Laser Projector

[jf_allie]

For Thomas and all laser tinkerers,

I think a low cost ($500 and under) laser projector might interest a lot of Shopboters. Think about it, now you could see where your machine is going to cut. Sudently you're not blind anymore. You could easily position and orient your work piece (use those odd shape leftover), you could position your screw,clamp, or vacuum puck on a mark, etc. I think the ability to see the tool path on the workpiece would make the operation of a Shopbot much simpler, smoother, faster.

I don't think we would need aeronautics industry precision for it to be usefull.

So thinkerers, fire up your workbench. What ever you do though, hurry up cause the video projectors are getting cheaper by the minute...

Here are some links to what the big guys have access to:

http://www.carterproducts.com/product_list.asp?cat_id=7
http://www.lptcorp.com/
http://www.virtekvision.com/products_templating_lasercnc.asp
http://www.magestic.com/trulaser.htm
http://www.z-laser.com/zlaser_en/home/index_html

Here are some links for inspiration:
http://www.laservibe.com/?x=google1
http://www.holoshop.com/cgi-bin/start.exe/shop/lasershow.htm

[fleinbach]

I have a simple solution though not as sophisticated as some of the sites you mention. Last year at the local woodworker show, just a few booths from the Shopbot display, I found a laser attachment that will work on any tool. They had a demo of a drill press and a chop saw. The laser comes with a bracket that is held onto the tool with 2 screws. The laser is connected to a flex tube and is very easy to adjust the dot precisely where the center of the bit or edge of the saw blade will hit. I couldn't resist so I bought one, and your post just reminded me of that. I wasn't sure what tool I would mount it on but it looks like I'll do the Shopbot. There have been many times I wanted to know if the bit would land where I intended it to.

By the way it cost $29.95 and was sold by Home Tech Wood Specialties

[Brady Watson]

Frank,
I saw that too...right after I bought an identical laser pointer (sans the bracket) at my local kwiky mart for $5...came with batteries and different lenses.

-Brady