an upgrade so I'm definitely getting this one as soon as possible.
Thank you. I unboxed it yesterday. I plan to set it up today.
I have a boss 1630 and i was able to pump O2 through the air assist and cut a hole in the bottom metal plate of a car amp for a fan. the 1630 does have a 100w tube but O2 might expand the usability of a 40w as well.
Interesting idea. O2 would certainly make it burn hotter for sure. I'd have safety concerns, though. Fire and 02 can be a dangerous combo if not done right.
Great video. The adjustments are beyond me.
Cheap lasers like this require a lot of tinkering to get it to work nicely. I try to minimize the tinkering so I can just use it as I want it. But there will be some work involved for sure.
Great video! You can supercharge that pump by getting rid of the manifold and use the larger hose all the way to the tip. I did a video on my channel about this very thing and was amazed at how well this works. Good luck and thanks again for the great video
The reason your laser is hitting the rim of your air assist is because the laser is not aligned properly, it could be the laser head is slightly twisted, or it could be some other issue.
To find out for sure, Cover the hole in the blue laser head with a piece of masking tape (two pieces thick this is usually good), turn the power down to just a couple mA, move the laser head assembly to the top left and test fire the laser, then move the head the bottom right and press the test fire again.
If the beam remains in the same spot on the tape, then your mirrors are aligned, but your blue laser head is rotated, if there are two separate burn spots on the tape, then the mirrors are out of alignment.
What I can promise you is that Its not the fault of the air assist head. Cheers and good luck!
I agree...I'm a little better at focusing my laser nowadays. However, I still prefer my 3d printed air assist. It focuses the air on the cut, which I really like.
@@byTravis Good to hear! I had a noticeable improvement in cutting power and accuracy after I got the alignment dialed in. I hope you saw the same improvement.
I found the problem I had with the 3D printed air assist was that since the air came in at an angle, for really light materials like paper it would either blow the paper itself out of position, causing irregularities in the cut, or it would cause small paper appendages to occasionally get blown into the path of the laser which were then cut off by the laser when making a secondary cut nearby.
Using the one that directed the air straight down reduced the problem for me, but if you don't do much delicate work on light materials, its probably not that important.
Cheers!
Thanks you have me the most information to date on laser engravers.
I'm glad it helped!
Great video, lots of details and links to find the stuff- very handy. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for your helpfull videos - is this machine can cut acrylic ?? White , black & mirror one ???
Got me a blue one for $275 today in a storage unit clean out. Great vid! Thanks!
That is awesome!
This was a great video. I have had my K40 for about two years and only tried to use it a couple of times. The other day I said it was time for me to get this thing working. I hope you do more on this.
Glad it was helpful! I started another channel about the K40 laser that you might find interesting: ruclips.net/channel/UCt-bWfn-g1ELeE-7aJcsDFA
VERY USEFUL VIDEO! Thank you so much. I'm in the market for a small laser cutter and this is one of the better videos with real world experiences I've watched so far. I have a RUclips channel myself, I also wanted to complement you on how you carry yourself and present information. You do a good job with that and that is tougher than most people realize. I subscribed and turned on notifications, thanks again!
Awesome, thank you!
@@byTravis I wanted to ask you a question. Have you used your machine to do any cutting? I'd like to be able to cut thin plywood. 1/8" - 1/4" thickness would be the maximum I'd need to cut. I've seen others do that, just wondering if you had any personal experience cutting wood/wood products with it.
Gracias
if you laser hits the rim, you really must adjust the mirrors
I had a similar issue after moving the laser , the air assist is something I never want to miss.
Hello I need to install a new CO2 tube but I don't have any silicone adhesive sealant as the one that came with my Chinese k40 laser dried out and now I'm unable to find any, can you please advise me for an alternative product that is easy to find ?
Thank you
Sure wish you would sell your air assist and drag chain 3D's...not the file...but the actual pieces. Let us know if you start doing that.
