Laser cutting of plywood at home. Cutting plywood. Prices for milling plywood cutting

The purpose of the article is to introduce brain mechanics to working on a CNC laser machine. Since I couldn’t find any articles on this topic, I decided that I would be the first to document the process :)

Step by step we will learn how to create simple things that are useful in everyday life.

Step 1. Idea

How to find what to do? You relax, meditate and BAM! The idea comes to you to create something. You already feel it in your hands, feel the weight, the roughness of the surface, the color. But it can also be completely banal - you need, for example, a hanger in your closet. That's what we'll do. Well, of course, we are not looking for simple (banal purchase) ways. We need something unique. By the way, another idea to quickly make hangers.

Step 2. Creation of a drawing/model, selection of materials

Everything is fine in your head... I mean your craft. Now we need to somehow convey this to the computer. They have been able to read, write, and speak for a long time, but as far as the transmission of thoughts and images is concerned, they have not yet been able to do this. Are looking for finished drawing for remodeling or create your own from scratch. The easiest way is to find a vector drawing on the internet and modify it. I used CorelDraw for this. The thickness of the outline depends on the material. We choose inexpensive 8-10 mm plywood for the hanger.

Let's add a few more hooks and arrange it all more tightly. There are special additions for arranging objects on a sheet, but more on them in the following articles.

Life hack: to avoid drawing hooks, the letters S were used :)

Step 3. Check dimensions, export

We check everything. We model the handling of the hanger, see that it fits normally on the crossbar in the closet and does not fall.

To avoid having to redo it, it’s better to check everything at once.

We save our drawing in dxf format (the most optimal for us).

Step 4: Setting up the machine

Click Import... select units of measurement: millimeters. Let's check the dimensions again. If everything is fine, they should increase slightly (by hundredths of a millimeter - this is to take into account what the laser will “eat”).

Then the cutting parameters. There is a table with the names of materials and cutting parameters, but as practice has shown, it is necessary to carry out test cutting on small area Anyway! Each line color can be customized different power and type of work. The screenshot shows the CUT (cutting) parameters for plywood with a thickness of 10 mm.

We have only 2 main parameters - passage speed and power. Again, it is IMPORTANT not to cut into maximum power, this will extend the life of the laser.

Step 5. Painting

The edges of the products are charred in the air, so we need to process them a little sandpaper. Then we simply cover everything with clear varnish from a spray can or paint it.

Video clip:

Ready!

Good luck to everyone!

mozgochiny.ru

Laser cutting of plywood as a business

The technology of cutting plywood using a laser makes it possible to obtain products of very high quality; modern CNC laser machines are capable of working with materials such as chipboard, plywood, wood, glass, stone, leather, etc. Laser cutting machines allow you to organize the production of a wide variety of products with artistic sharp, in fact, this is a promising laser cutting business.

On this moment The market for carved artistic products made of wood, including plywood, is practically empty, because laser cutting machines began to be used in production quite recently, and even then only a few; in most cases, carpentry shops operate on outdated equipment.

An example of a product laser cut from plywood.

Laser cutting of plywood: operating principle.

If you don’t go deep into terminology and speak in simple words, in laser machines the function cutting tool performs a laser, which consists of a glass tube filled with gases (Nitrogen, Helium, Carbon Monoxide), under the influence electric charge radiation is created in the tube, which, passing through a system of mirrors, creates a powerful beam of light capable of intensely heating the treated area (in this case, plywood), as a result of which the wood fibers instantly burn out. This is how laser carving occurs. various materials, while the cutting thickness is no more than 0.02 mm, which allows you to cut products with high precision.

But, laser method cutting has its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

• Precise processing small parts.
• Smooth edge during processing.
• Sufficiently high cutting speed.

Flaws:

• After laser processing, the edges of the product remain burnt dark brown.

Laser machine for cutting plywood.

A laser cutting machine consists of a working surface over which it moves laser cutter. The machines use numerical control; the carriage with the laser moves using stepper motors along two perpendicular guides, the “X” and “Y” axes. By using software coordinates are set for moving the carriage with the laser.

Laser cutting machines vary in power, productivity and the range of operations performed; depending on the configuration, they can perform functions such as engraving, milling, and cutting.

How does a laser cutting machine work?

CNC machines already have support for programs: CorelDraw, AutoCad, Adobe Illustrator; to work, you just need to connect the machine to your computer and install the drivers. You need to create a pattern in a graphics editor or process an already scanned image.

