The BBC micro:bit Plant Watering project in MakeCode.
MAKE
THAT
LASER
BLAZE
114 makezine.com
What are the best
DIY upgrades to add
to your cheap K40
laser cutter? We
break it down
Written and photographed by Tim Deagan
SKILL BUILDER: K40 Upgrades
TIM DEAGAN
loves
combining digital fabrication
methods with old-school
making and crafting techniques
in Austin, Texas.
D
igital fabrication tools can run from
hundreds to many tens of thousands of
dollars. For makers interested in a really useful
tool at a relatively low initial cost with tremendous
upgrade potential, the generic “K40” type 40W
CO
2
laser platform is hard to beat.
Significantly more powerful than diode lasers,
K40 lasers can cut wood, leather, acrylic, paper,
and a range of other materials (generally up to
about ¼" thick, though that varies by material). It
will engrave on many more types of material,
though struggles with metal engraving. While
more powerful (and expensive) lasers can
outperform these capabilities, the K40 can be
significantly improved with end-user upgrades. In
almost all cases, applying every upgrade available
to a K40 still results in a less expensive tool than
moving up to a 50W or 60W laser.
For makers ready to move beyond diode laser
solutions, the K40 is a fun, affordable platform
ready for modification. Here are my
recommendations, based on upgrades I’ve done
to mine.
1
OMTECH K40
If you’re going to upgrade a K40, you need to
start with a K40. I got mine from OMTech, a U.S.-
based company that adds value to the purchase
of the general K40 model (for a price of course)
by checking the quality of build, components,
etc. Cheaper, nearly identical units are directly
importable, but often have component or build
challenges. This unit is absolutely functional out
of the box, but the platform is also a great base
for upgrades.
• Price: $450, Return on investment (ROI): 8
• Ease of installation (1=poor, 10=excellent): 8
• Link to part: ebay.com/itm/264443204036
• Instructions: k40.se/k40-laser-setup
• Recommendation: TOTALLY NECESSARY!
2
3MA ANALOG METER
This is an essential upgrade. The stock units
report power as a percentage of power supply
capacity, but this varies from machine to
machine. To be able to use cutting or engraving
settings from other people, the actual amperage
M81_114-19_K40upgrades_F1.indd 114M81_114-19_K40upgrades_F1.indd 114 4/12/22 12:57 PM4/12/22 12:57 PM
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