Is this all I need?

[wmgeorge]

Hi Marco, Is this Kit > http://www.lightobject.com/DSP-upgrade- ... -P758.aspx

all I need to convert from Moshi software based machine, K40 III to one that will work? Thanks.
I had been Watching one or two on eBay, price was raised to $1950 now back to $599.80 free shipping from US warehouse? It must be a marketing thing.

[Tech_Marco]

Yes, it is pretty much things you need assuming the power supply that come with the K40 is good and the optics are good

Marco

[wmgeorge]

Yes, it is pretty much things you need assuming the power supply that come with the K40 is good and the optics are good

Marco

You mean stepper motor power supply.

[Tech_Marco]

I mean the laser power supply. For DC part, what you need is DC24V with 5amp or higher current will do the job.

Marco

[todmaerin]

wmgeorge,

The stock laser PSU will do an okay job, but its PWM control is flaky. If you're going to be doing simple engraving (eg. no portraits or grayscale stuff) and cutting, you'll be alright. I would urge you to pick up at least two spare mirrors as the ones that came with my K40 were complete trash. A high quality lens wouldn't hurt you either; you can always keep the optics that shipped as backups.

-Tod

[Whiteylightning]

What about the step motor drives... I will be swapping out the moshi for the 608 this week, and I thought you needed step motor drives, so I bought 2. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[wmgeorge]

I mean the laser power supply. For DC part, what you need is DC24V with 5amp or higher current will do the job.

Marco

So the stock PS for the tube won't work? I noticed also the stepper drivers in the kit are only rated for 1.5 amp but the replacement motors are 1.8 amp, wouldn't that be a problem also.

If the K40 III lasers from eBay are not even usable for parts, might as well build the one on Bulldog.net and get the parts here.

[todmaerin]

What about the step motor drives... I will be swapping out the moshi for the 608 this week, and I thought you needed step motor drives, so I bought 2. Please correct me if I am wrong.

If you're not buying the complete upgrade kit, and only buying the AWC608 DSP, you're going to need the 2 stepper drivers as well as a DC 24V 5A power supply. I'd purchased Marco's recommendations here:

http://www.lightobject.com/Mini-2-Phase ... -P650.aspx
http://www.lightobject.com/DC-24V-5A-Sw ... -P579.aspx

So the stock PS for the tube won't work? I noticed also the stepper drivers in the kit are only rated for 1.5 amp but the replacement motors are 1.8 amp, wouldn't that be a problem also. If the K40 III lasers from eBay are not even usable for parts, might as well build the one on Bulldog.net and get the parts here.

The stock Laser PSU should work okay for you, but quality and performance are a crapshoot. There are plenty of horror stories here, on CNCZone, and Sawmill about people's experiences with these. My advice: unless you're pressing this into service to support a business, replace the laser PSU and tube when/if they break. YMMV, but you're basically paying for an enclosure, tube, and functional XY table. If you get a stock laser PSU that doesn't go almost immediately apeshit, you're ahead of the curve.

The motor and driver ratings are for the upper range of each-- the drivers won't push more than 1.5A which won't exceed the 1.8A rating of your motors. Note: You'll be setting peak current on the drivers to .63A during the DSP upgrade.

-Tod

[wmgeorge]

Well I need to decide what I am going to use the laser for when finished. My initial plan was to port over some small designs from my CNC router work, which has been sold BTW. Now considering making one large enough to make a 12x24 size to make laser engraved wood signs.

I like the support and products he sells here and feel I could build that Bulldog.net open source laser.

IF I buy a K40 off eBay and the parts are cr@p why bother? By the time I buy the controller kit and new motors and etc, plus the K40 cost looking at $1200- $1400 total.

For that price I can buy quality stuff here and build the rest. Instead of a modified K40 that may be to small and not worth anything on the used market.

[Tech_Marco]

You may consider the Lite XY stage 600x400 for $225
http://www.lightobject.com/Lite-400600- ... -P715.aspx

What you need is:
optics kit $119:
http://www.lightobject.com/40W-CO2-lase ... -P551.aspx

DSP kit $580
http://www.lightobject.com/DSP-upgrade- ... -P758.aspx

40~60W laser power supply $215:
http://www.lightobject.com/20W-40W-60W- ... y-P72.aspx

40W laser tube (true 40W, not 32~35W from original K40): $269
http://www.lightobject.com/40W-CO2-Seal ... m-P46.aspx

DC power supply $65:
http://www.lightobject.com/Dual-DC-36V- ... -P712.aspx

Misc (cables, tubing, current meter, switch...etc): $50

Total: $1523 + S/H

I will offer $100 off discount for combine purchase. So, you're looking for $1500 for a complete 600x400 Laser system with 40W power.


Marco

[wmgeorge]

I just need to build the enclosure and add the skins?? You might have me sold... let me think and check my funding.

[Tech_Marco]

Kind of. Oh one more thing is missing: 600x400 honeycomb
http://www.lightobject.com/400X600-Hone ... -P706.aspx
$40


I think it is pretty much things you need to wrap it the DIY laser project

FYI, I do carry frame: http://www.lightobject.com/Aluminum-fra ... -P866.aspx
It is over-killed for the lite XY stage. It is better to use it for the XLE Pro XY stage


Marco

[wmgeorge]

On the gantry frame the Wave Dynamic Lite one do you have a detail on the bearings or wheels? Just wondering if its good enough or I need to save my money for a heavier duty. My guess its as good as the K40 eBay ones.

On the frame kit, if the bottom was left off (I have a heavy duty cart) so it would be a desktop model how much is that? Thanks again!!!!

More research at the Buildlog.net, is this the gantry frame that will fit in the 2.x frame?

If so I am thinking I need to start getting stuff ordered.