On work surface On the machine, the workpiece for processing, for example, a sheet of plywood, is placed and fixed, the machine is set up, and parameters such as the intensity and speed of the laser are indicated.

The video shows the machine in operation.

Laser cutting: what can you do?

Using laser machines, you can set up the production of a variety of products, cut and engrave souvenirs from plywood, boards, and MDF.

An example of a cut out artistic composition made of plywood.

These can be decorative items, artistic cutting, patterns, stained glass windows, picture and photo frames, elements of furniture and household items, souvenirs, refrigerator magnets, collapsible designs of ship and airplane models, construction toys for children, signs, photos on wood, lampshades for bedside lamps and table lamps, napkin holders, cutting boards for kitchen, menu, etc.

The video shows how a box is engraved and cut out on a machine.

Laser cutting of plywood as a business.

What is the price laser cutting? The cost depends on the linear footage of the cut and the thickness of the material, the average cost is $0.50 per linear meter cut. The length of the cut can be calculated directly in the figure using the program.

The business is quite promising; in fact, with a laser machine you get almost unlimited possibilities for cutting and engraving wood products. If you establish markets for products and find regular customers for artistic cutting then you can count on significant profits from laser cutting.

idei-biz.com

Cutting plywood with a Chinese laser. Creating G-code for laser cutting.

After purchase laser engraver experimented a lot. And I burned and cut, tried different programs. But it just wasn’t possible to cut the plywood. There were no problems with wooden blanks of the same thickness. But the plywood didn’t work. I thought that the reason was in the glue that glues the plywood together and gave up further experiments until one of my subscribers shared the link with me. http://mysku.ru/blog/china-stores/48299.html

The article described how the author cut plywood with a laser of the same power as mine, 5.5 W, and made various crafts. After carefully studying everything, I decided to resume testing. But with minor amendments.

And today we will take a previously prepared vector drawing and try to burn it out.

You can download this picture here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B6x0JsiBUva0amNTSzhxcFNNa0E?usp=sharing

Following the instructions from the video, we overlay the picture as many times as we need passes and export the picture to plt format. Then go to the site: https://sites.google.com/site/nikromsoft/home

And we download the HPGL2CNC program, with its help we convert our file into G-code. The settings should be as in the screenshot.

Once we have a file in nc format, we can open it in the Grbl Controller program. We set the settings as follows:

After this we can fire the laser and burn through the plywood. Here is the result.

Happy crafting!

shenrok.blogspot.ru

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Plywood is one of optimal material decor. In addition to its performance qualities, it is easy to process. However, mechanical figure cutting does not always give the desired result. Therefore, plywood laser cutting machines were developed. This is innovative technology, allowing you to make complex three-dimensional drawings and patterns.

Plywood laser cutting technology

Point thermal effect on decorative natural material partially destroys it. This occurs due to the formation of plasma, similar to arc welding. However, the plywood does not melt, but burns out.

The main component of the machine is the laser installation. It generates concentrated radiation that affects the material. For this purpose, CO2 lasers are used. Semiconductor models do not have sufficient power and can only be used for artistic burning.

The procedure for performing shaped laser cutting of plywood.

1. Creating a drawing. Depending on the capabilities of the equipment, this can be done electronically or you can apply the pattern to the surface yourself.
2. Selecting cutting mode. The determining parameter is the laser power. It depends on the thickness and structure of the plywood. If the degree of heating is exceeded, the width of the cut will increase.
3. Formation of the drawing. Its speed is affected by the laser power. The higher it is, the faster the process is performed. However, this increases the area of ​​darkening at the edges.

This general description technology, which can be changed depending on the parameters and functionality of the equipment. Average power laser installation is about 20 W. It directly depends on the thickness of the plywood and the complexity of the pattern.

For work, it is best to use automated CNC wood processing centers. This will increase accuracy and improve productivity.

Features of cutting plywood with a laser

The main disadvantage of this type of equipment is its high cost. A number of advantages that are not possible with mechanical processing make laser wood centers very popular. They are used to complete production and are used to perform small amounts of work at home.

The defining advantage of laser cutting is the thin seam on the wood. He might be a little larger diameter beam. This way, maximum detail is achieved and the result matches the original layout exactly.

