My laser frame coming together

[mandy-apperkeeper]

The base:

Two 4x8 20ga steel sheets as the surface for work pieces to lay on

[knipknap]

What a beast! I am looking forward to seeing that cut! It looks like a residential building, how do you plan on dealing with the fumes of cutting fabrics?

[mandy-apperkeeper]

Here it is with the laser mounted and the steel sheets in place

The plan is to use a fume extractor for now, but eventually, im going to make a vacuum table for it that holds the fabric in place and evacuates the fumes as stuff is cut.

[knipknap]

Looks almost ready! Except for many hours of cabling ahead 😄

I'd be a bit worried about metal reflections damaging the diode in the long run...

[mandy-apperkeeper]

Oh i didnt even think of that. ive been running it on a flat metal bed for over a year and there doesnt seem to be any issues besides not evacuating fumes getting onto the final clear glass cover and killing it after about 12 months. i have the air assist now, but have to use magnets to keep the fabric from blowing around after its been cut.