Adjustable table for laser engraver

[lew]

When I bought my little laser engraver, I didn't really think things thru about how/where I was going to use it. Setting up to engrave different turnings is a challenge. Partly because the laser's working area is pretty small and partly because of the limited focus distance.

 

I mounted the laser on a sub-base so I could clamp it to keep it stationary, but focus adjustments were challenging. Eventually I mounted the laser on my bench drill press. Using the drill press table height adjustment, the box I made for the laser storage and scraps of wood I could get the settings pretty close. Making the critical last focus adjustments meant trying to reach around the setup and tweaking the drill press table crank- a real pain because of the location.

 

I thought if I could make an adjustable, axillary table with a more easily accessibly adjustment control; then I could set the drill press table to a height close to what I need. Then use the axillary table  for the precise location. In hind sight, I would have saved a lot of wasted materials had I drawn this in Sketchup first. The "scissor lift" mechanism is the second version (first version seen in the pieces above/left in first picture). Fortunately, all the materials came from scraps and hardware already in the shop.

 

Without the table and lead screw-

 

 

4 angles

 

 

 

 

 

From the top-

 

 

Works pretty good. Haven't set up the laser yet to actually do engraving. The lead screw is 1/4 x 20 all thread.

Edited November 6, 2023 by lew

[Grandpadave52]

Most excellent Lew.Looking forward to seeing the laser in place along with some burn photos.

[Cal]

8 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Most excellent Lew.Looking forward to seeing the laser in place along with some burn photos.

 

X2

[HandyDan]

Nice Lew.  I was thinking a car scissor jack would have saved you some time.  Then I thought your creation is probable more stable.

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

Very clever, well done!

[lew]

Thanks for all of the nice comments! Will try to engrave this week and post an "action" shot.

 

1 hour ago, HandyDan said:

Nice Lew.  I was thinking a car scissor jack would have saved you some time.  Then I thought your creation is probable more stable.

 

I considered that but I'm a cheap frugal person. Even researched premade lift tables but for as often as I'd use them, this was probably the most cost effective route.

[Gerald]

12 hours ago, lew said:

 

I considered that but I'm a cheap frugal person. Even researched premade lift tables but for as often as I'd use them, this was probably the most cost effective route.

Did you add your time into that formula for the cost? That is one cool idea for a lift adjustment. Just thinking you need a spinning handle like on lathe tailstock to turn your screw drive more easily to adjust.

[lew]

49 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Did you add your time into that formula for the cost? That is one cool idea for a lift adjustment. Just thinking you need a spinning handle like on lathe tailstock to turn your screw drive more easily to adjust.

I like that handle idea! Pulled the one I used from a box of old jig parts 

[KevTN]

Lew your creativity is insanely good!! That is a great idea...What type of laser do you have? 

[DRAGON1]

Gotta hand it to you. That's one slick setup.!!!!!

[lew]

2 hours ago, KevTN said:

Lew your creativity is insanely good!! That is a great idea...What type of laser do you have? 

It’s an Ortur small desktop. 

[4DThinker]

Looks like it works.   The one thing about lasers is that they don't exert any force on the part they are engraving.  Just be sure not to bump the lift or the drill press while in progress.   Every now and then I get distracted with the thought of buying a laser engraver to mark/label my projects with.  Then I remember that I can get a custom wood burning engraving head if I want all my labels to be the same for considerably less. Then I remember I can get a custom stamp made for the same job and even less than the wood burning head.   Then my mind drifts away to other things. 

4D

[Grandpadave52]

1 hour ago, 4DThinker said:

Then my mind drifts away to other things. 

You got squirrels in your yard too I take it?

[4DThinker]

Rabbits, foxes to bother the rabbits, neighborhood cats to nap on my deck chairs, and a few other critters have been seen in my yard,  I have to confess though that I've never seen a squirrel in my yard. No doubt they prefer the city park a few blocks away.  

4D

[lew]

12 minutes ago, 4DThinker said:

I've never seen a squirrel in my yard.

I'll send you some of mine!

[4DThinker]

3 hours ago, lew said:

I'll send you some of mine!

The big owl that likes to park on the limb outside my bedroom window would appreciate that.  Might be the predators that have scared away the local squirrels. 

4D

[lew]

We have an abundance of red tail hawks that help keep the population down but also red oak trees that keep the squirrels fed.

Edited November 8, 2023 by lew

[DAB]

ah, now i understand how everything comes together.  didn't get it first time around.  so you need to finely control the distance from the laser to the work, so it focuses properly.

[lew]

39 minutes ago, DAB said:

ah, now i understand how everything comes together.  didn't get it first time around.  so you need to finely control the distance from the laser to the work, so it focuses properly.

Yes, exactly! My laser is called "fixed focus" so the object to be engraved properly needs to be an exact distance from the laser lens. The drill press table worked but the gearing was such that the slightest rotation of the handle was almost too much to get the proper focus. Also the drill press adjustment handle was blocked by the laser/object position and very difficult to reach without disturbing the setup.

[DuckSoup]

 Thanks for the picture @lew, I didn't understand how the lift table & the drill press worked together, but the picture made it perfectly clear. A well thought out plan.