Just wondering if it is possible to remove the plasma cutter and replacing it with a laser cutter on my crossfire machine
He has got it dialed in, too. Just search laser swap at the top spyglass.
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You’re in for a bit of work, but it can be done. Bear SAFETY in mind… photon pixies are a lot more angry and willing to mess up your eyes than electron pixies.
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Yes it’s quite capable of running a laser. You will need to add a stand alone Capacitive Torch Height Controller for your Z axis stepper motor though. I am still working on mine as I’m not completely happy with it yet. The laser is very sensitive to distance from material but when you get it right it’s amazing. Couple things I learned the hard way. I am using a 3000watt Razortek machine and with it set to 2000 watts it completely destroyed the water pan. I now have a piece of 1/2 sacrificial plate on the floor under the machine as it doesn’t do anything nice to concrete either. Think lava. Do take the time to put a switch in your machine so that the trigger circuit is either under CNC control or the switch on the handle, not both at the same time. It’s to easy to have a screw up if there’s more than one way to trigger the laser. Always respect the laser! Also run the x/y axis as fast as the laser will cut. There’s charts online for material thickness and wattage. If you cut to slow it will not only try to weld your project to the slats it will also try and cut your slats in half. The little Miller pic is 1.2mm stainless. Cut time was about 6 seconds.
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Mits, Have you got some advice on putting a Capacitive Torch Height controller on for Z Axis control? I put a laser on my machine, and set a height that works OK for cutting, but, ideally, a way to control the Z axis would be better. If you have a guide, or a source for the hardware, I would be appreciative! Thanks.
I started working with one of these setups and I think it will work fine with a bit more fiddling. Unfortunately, we have moved and I won’t be able to build myself a new shop till spring so it’s on pause for awhile. If you go down the same route let me know how you make out.
Thank you!! Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving!
I use tabs to continuously allow ihs to get a new Z height. I am kinda new but have been happy with every 10”/12” cutting 22 ga ss.
With laser you can make tabs small enough that half of them break on their own when trying to remove part.
That’s a great workaround.