I just purchased a use k40+ compatible with lightburn when I try to make cuts it burns a straight line to the next cut laser stays on the whole time how do I fix that
Thanks for all your videos
Please am new i bought the 40w co2 laser the update one my question is can i set the power and speed on 40w whisperer software instead of those buttons on the panel because i don't understand those buttons
Not without upgrading the controller. You can use MeerK40t, which does something similar. It doesn't really control the power per se, but it does pulse the laser to mimic a change in power.
I'm about to buy one of these. This video was very helpful.
Right on man I really enjoyed your video and I thank you for the info. I’m thinking pretty hard about getting one. Again thank you
Glad I could help
Travis, thanks for the video. I skipped this level and picked up the 5030 50 watt Chinese model.
Lightburn is more than a great product, however I don't think it supports the controller on the K40 types 'out of the box'. The K40 controller is a different animal than most controllers. If you wish to run Lightburn I believe you will need to upgrade the controller one that is supported by Lightburn. Grbl or DSP are both functional and available for the K40. Once you use Lightburn, you will never go elsewhere. There is a 30 day free trial...
Go to the site and you can read how others upgraded their K40s.
The other point is that of the alignment, it would be nice to advise your followers how you fixed the 'hitting the nozzle' issue. I have completely replaced the whole head assembly and removed the drag chain along with a few other items. With that machine it's difficult to check exactly what happens once the beam goes into the head. Mine is open, so that can be checked.
If you beam does not hit the center of the lens, it will come out at an angle. This can be seen when the cut it not 90 degrees from the surface.
Lastly, I run air assist. The basic reason is to keep 'junk' off the lens. That is a drawback with your design. I always run a few pounds pressure to ensure my lens is clean. I vary the pressure depending on what I'm doing. Generally high pressure for cutting and low for engraving. Hi/lo pressure is selected via the layers software.
Thank you for taking the time...like the X-carve... Take care
I got one , put the key card in my computer does nothing but blink never downloads the machine into my computer , not sure why . Any help would be appreciated.
Just to let you know I clicked specifically because of your thumb nail. It reminded me of Dr evil. The plus is that I learned alot
Yes I too believe everyone deserves a warm meal.
Excelente video. Thanks a lot.
Could you share the notes files whit the information that collected from "trial and error" times pls ? Would be very useful for us. Thanks
Helo! Great video! I was in doubt about the ice in the water bucket, couldn't this cause a thermal shock to the laser tube and make it crack?
You should be circulating the water before the tube gets hot. Otherwise you’ll have problems. If you start with cold water, the tube will be cool when you start lasering.
I loved the video thank you.
I finally got mine working after two days of stress 😂 it engraved beautifully but my gauge doesn’t move from zero and if I try to Cut with it the laser just moves to the other end and try’s to keep going. Have no idea why???
It sounds like the limiter switches is bad. There's a tiny toggle button type switch at the end of each of the axis. When the gantry bumps into that, that's when the computer knows when it reaches the end. That would be my guess, anyway.
Hi there found this very useful I'm just wondering if it would cut 3mm Acrylic ? Thank you !
Yes it will. I've cut up to 1/4"
How many sizes of cuttings the smallest machine we could start as we are small company.
Great informative Video, Just got one of these and was wondering if you have upgraded anything else since this video?
I am looking for a laser engraver to do cylinders only, simple wording, no graphics, is something like the k40 overkill for my needs and if so what would you recommend, also I am a complete moron when it comes to tech, basically I'm old! How difficult is the software learning curve. Thanks
Thank you so much from Turkey, You are so nice.
My pleasure!
Thank you so much Travis. God bless you!
Hi Travis,
Would you be willing to share your one note - notes with cutting data?
Hey there !
I am having issues with the key "USB" , every time I plug it into my pc it states USB malfunctioned, therefore I haven't been able to use it. I have been looking around for information but honestly I can't find a resolution to this issue.
The USB is marked it says lihuiyu studio labs - 2019.08.15 .If you are familiar with this issue what would you recommend me to do?.
nice videos I have the exact same laser engraver but the brand is preenex.
I'll appreciate it if your can help me out with this one !,
Thank you!.
