{"id":4697,"date":"2016-06-17T10:43:53","date_gmt":"2016-06-17T15:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jtechphotonics.com\/?page_id=4697"},"modified":"2020-08-27T15:32:29","modified_gmt":"2020-08-27T21:32:29","slug":"openbuilds-c-beam-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jtechphotonics.com\/?page_id=4697","title":{"rendered":"Openbuilds – C Beam \/ OX Upgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>\"OpenbuildsInformation on Openbuilds C Beam OX Upgrade<\/h2>\n

Openbuilds has created a nice kit available on their website for a standard machine based off of their slot system and rails that they sell called the C Beam. \u00a0It is a very nice sturdy system that is not very expensive. \u00a0J\u00fcrgen Pflug has created a design for the J Tech Laser to integrate into the standard build. \u00a0We will go over this here.<\/p>\n

Besides the mechanical portion, you have the choice of a lot of controllers for the electrical section and also the software control. \u00a0An easy choice is to use GRBL and a GRBL based controller. \u00a0This being said, you can also set this up as a mach 3 machine. \u00a0So let’s get started!<\/p>\n

You can check out the compatible machines here in the\u00a0OPENBUILDS PART STORE.<\/a><\/p>\n

Mechanical<\/h3>\n

The Z axis has a mount for the spindle that can also accommodate a laser. \u00a0You can decide to put the laser in front of the spindle by tapping a couple of holes in the front of the spindle mount so you don’t need to remove the spindle or you can put the laser in place of the spindle. \u00a0In this case, the machine is a dedicated laser machine, so the laser will accommodate the position where the spindle normally is. \u00a0You can make your own mount or use the design that\u00a0J\u00fcrgen created.<\/p>\n

If you decide to make your own, the stl files for the laser and driver to create your mount are located on the product documentation page here: \u00a0DOCUMENTATION<\/a><\/p>\n

Laser Holder<\/h4>\n

There are two ways to mount your laser on the Openbuilds platform using their spindle holder<\/a>. \u00a0You can either make a mount to fit in place of the router or you can put it in the front of the router. \u00a0We show both methods here. \u00a0You can print them out with a 3D printer using the provided files, or you can buy the front mounted kit in our store here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. Front Mounted Laser Holder<\/strong><\/p>\n

We made a quick mount in sketchup to be able to mount the laser using the existing M5 screw holes in the front of the spindle mount.<\/p>\n

\"Openbuilds<\/a><\/p>\n

Mounting Diagram (click to expand)<\/p>\n

The picture shown below has the fan upgrade installed as well. \u00a0We use 6-32 5\/8″ screws to attach the laser to the mount. \u00a0The screw head goes on the back and the nut is placed in the front. \u00a0It is a very tight fit, so you might have to angle the screw slightly to get it into the nut on the top.<\/p>\n

\"Openbuilds<\/a><\/p>\n

Finished holder with laser and fan upgrade attached.<\/p>\n

You can download the mount here: \u00a0OPENBUILDS_LASER_MOUNT.STL<\/a><\/p>\n

Or you can buy it in our store here:\u00a0OPENBUILDS LASER MOUNT<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Custom Spindle Mount in Place of Router<\/strong><\/p>\n

This featured design includes the use of a CPU heat sink attached to the included laser heat sink. \u00a0The heatsink dimensions are ~52mm x ~52mm with 27mm fin depth. \u00a0It was a standard heatsink for a i486CPU that can be found online.<\/p>\n

It also has a standard 80mm x 80mm fan attached to the back of the mount to direct airflow towards the work surface.<\/p>\n

The link the the stl file is here: \u00a0LASER HOLDER STL<\/a> \u00a0(or click on the picture)<\/p>\n

\"Laser<\/a><\/p>\n

If you want to make modifications to the mount, then the AutoDesk Fusion 360 file is here: \u00a0Fusion 360 Laser Holder<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Laser<\/a><\/p>\n

Assembly instructions:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Print out the LASER HOLDER STL<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Tap holes into the CPU heatsink.<\/li>\n
  3. Place Laser onto heatsink using thermal paste and attach with screws.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"IMG_0628\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"IMG_0629\"<\/p>\n

    4. Slide the new heatsink\/laser assembly into the printed laser holder.\"IMG_0632\"<\/p>\n

    \"laser<\/p>\n

    5. \u00a0Put the laser holder into the spindle mount and mount the fan on top. \u00a0Route the wires to the laser driver attached in the back.<\/p>\n

    \"Laser<\/a><\/p>\n

    Laser Driver Holder<\/h4>\n

    You can easily mount the laser driver to the back of the Z Axis Gantry. \u00a0You can make up you own file or you can use this one here. \u00a0The STL file for the holder is here: Laser Driver Holder STL<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Laser<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"IMG_0637\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Electrical<\/h3>\n

    There are many controllers you can use with the openbuilds C Beam machine. \u00a0J\u00fcrgen decided to go with the CNC-xPro V2 controller<\/a>\u00a0using GRBL for his machine build.<\/p>\n

    You can use the standard version of GRBL from the Github site, or our version HERE<\/a>\u00a0for photo engraving.<\/p>\n

    \"CNC<\/a><\/p>\n

    Simply connect screw terminal D11 on the CNC xPro V2 board to the laser driver input terminal H2 or H4.<\/p>\n

    \"High<\/a><\/p>\n

    Software<\/h3>\n

    Using the GRBL version that is installed on the CNC xPro you can set your Min and Max RPM values (which control the laser intensity). \u00a0Add the settings:<\/p>\n

    $30 = 255 (RPM Max)
    \n$31 = 0 (RPM Min)<\/p>\n

    To control the laser, the commands will then be:<\/p>\n