This technology has the following features:

• A slight darkening appears in the area affected by the beam. This is inevitable, but can be mitigated by painting or varnishing;
• no mechanical effort is required for cutting. The process does not involve surface deformation, which is typical for classical processing methods;
• The quality of work is affected by the composition of the wood. It is not recommended to use sheets made from coniferous species. They contain a large number of resins that, when evaporated, affect the appearance.

For large production volumes, it is necessary to provide a vapor extraction system. This is done using local ventilation. The absence of chips significantly softens the requirements for working conditions when cutting plywood with a laser machine.

The surface of the processed material is first cleaned of dust and dirt. The presence of varnish, paint or similar decorative and protective compounds is not allowed.

List of cutting equipment

To complete a professional production line, it is recommended to purchase specialized equipment. But in addition to the laser installation, it must contain other components.

To ensure maximum automation of work, the laser head must move freely along the length and width of the wooden surface. To do this, install a special carriage that moves along guides.

In addition, the following components are required for normal operation:

• block electronic control. It controls the operation of the laser, gives commands for its movement relative to the sheet;
• combustion products exhaust system. Despite their small number forced ventilation the concentration of harmful substances will quickly increase;
• interface for entering information - drawing, machine operating modes, etc.

To perform a small amount of work, it will not be practical to purchase expensive equipment. The best option- use the services of specialized manufacturing companies. In this case, you only need to correctly draw up the design and select the material on which it will be applied.

In the video you can see an example of how the machine works to form a pattern on the surface of a plywood sheet:

Review of ready-made machine models

If you want to purchase laser machine for cutting plywood, then pay attention to their difference in power:

• desktop. Designed for work at home or in a small workshop with small workpieces. Power up to 80 W, price from 50,000 rubles;
• professional. Used in small businesses in the production of designer jewelry, engraving, and cutting materials to size. Power up to 195 W, price from 150,000 rubles;
• industrial. Used on high power and throughput production lines with increased requirements for quality and precision of work. Power from 3000 W, price from 450,000 rubles.

Let's look at machines from different price categories.

From 10r/meter of cut.

We process not only plywood, but also numerous wooden surfaces, such as oak, beech, ash, pine, etc. But plywood is an excellent material for processing with high flexibility parameters. Cutting wood and plywood with a laser involves a thermal effect on the material, as a result of which the cut is processed by combustion. Cutting plywood and wood with a milling cutter is carried out using a high-precision CNC milling and engraving machine. Both processing methods have a number of advantages. The choice depends on the idea of ​​your final product and the layout. Shaped cutting wood requires skill and excellent creative abilities, then the finished products acquire a finished aesthetic appearance.

Shaped cutting of wooden and plywood surfaces

Shaped cutting of wooden and plywood surfaces has a number of features depending on the properties of the material, its thickness and size. Standard sizes plywood sheet - 1525 x 1525 mm, 2440 x 1220 mm, 3000 x 1500 mm, thickness can vary in the range of 3-40 mm. We offer for manufacturing finished products only high-quality raw materials - FK and FSF, grades 1\2, 2\2, Ш2. The materials used are free from knots and irregularities, and careful double-sided grinding guarantees the production of aesthetic and attractive products.

1. Principle of operation
2. Possibilities
3. Manufacturers and service

The industry responds to consumer demands and offers many options for functional processing and cutting equipment different materials: wood, metals. Moreover, devices often combine many necessary and not so necessary functions, which allow you to save space by combining several machines into one. Modern woodworking shops are now almost always equipped with a machine for laser cutting of plywood and wood.

Principle of operation

The main working tool of the device is a laser, a high-power beam of light. When directed at a wooden product, the contact area becomes very hot and the fibers of the material simply burn out. Thus, non-contact laser carving occurs. U different models The beam power may fluctuate. The scope of application of the device depends on this parameter:

• Low-power laser machines are used for woodworking;
• More intense radiation serves to cut more hard materials– metals, natural and artificial stones.

Advantages of this processing method:

1. The edges are perfectly smooth and do not require additional processing;
2. Can process products of any size and shape;
3. The devices are easy to operate manually and automatically;
4. Precise work down to the smallest details and strokes.

The disadvantage of laser cutting and engraving of wood is that the processing areas remain scorched, dark brown and black in color. For natural material a natural shade is not critical; often manufacturers do not process the ends because of their finished appearance, combined with the main background. Another nuance not in favor of the equipment is its high cost, although it depends on the configuration, functionality, size and power of the machine.