Thanks so much for the info and upgrades. Just didn't say which size of acrylic should we start with? So guess I will wing it! TIA
I used toworkforce theKirk Stieff silver company. The computer engraving dept. got one of these lazer engraving machines. With in 2 weeks every thing in the computer engraving dept. had a film of static charged metal dust. It got so bad that it shorted out the computer. You should probably get a de-ionizing system and a heavy ventilation system. We only used pewter and silver, mostly pewter . Good luck, safe work.
You are breathing that?
Thank you, Travis, for all of your useful information!
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome video, The lab jack is the greatest!
Yup....super handy and such an easy solution.
Very informative! Easy to follow.
can k40 laser cut through thin 1/8in glass?
hi Travis, before i had to reinstall everything on my laptop i had a copy of your one note settings somehow. do you have a link to reinstall it please? its really helpful.
Sure: www.laser-pop.com/laser-settings/
I’ve been using my k40 for about 18 months, off and in. I’ve used Corel to make all my DXFs, then bounce into k40 whisperer.
One thing I haven’t been able to figure out yet-is there a way to make it ‘solid fill’? Like in your Bigfoot example, what if you wanted all of the black lasered onto the surface, not just the outlines?
The work around I’ve figured is hatching patterns, but Corel’s auto hatch isn’t recognized in k40. I’ve had mild success with manually drawing in the hatching, but that’s kind of time consuming and a pain in the ass.
Great video, easy going sensible style and practical solutions.
Thank you!
I have a digital reading type, and it's pretty accurate, the utility for the amp.meter, to my point of view, is to diagnose problems.
Thanks. Some folks really like it. I personally don't really like measuring percentage. I'd rather know the actual output in mA. I think there are some readouts that will do that. I would like something like that.
Mate this is just great, I 3D print but im getting this machine from a friend to play with (coughs *keep until he builds a new house). The info for some one as like me is appreciated.
Thanks! I’m glad you found it helpful.
Hi Travis liked the vid 👍 is it possible to engrave pictures on marble with the k40? Or what power laser would be needed? Thanks.
I guess it depends on the size of the marble and how detailed you'd want. The curved surface might pose a challenge. I have engraved on glass, which seems to work OK. The trick is to make a gray graphic instead of a black and white graphic. The pulsing/dithering created by the gray seems to work better on the glass.
@@byTravis Thanks for the info, but what about flat marble, can it do pictures on marble or granite? Do you think it might be able to do stuff like this? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133043856455?_trkparms=aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D232216%26meid%3D70df2e840d1044e4a2d7d4992433d50b%26pid%3D101286%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26mehot%3Dpp%26itm%3D133043856455%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26algv%3DWatchlistVariantWithMLR&_trksid=p2380057.c101286.m47999&_trkparms=pageci%3A3c016d3d-ab28-11eb-812f-22fd91241e30%7Cparentrq%3A2c64fa8b1790a77dcceff997fffac30d%7Ciid%3A1
I just grabbed one of these, thanks for the info, excited to get cutting!
Hope you enjoy it!
From where I can buy it in india
Thanks for the tips been wanting to get a laser but not sure what type
thanks for this. Bit concerned that I'm about to get my first one and don't know if I actually need the mods, particularly removing the bed to get the full 8"x12". My research continues...
The mods I mentioned in the video are what I'd suggest. Specifically the bed, and the air assist. The bed, you'll figure out you'll want to remove right away. It's easy. Nothing to it other than unscrewing a few bolts. Air assist is will help with flareups as well as clean engraving/cutting. Good luck!
How many different "cuttings" can be done with smalest machine, We hsve (small shop..) as we are small Company.
I need answer about small mechinary. Manny Thanks, indeed.
Gracias
I loved this, incredibly helpful and friendly perspective!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for sharing your information. It seems the K40 lasers with the analog panel is 2 to 3 time the LCD model currently....
Huh. I haven't been paying attention to prices, but that seems very strange. You can always add a analog meter, to it too. They're pretty cheap. I haven't installed one, but I'd imagine they'd be easy. Lots of RUclips videos on the process.
