Grad Student Invents Cheap Laser Cutter

An anonymous reader writes "Peter Jansen, a PhD student and member of the RepRap community, has constructed a working prototype of an inexpensive table-top laser cutter built out of old CD/DVD drives as an offshoot of his efforts to design an under $200 open-source Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printer. Where traditional laser cutters use powerful, fixed-focus beams, this new technique dynamically adjusts the focal point of the laser using a reciprocating motion similar to a reciprocating saw, allowing a far less powerful and inexpensive laser diode to be used. The technique is currently limited to cutting black materials to a depth of only a few millimeters, but should still be useful and enabling for Makers and other crafters. The end-goal is to create a hybrid inexpensive 3D printer that can be easily reconfigured for 2D laser cutting, providing powerful making tools to the desktop."

Re:As opposed to doers?

[KahabutDieDrake]

I don't know where they are sourcing that term, but "Maker" was used extensively by Orson Scott Card in the book 'seventh son'. I imagine it's a term they have adopted for use in the reprap community. Which makes sense, because it's highly applicable.

Re:As opposed to doers?

[cmiller173]

see also: Cory Doctorow's novel Makers http://craphound.com/makers/download/ [craphound.com] Decent read for when you want to escape reality for a while. Download-able in 12+ formats no DRM.

ahem

[bakamorgan]

I shall repeat what a wise man said at one time. "I want sharks with freakin lazer beams on their heads!!!!!" Now make it happen. or maybe some triceratops with nightvison goggles with laser guns on the side.

Re:Public School shop classes.

[spopepro]

I completely agree with everything you are saying. It would work great if our schools were populated with slashdot type students. Unfortunately, reality is otherwise. I think if you spent some time in schools you would be shocked at how apathetic they are when we get 'em.

However, I do think there is a serious problem with the direction schools are going with the use and teaching of technology. The emphasis has been on acquiring more and more computer workstations. Tech education now consists of word, powerpoint, and internet searches. Somewhere we (educators) need to turn it around and start doing better than just training end users.

Re:Public School shop classes.

[Dunbal]

By necessity the school has got to gear to the slowest.

      And that's where everything starts to go wrong. Instead of encouraging the stragglers to catch up, everyone is forced to slow down. In this environment not one slow-poke will make an extra effort - why should he? Whereas more than one above average intelligence student will get frustrated and/or bored and stop paying attention. Only the truly gifted come through such a process unscathed - but because they don't need "school" anyway. Put them next to a pile of books and provide a mentor to answer the occasional question, and they're fine in ANY environment. They live for learning and you can't take it from them.

Re:Member of RepRap?

[TheRaven64]

I think the recycling thing is important. I was really tempted by something like the MakerBot or RepRap when I saw them at FOSDEM, but I knew that my house would quickly fill up with random plastic crap if I had one. On the other hand, if I could just dump stuff I was bored with back in the plastic reservoir and have it melted down for re-using in the next thing I wanted, that would be really great. I'd love, for example, to be able to fabricate the right number of plastic plates, knives, and forks for a picnic, then just wash them and melt them down after use. The same is true for a lot of kitchen things. I have a load of mixing bowls all in different sizes. Some of them only get used once or twice a year. They take up space all the time though. For things like jelly moulds, they'd be fantastic - you could print a new shape every time.