Links¶

This page links to various other sites, with similar or relevant projects, technology and general information.

Relevant technology¶

• CUPS printing system: this is the default printer-platform on both Mac and Linux: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CUPS
• PostScript universal printer language developed by Adobe. http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/PostScript_FAQ
• RepRap compatible G-Code: http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/GCodes
• Elegant multi spine motion controller: http://reprap.org/wiki/Elegant_multispline_motion_controller
• Ctrl-Cut: Another laser controller program, implemented as a Cups/Ghostscript backend, with laos support: https://metalab.at/wiki/Ctrl-Cut

Similar or related Open Source projects¶

• DIY laser system: http://nilno.com/cgi-bin/motion_control.cgi
• Lasersaur: http://labs.nortd.com/lasersaur/
• [http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/HBox_RepRap_Electronics this guy] is working on a mbed based RepRap compatible electronics (based on same LPC chip as our project) See pictures [http://www.flickr.com/photos/60976155@N07/5555749114/ here]
• [http://buildlog.net OpenSource Laser system] A complete open source design to make your own laser system. Includes some interface boards and (prototype) controller.
• 3D printable laser system on [[http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11653 Thingiverse]].
• A universal cartesian manipulator [[http://reprap.org/wiki/Cartesio_Base Cartesio]]
• Hall effect sensor PCB [[http://www.mauk.cc/endstop.html here]]
• [[http://kokompe.cba.mit.edu/ Kokompe:]] software for [[http://mtm.cba.mit.edu/ machines that make]] (MIT)
• [[http://www.synthetos.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page TinyG]] ATMega based CNC controller and software (drivers included)
• [[http://www.buildlog.net/cnc_laser/xmos_controller.html]] Using the XMOS controller to make a laser engraver

Hardware suppliers¶

• [[http://store.makerslide.com Makerslide]] sells linear guides, motors, pulleys, belts, and other nice bits and pieces for your build
• [[http://rs-online.com RS Components]] sells electronic components, like the connectors, MBED, etc.
• [[http://www.mouser.com Mouser]] sells electronic components, like the connectors, MBED, etc.
• [[http://www.farnell.com Farnell] sells electronic components, like the connectors, MBED, etc.
• [[http://www.futureelectronics.com/ Future electronics]] sells electronic components, like the connectors, MBED, etc.
• [[http://www.conrad.com/ Conrad]] Sells elecronic components
• [[http://www.sparkfun.com/ Sparkfun]] Sell kits and components (also pololu drivers).
• [[http://www.pololu.com/ Pololu]] sells stepper motor drivers and other components
• [[http://www.leadshine.com/ Leadshine]] sells stepper and servo motor drivers and other components
• [[http://www.stappenmotor.nl/ Stappenmotor.nl]] sells Laser tubes, Power supplies, stepper and servo motor drivers and other (CNC) components

Non open source alternatives¶

There are a variety of non open source solutions for the control of laser cutters and markers. There are two types of Chinese systems, the cheaper NewlyDraw/Moshisoft ones and the higher end (eg Leetro) with FPGA and TI DSP chips and SDRAM. They often only provide Windows support (e.g. not linux), not networked or no local filesystem. Being closed source, they are also not 'hackable'. Also for reference is the USA designed RetinaEngrave USB laser control card.

[http://www.leetro.com/english/sale/20.html Leetro MPC6515] used by most (over 90%) high end Chinese systems. 32mb SDRAM. Xilinx Spartan 3 FPGA. TI DSP chip. Has no print drivers, relies on CorelDraw/AutoCAD plugins that change with every new revision.
[http://www.lightobject.com/CNC-CO2-Laser-C11.aspx LightObject] - Leetro copy (imported but not made by LightObject). No Windows 7 x64 support. Still relies on plugins. No CorelDraw X5 support. No recent AutoCAD support (requires new plugin).
*[http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/RetinaEngrave.html Full Spectrum Laser LLC's RetinaEngrave] - Designed in USA with Windows XP/Vista/7 32-bit, 64-bit direct print drivers. 400MHz real time DSP. Supports any program that prints (Autocad 2011, CorelDraw X5, Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, MS Word, etc). USB Connected.D25 parallel port interface to standard 3axis CNC/Laser systems. Requires PC to work, not stand alone). LLC claims to provide a (closed source?) SDK to allow the creation of a Linux driver..
~