@@byTravis yup that's the plan for now
I live in New York and my in my laser engraver would be in a shed where I could drop below freezing is it possible to add antifreeze to the water?
I've heard of people doing that. The only concern would be the additives in the water might interfere with the laser in the tube. That is the main reason you use distilled water, is to make sure the minerals in tap water doesn't affect the laser. I'd give it a quick google, or check one of the FB groups because I know people do that.
Im interested in engraving on a bullet shell/casing. Would this be a good engraver for that application? Or any ideas for me to look at?
You can mark it if you use a marking agent like cermark. It won’t dig into the metal, though. You’ll probably need a rotary attachment too.
Will you be able install a rotary tool with this? Just found your videos great content
Yah. I have one that I built one using Geeksmithing's plans. When you connect it, you basically unplug the Y axis from the control board and plug in the rotary. You can see his video here: ruclips.net/video/GOF0u9qsFOI/видео.html&ab_channel=Geeksmithing
Hey, I was trying to align the laser but when I tried to do it the laser tube doesn’t shoot the laser. What should I do?
Does it need to be plugged into a computer to run, or can you load files to a USB drive (ala a 3d printer/etc)?
You’ll need direct computer connection.
I have this engraver , does somebody has the software and drivers or know how to get them
Hey, could you please make a video on how to setup the machine right from box? And how long would you think it take to engrave a photo on 150mm*200mm acrylic? Just an estimate. Thank you
It would depend on the picture, material, settings, and software. But on my K40, I'm guessing it would take about an hour using K40 Whisperer. That should give you a rough idea.
Can this cut 5mm thick acrylic?
Thanks for the informative video, you told me everything I needed to know 👍🏻
I just got a new laptop and it’s windows ten to I had to re download Inkscape and now all buttons are different. Anyone know if I can get the classic look /skin back?
If you go to View>Default...that will pop the buttons in the original configuration. I think it defaults to Wide now.
03:30 this is verry verry true. unless you live in a place where they have the cleanest tap water in the world.
where you can't even measure any conductivity in the tap water what so ever. (and even then. use distilled water)
Good night friend, I need your generosity. I have a machine like this, but I lost the installation program and drivers. Could you give me a link where I could download it? Thanks.
I wouldn't install anything that came with your laser. To be honest, I don't trust them. I'd just download K40 Whisperer and use that instead. Links to everything I discussed in the video is in the video description. good luck!
Thanks for your video, i have one question, what distance ist the correct from the Laser to the surface of the object you want to grave?
And when you put out the original bed, what ist the size of the workspace and how high could a object be whit your adjustable bed?
I split my laser stuff off to a new channel. Here's a video that should help with setting focal length. ruclips.net/video/u4YHbDBBofg/видео.html
With the original bed removed, it's about 12"x8" and a little less than 4" deep. You could cut out the bottom of the laser to get more depth if you need it. There isn't anything vital on the bottom, just sheet metal that could be cut with snips or a grinder. Hope this helps!
So you don’t need one of the chillers? Like the 5200 chiller?
I just use a 5gal bucket filled with distilled water and blocks of ice. Works just fine for me. Depending on the day and how long I've been using the laser, I might swap out the ice once or twice. I freeze 2liter soda bottles.
Thanks for such an imformative video. It answered a lot of my questions.
Thanks Travis for your video. Very easy to follow and very informative. Any chance you can 3D print some more air Assist’s and sell them over eBay etc.? Cheers Helen from Australia
Sorry for my question ...what is the basic program to my pc ??? The basic or best I'm new here ..thank you
I use k40 Whisperer to run the laser. You can also look at MeerK4t. Both are free.
@@byTravis thank you , I resolved the problem , even though I appreciate your advice , thanks to be this kind of person who help another one ... God bless you
Thanks for the advice.
Some great ideas...thanks!
Glad you like them!
Do you by any chance sell the 3d air assist?
do you need to connect a PC to it or can it read from an SD card or a USB flash drive or is there a way to set up wireless connection sort of like octoprint with a raspberry pi?
