Laser-Cutter

K40 Laser Cutter reference files tips and tricks I find along the way

My K40 Budget 40 Watt Laser Cutter

🐦 Twitter | 📺 YouTube | 🌍 mkme.org

Support this project and become a patron on Eric's Patreon.
Website, Forum and store are at http://mkme.org
Chat with Me: Discord

Full Video Tutorials here:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09NCmW545GQ

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWlT0pTP9GQ&ab_channel=MKmeLab

Unedited FULL mods video on my secondary channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVKLRsFHzNw

Making aluminum business cards (more info below) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9tuA0RBPQQ

Cutting gaskets on the K40 (more info below) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHzhOCS8cfI&ab_channel=MKmeLab

My Makerspace currently with the K40 and 3018:

BUY THE K40 HERE:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3aNWrWk

Excact same model: https://amzn.to/2QeDuEx

eBay (the one I bought shipped to Canada)http://ebay.us/CuD5Lm

and

http://ebay.us/NuIiGn

Upgrade Parts

Regulator: https://amzn.to/2VyB3P9

Air Hose https://amzn.to/2wKxexT

Drag Chain https://amzn.to/2KdnmQa

Aiming Laser https://amzn.to/3aaiPbL

Wood I use: https://amzn.to/3bfPQEX

Flow/Temp meter https://www.banggood.com/custlink/vGvRmZnHQk

Screw Mounted Analog AC 0-50MA Scale Range Milliamp Panel Meter https://amzn.to/328tQJj

4" x 4" 100mm Stainless Steel Lab Jack Scissor Stand Platform https://amzn.to/2OL3uKh

7.87X11.81inch Honeycomb Table https://amzn.to/3tkHhSg

Tetra aquarium heater https://amzn.to/3sgcQuY

Crimp terminals: https://amzn.to/32aFl2P

Hole Saw Kit https://amzn.to/3slzaUo

Laser Rotary Y-axis Roller, Laser Engraver Rotary Attachment for Engraving Cutting Cylindrical Objects: https://amzn.to/3CH1zuS

252-6 Belt for rotary atachment conversion to low profile https://ebay.us/ryeY1j

Supplies

Buy aluminum business cards https://ebay.us/qxsMzO

3mm Baltic Birch Plywood https://amzn.to/3pyELrw

Dollar store craft section is BEST!

My speeds & Power

• Acrylic Cut 50% 5mm/s
• 3mm Plwood Cut 60% 3mm/s
• Raster 11% 100mm/s

These %'s wont mean anythign to you. I run ~18mA cutting.

Awesome box maker site:

https://en.makercase.com/#/

Demo of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9_dl2OKkaQ

Export from Inkscape to Cut/Engrave:

Video Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wYvbenigtk

Select design

Object

Fill and stroke

Stroke paint

Slide red slider all the way right (for cut) Blue for Vector Engrave

Line width does not matter in K40 Whisperer

K40 Whisperer Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEUJQFAEDcE

How to cut PCB perf to make boards: https://youtu.be/e0ZzR-nFH4Y?t=494

-Note- corner buttons move head to respective corner location for your imported SVG- then back again

Gasket Making

Full instructional video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHzhOCS8cfI&ab_channel=MKmeLab

Take clear picture directly above gasket and import

Path>Trace bitmap> pick edge detection and tune

Options>suppress speckles (I had to use 500)

Click OK

Do any circles/cutouts

Instruction for resize to follow : https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/85077/how-do-i-resize-an-object-in-inkscape-to-an-absolute-sizeResize:

Select all >Object >Clip>Set

Make rectangle around everyything and size it in the top bar (constrain by lock symbol)

Select all

Uncheck fill if used

Select stroke instead

Size as needed

Save

Making Aluminum Business cards

Full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9tuA0RBPQQ

Buy aluminum business cards https://ebay.us/qxsMzO

Some fun cutting acrylic cases

Video: https://youtu.be/wjp8ZwIsNMQ

Export a DXF outline from Fusion 360 EASY

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Rf9v-Paa4