8" Focal Length Lens

[David Somers]

Darren,

I finally got around to scratching out an idea for you. I was trying to come up with something that would not be too awfully labor intensive but would let you repeat the setup fairly quickly for each glass.
I stuck a scratched out drawing below. I havent had time to sit down and do something better looking on the computer so you get napkin scratching. Apologies!

My thought was that you use some mdf or whatever and make this jig. It rests on two rails that run front to back on your laser table, perhaps setting in the slots used for your knife edges. The key is that it is open beneath the rails. Pull your honeycomb table out.
The jig is attached to those rails. There is a base that can slide in an out easily on dados on either side of the jig. The fit should be loose so you can slide it very easily.
Pull the base out.
Slide a glass over the laser tube from below. Your 4" lens might be easier to work with but you could try with a 2" as well.
Slide it up over the tube, then slide the base into the dados and then let the glass rest on the base. The glass is now centered, and the inside bottom of the glass is at the focal point of the lens.
Do your engraving.
Slide the glass up and then remove the base.
Drop the glass down to clear the tube and slide a new glass up over the tube and put the base back into place.
Keep repeating this.

Not as nice as the video above of the Galvo with the powered conveyor belt!! <grin> But it wouldnt be too intensive to deal with in the interim till you can arrange for something better. It would also be a simple way to develop the concept without sinking lots of $$ into it.
I hope this gives you a good case of the giggles at the very least!!! <grin> And maybe the nucleus of an idea to play with.

Good luck with this! Sounds like a fun and interesting project for your business!!

Dave
Scan_20151123.jpg

[Darren Wilson]

Darren,

I finally got around to scratching out an idea for you. I was trying to come up with something that would not be too awfully labor intensive but would let you repeat the setup fairly quickly for each glass.
I stuck a scratched out drawing below. I havent had time to sit down and do something better looking on the computer so you get napkin scratching. Apologies!



My thought was that you use some mdf or whatever and make this jig. It rests on two rails that run front to back on your laser table, perhaps setting in the slots used for your knife edges. The key is that it is open beneath the rails. Pull your honeycomb table out.
The jig is attached to those rails. There is a base that can slide in an out easily on dados on either side of the jig. The fit should be loose so you can slide it very easily.
Pull the base out.
Slide a glass over the laser tube from below. Your 4" lens might be easier to work with but you could try with a 2" as well.
Slide it up over the tube, then slide the base into the dados and then let the glass rest on the base. The glass is now centered, and the inside bottom of the glass is at the focal point of the lens.
Do your engraving.
Slide the glass up and then remove the base.
Drop the glass down to clear the tube and slide a new glass up over the tube and put the base back into place.
Keep repeating this.

Not as nice as the video above of the Galvo with the powered conveyor belt!! <grin> But it wouldnt be too intensive to deal with in the interim till you can arrange for something better. It would also be a simple way to develop the concept without sinking lots of $$ into it.
I hope this gives you a good case of the giggles at the very least!!! <grin> And maybe the nucleus of an idea to play with.

Good luck with this! Sounds like a fun and interesting project for your business!!

Dave
Scan_20151123.jpg

Hi David,
Wow, that's a great idea, no need for apologies, the sketch and explanation are perfect! Easily done too by the looks of it. Will definitely give this a crack!
Kind regards,
Daz

[George M. Perzel]

Darren;
Stepping outside the box a bit, why not engrave flat glass discs and drop them in the bottom of the glass??
Best Regards,
George
Laserarts

[Dan Hintz]

Darren;
Stepping outside the box a bit, why not engrave flat glass discs and drop them in the bottom of the glass??
Best Regards,
George
Laserarts

Need to be big enough to avoid being swallowed. Once big enough, have to be thick enough to avoid being broken. Insurance issues with people potentially swallowing broken glass. They'd have to be anchored to avoid slopping to the top of the glass as you finish one off.

I could think of others, I'm sure.