# DIY laser engraver!

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-laser-engraver/265630>\
**Category:** Shift518 Off Topic\
**Created:** [November 29, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-laser-engraver/265630 "2012-11-29T18:03:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ds50r](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ds50r/32/3491_2.png) [@ds50r](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ds50r)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-laser-engraver/265630/1 "2012-11-29T18:03:35Z")

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> **[Pocket Laser Engraver.](http://www.instructables.com/id/Pocket-laser-engraver/)**
>
> I have been trying to get my hands on a laser cutter for some time but they always seem out of reach. All the great things that can be done with a real laser cutter...

Found this to be pretty cool these can be built for about 200 in parts and lots of time! But it’s like a mini cnc!

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**Author:** ![toomanycamaros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@toomanycamaros](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/toomanycamaros)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-laser-engraver/265630/2 "2012-11-29T18:27:50Z")

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I guess it’s neat, but why would I spend 200 bucks to cut out little shapes from constuction paper?

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**Author:** ![ds50r](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ds50r/32/3491_2.png) [@ds50r](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ds50r)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-laser-engraver/265630/3 "2012-11-30T04:26:59Z")

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I think it’s a pretty cool project to work on, I guess you just have to be interested in the whole computer/production aspect of things, like I wish I could own a cnc machine but I don’t have the capital to fund such an item… So this is as close as I’ll get to something like that

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**Author:** ![capitalcrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@capitalcrew](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/capitalcrew)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 11:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-laser-engraver/265630/4 "2012-11-30T11:40:48Z")

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You can get pretty cheap desk top nc machines I think. Not sure

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**Author:** ![Boxersix](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxersix/32/6327_2.png) [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-laser-engraver/265630/5 "2012-11-30T17:49:31Z")

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All I need is a laser head and I have an 5x10’ laser engraver available for outsource use 😉

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**Author:** ![ds50r](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ds50r/32/3491_2.png) [@ds50r](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ds50r)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-laser-engraver/265630/6 "2012-12-01T18:22:20Z")

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Oh yea… Hahaha hmmmm

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**Author:** ![Boxersix](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxersix/32/6327_2.png) [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-laser-engraver/265630/7 "2012-12-01T19:18:18Z")

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Yeah a little diode from a DVD drive works on paper and vinyl graphics stuff. I looked in an 80watt co2 laser setup for the large cnc once but it was about $27K for an entire setup plus all the stuff I’d have to machine to adapt to my existing setup. Not economical for my purpose at te moment