By the way: The K40 Laser is supposed to be a 40W laser hence the tube is shorter. What you wanted is a K50. These machines are way bigger and more expensive.
I don't use antifreeze on my k40 even though it's in the room with no heat. I have a aquarium heater that's only 50 Watts. But to keep it from running all the time I have temperature control outlet that comes on when it drops below 50° f.
instead of masking tape I use transfer tape (signwriting supplies, usually used for decals) so much easier and way cheaper if you use a lot. the one that actually looks like masking tape, not the clear one, hope this is useful for someone. Easy to find online. 100 metre Rolls in all sorts of widths.
Awesome video! I would really love to see you increase the work area! I've been searching everywhere for a tutorial or even some hints on how to do it. Or if it's possible at all... So anything on that would be amazing! Keep up the good work!
Hi d9uglas thanks for thus video iv just ordered a mini gerbil or grbl however its pronounced lol, so I can use lightburn I would love a video on using the mini with lightburn using it and power settings etc lots of people would appreciate this as not very many videos on the mini out here also maybe a install video on it would be great too as you explain things great Thanks 😊
Great video, it was very informative. I wanted to know if you can provide links to the power supply and laser that you are using. I need to do this upgrade asap. And if or rather when find a way to extend the cutting area can you please made a vise with links to everything because I’d love to up grade everything on my k40. Thank again. Have you got an ig?
So you bought a machine and pretty much rebuilt it? Wouldn't it havd been cheaper to just build it from scratch 😅 great video tho, lots of good quality advice and information 💯
The kit i used was amazingly easy, really clear instructions on where everything should go - and was quite literally just "plug and play". Couldn't recommend it enough!
Thanks! In the UK it's not as easy to get "RV" antifreeze which is what most people recommend, so we need to work with what we have! I've been using this for almost a year now with no issues, I also use Tetra Algicide too, and so far haven't needed to change my coolant for months.
@@thorgersddd174 I'm thinking about an aquarium heater, or a home brew heating mat on a timer with the water pump in the rare event of frost here in Cornwall. I went for a UV light to kill the algae. Nice set up you have there. I'm working on better water cooling here.
Hello. This video was very informative. I just got my k40 laser for Christmas and have been looking for somewhere to get the upgraded lenses and mirrors. I would like to purchase from your link, however, I'm not sure the diameter of the lense or mirror I should purchase. Woudl you mind to provide the size that you purchased as replacements? Thank you in advance!!
Hi Kelly, thanks for your kind words! Means a lot, we have had a bit of hiatus over a very busy festive period but will be back on the videos shortly.. No problem regarding the mirror sizing - if it's just a standard K40 you should go for 12mm LENS, and 20mm MIRROR's. Please be aware of the difference in sizes between the lens and the mirror and make sure you order the correct way round! Any more questions, please ask! Thanks and hope all goes well with the K40.
Thank you very much for your video. Before viewing I wanted to buy a K40, then dismantled it to makes all the upgrades in one run. I realized that the remaining of the original K40 are probably just the enclosure, the guides and the perfectible mirrors and lens holders. I guess the cost of your mods are far above the K40's price tag. I heard you saying there's still a bunch of upgrades to do next. Thanks again because I realized building a whole 50w CO2 laser from the ground up, with the right components and the right build area would be less expensive. I guess also there might be a way to optimize a lot, for example the footprint and the fumes extraction. Of course tinkering a K40 is maybe a fun learning journey, but there's a lot of pros to skip the K40 step. I subscribe to follow you progression. Good luck 🙂
I know I'm probably a little late to give you any advice before you make your decision but I actually went through the same problem and actually went with the K40 instead of building from the ground up. The reasoning behind it was how expensive each mistake was going to cost. I had dimensional CAD models all ready to 3d print as soon as I had the time to start. When I priced out every single component, I had exceeded the cost of the K40 by nearly 2X. Add into that the fact that at that time I had never used a laser cutter and didn't fully understand the myriad of risks, I was on the short track to cutting corners that would have been very unsafe. Ultimately the decision to purchase a K40 was the correct one since it allowed me to get experience at a low cost of entry in time, money, and blood. Consider buying a K40 and then after gaining experience, use it to manufacture the parts to a second machine in the 100W range.
