Laser for x y alignment

[bob_s]

I am planning to do a lot of 3d carving. I think most of it will involve jigs for alignment, but has anyone tried a little battery laser pointer to use for x y alignment? I was thinking about the idea of "air cutting" and wonder if a laser with a 1/4 or 1/2 dia shaft that would fit in the collet would allow me to align partially completed pieces with good accuracy. It might also allow for faster safe setup on large odd shaped planks. I am in the process of setting up an inexpensive construction laser on a little bracket to quickly find the high spot on these rough/twisted planks - pictures to follow once I get that done.

[lstovall]

Bob,
I use one (crosshair laser) all the time. Mine is offset from the spindle and programed so I just line up the laser for XY zero, hit the "Go to Laser Zero" button and the spindle is moved to where the laser was and the DRO's for X & Y reset to Zero. Then all I have to do is zero the Z axis where I want it, at the top of the material or the top of the table, depending on what I am doing. I have used it for "Air cutting" also to make sure my program will fit on the material. Mine is run from a 3 volt battery with a switch, attached to the Z axis. It's pretty crude but works like a charm and was cheap. I paid about $6.00 for the laser and $1.60 for the switch. The battery was the most expensive part, about $4.00 but you can use two AAA batteries which are much cheaper.

[bob_s]

Nice idea - I was wondering about the wasted time and difficulty of chucking it in the collet. Where did you find the crosshair laser?
thanks
Bob

[erik_f]

http://www.lasercenteredgefinder.com/

[signtist]

I put 2 of these little laser pointers from Harbor Freight Tools on the Z carrage rails just to find the "Rough" zero on my material.
It makes finding zero on the 2 axis much quicker.

[wberminio]

If your looking to zero 2 axis or even 3
check out the Super Zero!
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/15719/38694.html

Erminio

[lstovall]

Bob,
I got my laser on e-bay. There are hundreds on there from really cheap to really expensive. Just pick the one you like. Here's a link you can get 6 for $22.72 http://tinyurl.com/rxww7e

Here's one for $34.50 http://tinyurl.com/puspzz

[bob_s]

Sorry about starting a repeat thread - I would have found the old info if I had spelled laser in my first search instead of laZer. Well, it just proves that those poor grades I got in spelling were well deserved!

[dana_swift]

Woodcraft sells a "dual line" laser intended for use on drill presses. It can create a cross-hair line at the exact center of the bit so no offsetting is required. It runs on a 9v battery.

It wont get 0.001 centering (more like 0.01 or so), but for a lot of set-ups that is close enough.

I just mounted the thing on my router and adjusted each line to point back under the bit. That required rotating each laser line projector 180 degrees, not a big trick for anybody with an allen wrench.

Here is the link to the unit:

http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?ProductID=146709&FamilyID=5475

$40.99 currently (I think the price has gone up since I bought mine.) The ebay approach will be cheaper, and the idea can be the same. Just buy two laser line generators and mount them to create a cross exactly on the center of the router axis.

Hope that helps.

D

[erik_f]

http://www.k4mg.com/Hobbies/CNC/xyz.htm

This was posted on the forum with code for the routine...I built one for 97 cents.

[knight_toolworks]

the laser center edge finder is very nice. it is good for checking square or of something moves you can use it to check and make sure the cut will be in the right place. or if you need to check a cut placement it works well for that too.
my only complaint is it is too easy to turn on when not wanted and I have worn out several set of batteries because of it.

[harryball]

My solution...

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/28/41917.html?1242408712

/RB