norelem supports technicians in the construction of a CO2 laser

A 100-watt CO2 laser has been constructed as part of a project at the technical college in Munich. It is designed to enable the cutting and engraving of various materials such as wood, acrylic glass, glass and leather, as well as the engraving of steel and aluminium sheets with the aid of an engraving spray. The laser light is generated inside the laser by initiating a gas mixture of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2) and helium (He) using electrical energy. This is amplified inside the laser tube with the help of two built-in deflection mirrors. One of these mirrors is semi-transparent, where the laser beam emerges and is further deflected and focused with the help of further mirrors arranged at a 45-degree angle up to the focus lens on the movable X-axis of the laser. After emerging from the focusing lens in the cutting head, which is positioned above the workpiece, the laser beam has a much smaller diameter in order to be able to process materials precisely.

Aluminium profiles from norelem were used for the frame. They are lighter than square tubes and are easy to connect using slot nuts and corner connectors. The gas spring and pull handle allow the processing unit to be opened and closed. The X-axis and Y-axis, on each of which a deflection mirror is placed, are moved by stepper motors and linear guides for precise positioning of the laser beam. A norelem toothed pulley with toothed belt drives the trapezoidal threaded spindle secured with trapezoidal thread nuts, which in turn sets the processing table in motion. Two spline shafts, to which splined hubs with flanges are attached, are used to move the table along the Z-axis with high guidance accuracy. The energy chains from norelem ensure safe guidance of the power and data cables in the CO2 laser.

The CO2 laser cuts and engraves materials such as wood, acrylic glass, glass and leather. Various norelem parts were used in the construction, such as aluminium profiles, a toothed belt pulley, a trapezoidal threaded spindle and V-shafts.