Possibilities

What can you do using the laser machine:

Depending on the equipment’s contents, functions are present in different quantities, which, accordingly, affects the cost.

Which machine to choose: studying the varieties

Laser machines are divided into types according to several principles.

According to functional load:

1. Laser engraving machine produces a weak beam of light, which is enough for engraving and burning. By increasing the wavelength, the machine can cut plywood sheets.
2. A laser-milling machine for cutting plywood with increased light beam power can cut wood and create grooves on products. Often you can use it to engrave by simply setting the laser to this function.

By type of control:

1. Wood cutting machine manual control the cheapest and easiest to use. With its help, they create products that are unique in their kind.
2. CNC significantly increases the cost of equipment, but also improves the quality of manufacturing absolutely accurate designs and shapes. Just set the program and the machine will do everything itself. For the most part, such installations include both control methods.

By power and size:

1. The laser engraving desktop device with a low power of up to 80 W is compact and can be placed in a small workshop or at home. The installation is suitable for creating small souvenir products; the machine can engrave and cut thin plywood.
2. A professional laser engraving and cutting machine produces a power of 80-195 W. It has increased dimensions and is used in the woodworking and furniture industries for the production of serial products and cutting out precision parts. The cost of such a device starts from 150 thousand rubles.
3. An industrial wood laser cutting machine can cut, sharpen, engrave and much more. It has impressive dimensions and is used in large woodworking workshops.

Manufacturers equip the equipment with various functions that affect the cost of installation and replace the use of additional tools that facilitate the processing process:

• Chiller is a device for cooling the laser tube. It is necessary during prolonged operation of the machine to normalize the temperature of the working parts of the equipment. It works on the principle of a secondary casing with circulating water connected to a pump. If the machine is not equipped with such a device, it must be purchased separately. Cost from 30 thousand rubles.
• A blowing system for the cutter and engraver is needed to reduce the temperature of the cutting and burning area in order to avoid excessive charring of the seam. In addition, dust and debris are constantly blown away from the workplace, which improves work comfort and production quality.

The choice of a laser machine is determined by the needs for its power and functionality. For large-scale production, it is not advisable to purchase a small desktop unit, just as it is not advisable to install a professional or industrial unit for your home.

Exist universal installations, capable of working with metal, wood, PVC and performing various operations: engraving, cutting, milling. The cost of such installations is high and it is advisable to purchase them only for large-scale production.

We present a table with three popular models of machines of different configurations and power:

As you can see, increasing the laser power for a machine affects the cost of the equipment and its functionality. Manufacturers offer modifications of similar units with different sets of functions; the price and quality of products may differ significantly from those presented.

Manufacturers and service

Manufacturers offer engraving machines for laser cutting of wood and processing products different countries: Russia, Japan, European countries. It cannot be said that they differ significantly from each other, but the representatives have their own characteristics.

A prominent representative of Russian developers is the NPF “Lazers and Equipment”, Zelenograd. The company produces machines of different functionality, the products are relatively affordable.

Japanese brands Koike and Mazak produce equipment that is easy to operate both manually and automatically.

European brands Trumpf, ESAB, Bystronic provide the most diverse functional equipment with for a long time services. The units are designed for processing wood, metals, acrylic and other materials, both specialized and universal.

Reliable manufacturers provide a guarantee on their products. High-quality devices serve without interruption for years; adjustment of the laser device is rarely done if necessary.

Laser cutting is far from new method artistic treatment wood, which immediately gained immense popularity from the moment it appeared. In comparison with a similar process performed manually with a jigsaw, this method demonstrates a number of advantages, the main of which is the speed of work with its high accuracy, provided by modern multifunctional equipment.

Also, laser cutting and engraving of plywood allows you to achieve a unique design that is distinguished by aesthetic appeal and beauty, while the cost of the service provided by a professional craftsman using expensive equipment is affordable for most customers. The minimum cutting width here does not exceed 0.01 mm, which is practically impossible when processing wood with hand tools.

An example of cutting plywood with a laser:

Laser cutting technology involves the directed impact of a laser beam on plywood, which allows you to create a cut of varying complexity and configuration. This method is non-contact and consists of increasing the temperature at the point of contact of the beam with the wood, after which the material is removed by evaporation.