@@d3m0n54in7 well, it's just like to tell a newbie to get a wrong laser, then have a bad experience with it as it's not good out of the box, then when you payed twice the laser cost into upgrades, you're ready to pay more to build another one... This does not makes any sense to me. Why not buying a proper laser at the start as it will cost you mostly the same at the end, except you will not have any bad experience ?
@@axelSixtySix my k40 worked right out of the box. You don't have to add a bunch of upgrades I've only had to add air assist and replace a shattered lense. Still not the $900 pricetag to build a plastic machine that doesn't work half as well as the stock k40 did.
@@d3m0n54in7 you just said the contrary... If the K40 is good right out of the box, why did you spend twice the price tag into upgrades then building another 100w laser ?
@@axelSixtySix no, I was talking about how much it would cost to build one from scratch. I've only spent $500 for my machine and it's upgrades. I've had it for almost 5 years and it's still as reliable as the day I first plugged it in.
"This machine is sold as a 50 Watt Laser Cutter (10:10 - 10:12)". What country do you live in? I have never seen a K40 Laser marketed or sold as a 50 Watt Laser. They are marketed & sold as a 40 Watt Laser, however, the maximum output power is 35 Watts at best, with the cheap Laser Tube it comes with.
By the way: The K40 Laser is supposed to be a 40W laser hence the tube is shorter. What you wanted is a K50. These machines are way bigger and more expensive.
I don't use antifreeze on my k40 even though it's in the room with no heat. I have a aquarium heater that's only 50 Watts. But to keep it from running all the time I have temperature control outlet that comes on when it drops below 50° f.
instead of masking tape I use transfer tape (signwriting supplies, usually used for decals) so much easier and way cheaper if you use a lot. the one that actually looks like masking tape, not the clear one, hope this is useful for someone. Easy to find online. 100 metre Rolls in all sorts of widths.
Yeah I need to try that, this was just some cheap stuff I got on eBay to test out. Cheers for the advice 🤙
Thanks for the video. Question: Where did you get the yellow coil tubing?
Do you any info on the adjustable bed? I really want to add this to my stock case
I've been using MeerK40t as an alternative to whisperer until I can afford an upgrade.
Awesome video! I would really love to see you increase the work area! I've been searching everywhere for a tutorial or even some hints on how to do it. Or if it's possible at all... So anything on that would be amazing! Keep up the good work!
Here's a video with links on how to extend the bed size czcams.com/video/j20ZhxNnL-Q/video.html
@@mrsjessicawallace1 amazing, thanks! 😁
@@seafood459 You're welcome! I'm not quite sure if I've got the skills and the time to be bothered but the information is there.
Nice upgrades, where did you get that size recoil hose please?
Hi d9uglas thanks for thus video iv just ordered a mini gerbil or grbl however its pronounced lol, so I can use lightburn I would love a video on using the mini with lightburn using it and power settings etc lots of people would appreciate this as not very many videos on the mini out here also maybe a install video on it would be great too as you explain things great
Thanks 😊
Great video, it was very informative. I wanted to know if you can provide links to the power supply and laser that you are using. I need to do this upgrade asap. And if or rather when find a way to extend the cutting area can you please made a vise with links to everything because I’d love to up grade everything on my k40. Thank again. Have you got an ig?
Absolute brilliant mate great upgrades how much money was the total upgrades cheers
So you bought a machine and pretty much rebuilt it? Wouldn't it havd been cheaper to just build it from scratch 😅 great video tho, lots of good quality advice and information 💯
Do you sell your brackets that you have used for you tube ?
Great video! Man you did some terrific mods! You definitely have some skills. Subscribed. I will check out your othr videos.
Was it easy to fit the switch endstops to the mini grbl
The kit i used was amazingly easy, really clear instructions on where everything should go - and was quite literally just "plug and play". Couldn't recommend it enough!
Nice video. What Firmware did you use on you rmini-grbl?
Thanks Edward! Usually I try and always use the latest STABLE firmware possible.
