My K40 (extended edition) finally works again!

[Jenna Nelson]

This is just a celebratory post that I finally got my revamped K40 cutting again.

My friend gave it to me when she moved overseas. I decided to gut it, externalise the electronics  make the cutting area wider, and while I was at it, I upgraded/changed the electronics to run FluidNC on an MKS DLC32 v2.1. After all the changes, I couldn't get it to actually cut- it would scorch but not cut.

I won't go into the litany of stupid that followed, but it's been sitting on my living room floor for 9 months because I got frustrated and couldn't keep working on it, but I couldn't put it away, or I wouldn't get it working.

Anyway, yesterday I realised I had mounted one of the mirrors incorrectly. Then, I spent many hours getting the alignment right, and finally, I got the height and focal length right, and it actually cut! Several times!

Oh, thank gosh! It's been a long time coming. I am so relieved!

Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/LbmzDBbmQkzNgtbR8

There aren't really any interesting ones, but you know, commemorating the journey.

Now to make it cut well and relocate it to its forever home in the shed!

Jenna.

[Max Nippard]

Congrats on finishing a big project.

 It's probably the most useful K40 ever with that bed size upgrade plus FluidNC.

Out of curiosity, what were you spinning in the can on the drill?

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Robots & Dinosaurs" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to sydney-hackspa...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sydney-hackspace/CAP9tiBR8b5GcsbB3UdnmoHPqpQu6D5A2m2Pv2hOXdz7vdbFUxw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Madox]

I want to know the answer too, or is that can an adapter coupler for the paint spray cans? :)

[gh...@shadowtec.net]

Great job on getting it going.
I just got me a 600x900 100w laser as a present for myself but cannot
unpack it until I move (way) out west.
The first upgrade will the air-assist where I will have a shop
compressor with a 50l tank and a couple of valves and regulators to send
about 3 psi when the assist is turned off and then it is on about 30 (so
it says in the video someone posted to me)

Have fun lasering stuff :)

73
Stephen

On 2025-08-02 13:30, Madox wrote:
> I want to know the answer too, or is that can an adapter coupler for
> the paint spray cans? :)
>
> On Saturday, 2 August 2025 at 9:11:38 pm UTC+10 Max Nippard wrote:
>
>> Congrats on finishing a big project. It's probably the most useful
>> K40 ever with that bed size upgrade plus FluidNC.
>>
>> Out of curiosity, what were you spinning in the can on the drill?
>>

>>> [1].

>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Robots & Dinosaurs" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to sydney-hackspa...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion visit

> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sydney-hackspace/14eb977d-db48-4944-8b16-1a6d3afa967an%40googlegroups.com
> [2].
>
>
> Links:
> ------
> [1]
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sydney-hackspace/CAP9tiBR8b5GcsbB3UdnmoHPqpQu6D5A2m2Pv2hOXdz7vdbFUxw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer
> [2]
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sydney-hackspace/14eb977d-db48-4944-8b16-1a6d3afa967an%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer

[Jenna Nelson]

Ah yeah, that's for shaking spray cans! There was a YouTube video about it and it works really well! Very quick and easy to make and use and support effective. I was a little sceptical that it would work, but it totally does. Just put the spray can in the tub, the tin in the drill bit using the current attached bolt then zap the drill a few times for a total of maybe 20s. The little shaker ball will zip around inside the can storing everything up. 

It's lazy, but I feel more confident that things are well mixed this way. 

Jenna

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sydney-hackspace/14eb977d-db48-4944-8b16-1a6d3afa967an%40googlegroups.com.

[Jenna Nelson]

Oh that's very exciting! 100W and the bed size will be nice!

I have used the the Laser Tools scripts in OnShape to create stools using layered 3mm  ply. It worked really well:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NAQMWPYYtZi8UXvr8

The pieces all joint together and then with a little glue and sanding the stool came out beautifully. (I made a few stools this way.) The same technique could be used to make bigger pieces but it did get increasingly complex!

Please do post photos when you unbox it, of love to see it and what you make with it. 

Jenna.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sydney-hackspace/c432998344cc5e7e1c870ca2d315498b%40shadowtec.net.

[Jenna Nelson]

(Sorry for all the typos, phone typing.)