The use of equipment, which in this case is a laser machine, guarantees perfectly smooth edges after processing, which is very important when cutting artistic elements and complex openwork patterns. There is completely no wood dust and shavings, which cause a lot of inconvenience to the carpenter. In the process of cutting wood with a laser under the influence of high temperatures In places where it is cut, the plywood usually darkens, which can be regarded as both advantages and disadvantages of the method; here it all depends on the artistic vision of the master. If necessary, this feature can be eliminated by equipping laser machines with a ventilation and blowing system that removes combustion products.

Operating principle of a laser beam

To obtain a laser beam, it is necessary to use a tube made of gas and a mixture of helium, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. When voltage is applied, directional monochrome radiation is activated, carried out using technological mirrors. Experienced craftsmen They cut wood with devices whose power starts from 20 watts, but amateurs at home often use less powerful equipment. As mentioned earlier, the accuracy of laser cutting of wood is very high, and the given design turns out to be almost jewelry-like.

To achieve smooth and clear edges of the pattern according to the specified parameters without the application manual labor, it is enough to install the appropriate program. Minimum size laser beam in combination with numerical programs allows you to carry out the process of cutting plywood with a laser in a matter of minutes. Modern machines equipped with CNC only require the master to draw up a sketch, while wood cutting itself is performed quickly and easily in automatic mode.

Additional components

Based on the type of configuration, equipment used for laser cutting of non-metals can be divided into units with and without numerical control programs. There are also additional devices that optimize cutting, processing and manufacturing of parts. Devices that expand the functionality of laser machines are:

• chillers that organize the cooling process of a glass laser tube through which a gas mixture is supplied. To ensure optimal temperature regime, the tube is closed with a kind of shell through which coolant circulates, and the device itself consists of a water pump, water and freon;
• blowing systems that remove combustion products, so that the plywood in places of contact with the beam does not darken, and the products acquire an attractive appearance.

Please note that laser cutting of MDF or any other wood material requires continuous cooling of the focusing lens, but such a system is not additional option and is necessarily present on all types of machines without exception. The cost of the professional chillers discussed above is quite high and starts at $500.

Often home craftsmen make a cooling system themselves, using a pump to pump water. Thanks to this technique, laser cutting of veneer, plywood, MDF or chipboard will be available without unnecessary financial expenses. By the way, a standard job of cutting non-metals can require over one hundred liters of water. If possible, it is advisable to replace water with freon, which is more suitable for such purposes, which will be significantly more efficient.

Laser cutting process

Quality production decorative elements, where laser cutting of MDF is used or other wood materials, impossible without modern equipment, which is subject to high quality requirements. The process itself cannot be called simple, because it requires attention and artistic talent when creating sketches. An equally strict requirement is imposed on the surfaces being treated. The plywood should not contain any flaws in the form of cracks, chips or other flaws, otherwise the result may be disastrous, and the master will make his efforts in vain.

Laser cutting of veneer, as well as processing of any wood using a point light beam, can be carried out using both manual and automated equipment. Despite the fact that in this case the surrounding space is not polluted by shavings and wood dust, some inconveniences are still present. The thing is that such production is associated with a heating process, due to which the cutting laser ray burns the tree and, as a result, emits smoke. That is why you should not allow acrid smoke to fill the room, making sure to provide an exhaust system. Also, laser cutting of plywood can provoke minor fires, and in order to avoid a fire, it is better to place a container of water nearby in advance, which will come to the rescue in case of an unforeseen circumstance.

Materials, products and prices

The laser cutting method is specially designed for processing plywood, and indeed any wood, in order to give it decorative effect. For example, laser cutting of MDF can turn an ordinary unsightly workpiece into a masterpiece of carpentry art. In addition to the production of interior elements, this technique allows you to process wood in the production of souvenirs and gift products. There are a huge number of products, the main material of which is inexpensive plywood, however high level The quality of laser processing transforms a primitive workpiece so much that it looks like a precious exclusive item. The most popular items in this product category include all kinds of stands, panels, photo and painting frames, boxes, vases, etc.

Having a laser machine in his arsenal, a master will be able to regularly create unique, original items for sale or for personal use, but what should those who do not have special equipment or lack the necessary skills do? The answer is obvious. They can cut wood with a laser in hundreds of workshops that work according to the customer’s sketches; you just need to voice your wishes. This service is quite affordable, and on average its cost is 30 rubles per linear meter with a material thickness of 5 mm.

Table: Prices for laser cutting services provided

Price fluctuations in one direction or another are directly affected by the thickness of the wood, molding and complexity of the pattern.