Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ben Merrill on November 11, 2007 at 12:40pm

That's exactly the type of resource information I would expect to find on a site like this. Thanks Mike for offering up your services.

@Chris - Is there any way to put up a page about these types of things?

Ben Merrill

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike on November 11, 2007 at 2:03pm

Thanks Ben;

Just found the forum myself and actually have two clients here already that are developing UAS birds for comercial offerings. I'm just looking at keeping the machine busy and maybe helping someone get an idea from paper to plane.

This laser is truely amazing for building parts. I can engrave things like placards and panels, and cut things like ply, balsa, acrylic, teflon, and poly down to an accuracy of .0025" or so. I've made some really cool geared mechanisms and other assemblies too intricate to try to cut by hand. Imagine being able to cut servo gears and mechanisms from inexpensive materials at 80 in/sec. Pretty cool tool.

Anyhow... lemme know if you can think of anything.

- mike

• ▶ Reply

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on November 12, 2007 at 2:05pm

@Ben,

I do have a resource page here, but it's a bit of a catch-all. Do you think it should go on that, or is there a new category of services available to UAV amateurs that would be large enough to justify its own page?

Chris

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ben Merrill on November 12, 2007 at 2:11pm

@Chris,

I think the page you have would do just fine, perhaps under a separate subcategory.

Now that we know the page is there, perhaps those with resources can place comments directly there.

Keep up the good work!

Ben

• ▶ Reply

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on November 12, 2007 at 4:20pm

Done. It's linked on the front page (under the GeoCrawler links)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike on November 12, 2007 at 8:23pm

Hey thanks Chris. To be more specific, I only have the capability to do cnc laser cutting (as opposed to milling... can't do aluminum or steel). But, I do have a website if you wanted to link it (www.APlusMobileGraphics.com). Mostly just signage and laser engraving stuff... but folks can contact me there or I can set up services if someone is interested.

I'd really like to get involved with more groups designing ships, or perhaps providing short kits for stabilized designs. It's really fun seeing UAVs with my parts in them, and seeing the finished ships. :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by david albert on November 13, 2007 at 11:19am

Wow. That is really cool of you Mike! I have played with converting a Sherline mill to CNC and it is not that easy to make good parts. As far as laser burning balsa, what format do you need the drawings in? What is the easiest way to have you cut something up?
Thanks,
-dave

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike on November 13, 2007 at 7:03pm

Best format is DFX or EPS. Anything vector will work though.

Here's a link to some large parts I was cutting for a local guy here. It gives you an idea of how fast .125" balsa can be shredded u. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0NEHAIwvts



With air assist, it's a bit faster than in the video.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Larry Fultz on November 20, 2007 at 8:34am

Mike,
Are you able to cut aluminum .0625 and .125 inches thickness? I have a couple of projects that I have drawn that would be perfect for laser cutting.
Thanks,
Larry

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike on November 20, 2007 at 9:43am

Hi Larry;

No aluminum, sorry. My laser is a CO2 laser and does not affect aluminum much. I can cut wood ply up to about an inch, but metals require a YAG laser, waterjet or plasma.

- mike

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by wayne garris on November 30, 2007 at 4:02pm

hay mike !! its wayne from peak. and to anyone interested , i can say mike produces a fine product.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike on November 30, 2007 at 7:03pm

Hey Wayne....

Yep... have cut a couple of nice birds for Peak Engineering. Nice ships.

You guys keeping them in one piece I hope. ?

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page