pic: Bit Buckets 2015 Prototype Drive Pod

[Bruceb]

Exactly what wood are you burning with your laser. I say exactly because I have access to a 160 watt laser and have tried cutting 1/4 Baltic birch and if it will cut depends on where I get it.
Some cuts real nice and some will only seem to cut to the glue line then just starts burning. So, if you have any details on what you are using it would be appreciated.
Thanks

[Amar Shah]

Originally Posted by Bruceb

Exactly what wood are you burning with your laser. I say exactly because I have access to a 160 watt laser and have tried cutting 1/4 Baltic birch and if it will cut depends on where I get it.
Some cuts real nice and some will only seem to cut to the glue line then just starts burning. So, if you have any details on what you are using it would be appreciated.
Thanks

Some plywoods have glues or fillers that don't cut well, which would explain it. 160W is otherwise overkill for 1/4" plywood.

[Bruceb]

Yes it will cut an inch of pine but not some plywoods.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by z_beeblebrox

We're using Killough drive, so robot speed is 1/sqrt(2) wheel speed. We also like the simplicity of a single reduction gearbox.


I'm not certain; I think 60 or 75 W.

I think a killough actually has a root2 speed up.

[s_forbes]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

I think a killough actually has a root2 speed up.

I hadn't put much thought into it, but I believe you are correct. Those modules will probably need another reduction stage.

[z_beeblebrox]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

I hadn't put much thought into it, but I believe you are correct. Those modules will probably need another reduction stage.

Likely true. I'll look into it today.

Originally Posted by Bruceb

Exactly what wood are you burning with your laser.

.25" 5-ply Baltic Birch plyood from Woodworkers Source.

[z_beeblebrox]

Version 2, ready to be cut tomorrow. Two stages of reduction, for an adjusted robot speed of ~10 fps. Adding a reduction stage only made it ~.25" longer and wider.



Our mostly complete chassis. This will also (hopefully) be cut out tomorrow.

[BHS_STopping]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

I hadn't put much thought into it, but I believe you are correct. Those modules will probably need another reduction stage.

I'm just taking the conservation of energy route.

Assume constant power output P. P = force * velocity (dot product used here). Since the force of the wheel along the direction of motion is effectively reduced by a factor of 1/sqrt(2), the velocity must increase by a factor of sqrt(2) to maintain that power output.

[Amar Shah]

Originally Posted by z_beeblebrox

Our off-season chassis took about 4 hours of laser time, including setup. This module took 9 minutes.

It's a pretty neat tool to have; we can make 2D parts faster than literally any other team.

Edit: At least as fast as any other team.

I remember reading your laser cutter is 29x17", but how powerful is it?