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DIY Laser Cutter Raises Capital, Concerns
An anonymous reader sends this quote from Wired:
"Affordable 3-D printers and CNC mills are popping up everywhere, opening up new worlds of production to wide ranges of designers. However, one major tool still hasn’t received a DIY overhaul: the laser cutter. Maybe people are sensitive because Goldfinger tried to cut James Bond in half with one, but all that changes now with Patrick Hood-Daniel’s new Kickstarter, 'Build Your Own Laser Cutter.' ... A 40-watt laser tube and power supply means it can cut a variety of materials: wood, plastic, fabric, and paper. ... There is one major red flag, however. The machine’s frame is built from of Medium Density Overlay (MDO) — a type of plywood. Hood-Daniels says this is a feature, making the blackTooth less sensitive to thermal distortion and inaccuracy than a metal frame, but it also creates a serious, fire-breathing concern. ... When asked for comment, Hood-Daniel says 'Initially, I had the same thoughts as to the precarious use of wood for the structure, but even with long burns to the structure which were made on accident when starting a run, there was no ignition.'"
Well, theres the small problem that the reflection of the beam may still be dangerous. That's something most people don't think of when speaking about the dangers of high-powered lasers:
It's not only the direct beam you want to be wary of, but indirect sources as well. A friend of mine once got 3rd degree burns from the reflection of a high-power UV laser.
As a word of caution I should add that if you do this please always wear protective goggles. (Not that you shouldn't always do this when around a powerful laser anyhow).