I would want to put this in the basement and I don't have PC down there
You'd need a PC to send the signal to the laser. I'm sure someone figured out how to use and SD card, but that would require extensive modding. I have an old computer in my shop. You don't need much since the software isn't all that powerful.
@@byTravis ok thanks
Maybe someone in one of the communities will figure out a way to make an octoprint type solution some day
Other wise I guess I could use my old laptop then
It's a vaio win 7 i3 from about 09 or 2010
could this cut thin metal? I am thinking pet collar id tags, engrave then cut the shape.
It won't cut metal. It can engrave the metal by burning off paint or powder coating, though. But it won't get hot enough to cut through metal.
Travis, thank you video, i have a question. will the K40 etch natural stone?
It won't etch per se where it would it would be engraved deep enough to have texture. What it will do is discolor the surface. It will depend on the the stone, too. You can check out my video on etching slate tile on my other channel: ruclips.net/video/u6sWDCqp-5U/видео.html
I have a question about the laser: do you wear protective glasses while cutting with a laser? is it safe to use without glasses ?
Id image its safe with the safety door closed but I still wouldn't trust the safety glass as its from china so I'd always wear certified glasses that I purchased from a known vendor!
@@mikevez6639 OK, that's what I thought! thanks for the answer
I'd almost always err on the side of safety. With that said, my understanding is that the wavelength of the laser is small where it dissipates quickly. But, it's best to do your own research and make your own decision. I'd try to always keep the lid closed for sure and I try to avoid any risky situations. Plus, safety glasses are a good investment compared to the alternative.
@@byTravis thanks for the advise; I bought protective glasses :-)
When I download the K40 whisperer and run it and click initialize lazer, I just get a USB error laser USB device not found. Can you give me any insight to whats going on?
I had to change my USB cable out. You can also check the USB connection on the laser. It might be loose. Wiggle it around and see if it connects. I had to resolder mine.
Can you export and share your one note for settings?
Sorry for the delay, but sure. Here is a link to my OneNote Settings. www.laser-pop.com/laser-settings/
I have a k40 laser and lately When I turn it on and it start making a loud noise in the control panel so I turn off and turn on couple times and then he goes away. Did you experiment something like this before. Please I need help im worry it’s breaking and its the middle of the sales season for me. Thanks
I'm not sure what that would be. Maybe the fan on the power supply?
Hi, wpuld the K40 whisperer program work with one of those larger china lasers? I think it's a 40W.
I would think maybe it would. All i think K40 Whisperer is is a gcode sender (with a nice interface). If not, I know folks use LightBurn. It costs money, but in the grand scheme of things, spending $40-80 for software isn't much of an investment. Plus, LightBurn is supposed to be pretty amazing. They have a free trial too, to make sure it works the way you want it. Good luck!
Nice workplace
Thanks
do you cut any acrylic?
hi sir in my lazer k 40 the temperature +29 plus it is a problem to cut a piece of wood ?
How important is the analog meter I noticed that the latest eBay and Amazon blue k40's are wow digital meter???
A lot of those meters measure percentage instead of milliamps. As long as the digital meter measures your milliamps, I think that is the one you're looking for. You can also add a analog meter, too. They're pretty cheap. I haven't installed one, but I'd imagine they'd be easy. Lots of RUclips videos on the process.
i just bought my new laser, when i started , laser home at the top right corner. how to change it to top left corner ?
If you open K40 Whisperer, go to Settings>General Settings, there's an option you can check that says "Home in Upper Right"
So basically u had to refurb a brand new K40 to get it to work properly?
Print n cut possible in this machine? We are printing stickers n than cut
It won't print an image. You might be able to do the cutting, but you'll have to modify it quite a bit by adding a camera and upgrading the software to Lightburn. You might have to update the controler board, too, depending on what you want to do with it. Remember, it's using heat to cut. I think you'll be able to pull it off, but it will take a lot of experimenting and tinkering.
Don't they give you the thumbdrive to work with it? Without the thumbdrive how to even work with it?
There was a thumb drive, but it was for software. I certainly wouldn't install it, though. I just use Inkscape for design, and K40 Whisperer on the PC to run the machine.