Hey, nice vide. Does the antifreeze in the distilled water cause any problems? Is antifreeze conductive?
Thanks! In the UK it's not as easy to get "RV" antifreeze which is what most people recommend, so we need to work with what we have! I've been using this for almost a year now with no issues, I also use Tetra Algicide too, and so far haven't needed to change my coolant for months.
@@thorgersddd174 I'm thinking about an aquarium heater, or a home brew heating mat on a timer with the water pump in the rare event of frost here in Cornwall. I went for a UV light to kill the algae. Nice set up you have there. I'm working on better water cooling here.
Hello. This video was very informative. I just got my k40 laser for Christmas and have been looking for somewhere to get the upgraded lenses and mirrors. I would like to purchase from your link, however, I'm not sure the diameter of the lense or mirror I should purchase. Woudl you mind to provide the size that you purchased as replacements? Thank you in advance!!
Hi Kelly, thanks for your kind words! Means a lot, we have had a bit of hiatus over a very busy festive period but will be back on the videos shortly..
No problem regarding the mirror sizing - if it's just a standard K40 you should go for 12mm LENS, and 20mm MIRROR's. Please be aware of the difference in sizes between the lens and the mirror and make sure you order the correct way round! Any more questions, please ask!
Thanks and hope all goes well with the K40.
Have you a link to the ones you got for the mini grbl
Hi what do you call that yellow color tube Thanks
Air hose
how much money do you have in all these improvements total.
Thank you very much for your video. Before viewing I wanted to buy a K40, then dismantled it to makes all the upgrades in one run. I realized that the remaining of the original K40 are probably just the enclosure, the guides and the perfectible mirrors and lens holders. I guess the cost of your mods are far above the K40's price tag. I heard you saying there's still a bunch of upgrades to do next. Thanks again because I realized building a whole 50w CO2 laser from the ground up, with the right components and the right build area would be less expensive. I guess also there might be a way to optimize a lot, for example the footprint and the fumes extraction. Of course tinkering a K40 is maybe a fun learning journey, but there's a lot of pros to skip the K40 step. I subscribe to follow you progression. Good luck 🙂
I know I'm probably a little late to give you any advice before you make your decision but I actually went through the same problem and actually went with the K40 instead of building from the ground up. The reasoning behind it was how expensive each mistake was going to cost. I had dimensional CAD models all ready to 3d print as soon as I had the time to start. When I priced out every single component, I had exceeded the cost of the K40 by nearly 2X. Add into that the fact that at that time I had never used a laser cutter and didn't fully understand the myriad of risks, I was on the short track to cutting corners that would have been very unsafe. Ultimately the decision to purchase a K40 was the correct one since it allowed me to get experience at a low cost of entry in time, money, and blood. Consider buying a K40 and then after gaining experience, use it to manufacture the parts to a second machine in the 100W range.
@@d3m0n54in7 well, it's just like to tell a newbie to get a wrong laser, then have a bad experience with it as it's not good out of the box, then when you payed twice the laser cost into upgrades, you're ready to pay more to build another one... This does not makes any sense to me. Why not buying a proper laser at the start as it will cost you mostly the same at the end, except you will not have any bad experience ?
@@axelSixtySix my k40 worked right out of the box. You don't have to add a bunch of upgrades I've only had to add air assist and replace a shattered lense. Still not the $900 pricetag to build a plastic machine that doesn't work half as well as the stock k40 did.
@@d3m0n54in7 you just said the contrary... If the K40 is good right out of the box, why did you spend twice the price tag into upgrades then building another 100w laser ?
@@axelSixtySix no, I was talking about how much it would cost to build one from scratch. I've only spent $500 for my machine and it's upgrades. I've had it for almost 5 years and it's still as reliable as the day I first plugged it in.
The one thing you didn't upgrade is the size of the cutting area! That would be a bigger improvement.
"This machine is sold as a 50 Watt Laser Cutter (10:10 - 10:12)". What country do you live in? I have never seen a K40 Laser marketed or sold as a 50 Watt Laser. They are marketed & sold as a 40 Watt Laser, however, the maximum output power is 35 Watts at best, with the cheap Laser Tube it comes with.