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CIY CNC Laser Tube Cutter

Open-source, affordable laser tube cutting—designed for the global DIY engineer.

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Why This Project? Inventing With Community

“As a maker, I've always believed that advanced fabrication tools shouldn't be locked behind enterprise paywalls or proprietary boxes. The CIY CNC Laser Tube Cutter grew from a simple question: Why can’t passionate hobbyists or small shops everywhere shape custom tubes, frames, and ideas with the precision of industrial labs? I’m here to break the barrier one open-source build at a time.”
— Your Project Host, diyengineer.org

At the heart of the maker revolution lies collaboration and access. Too often, the right digital tools—for cutting, joining, and inventing—are out of reach for creative individuals, educators, and community spaces. By developing and publishing a fully open-source, affordable CNC laser tube cutter, I aim to democratize metalworking, robotics, and prototype fabrication—removing barriers, igniting local manufacturing, and giving back to the DIY world that taught me so much.

If you’ve ever dreamed of building bike frames, experimental drones, artistic metal lighting, or ultra-precise robotics scaffolds—but been shut out by cost, skill, or lack of industrial space—this project is for you. Your support will turn imagination into real, shareable hardware.

Features & Benefits

Feature	Benefit
CNC Fiber Laser (customizable wattage)	Precise, clean cuts on mild steel, aluminum, stainless tubes (and more)—outpacing plasma or manual saws.
DIY Modular Chassis & Open Control Stack	Repair, upgrade, or scale your cutter—no vendor lock-in. Full plans for CNC, 3D printing, and hand tools.
Automated Rotational Chucks (Grip Range: 10–220mm+)	Consistently holds tube stock for round, square, and other profiles. Enables accurate repeat-work.
Integrated Z-Axis Control	Dynamic focus height adapts to bent tubes and shapes, minimizing errors and waste.
Fusion360/InkScape/LibreCAD File Compatibility	Design and import complex patterns or cuts with your favorite open or commercial CAD tools.
Planned Community Upgrades	Roadmap includes DIY assembly guides, Raspberry Pi/ESP32 integration, and safety interlocks for makerspaces.
Affordable BOM: Starting Around $4680 (Target)	Kits will cost 80% less than commercial systems. Bill of materials and vendor links included for all tiers.

Why does this matter? Unlike generic “budget” machines found online, the CIY CNC Laser Tube Cutter prioritizes repairability, low running costs, and owner-control. All documentation, source code, and update discussions will remain open—so the community can shape the future of small-shop digital metalworking, together.

Technical Specifications (Prototype v1)

Component / Spec	Detail
Laser Type	Fiber (Raycus/Max), 2 1500-3000W, customizable
Cutting Area	6200mm (L) × 220mm (Diameter)
Supported Tube Profiles	Round, square, rectangular, angle, I-beam, custom profiles
Chuck System	Electric Front + Electric Rear (10–220mm capacity)
Motion	X/Y/Z axis using open-source stepper/servo control (CNClinux Eathercat compatible)
Control Panel	TFT Touchscreen / PC connection (USB/WiFi)
Recommended Software	LightBurn, Inkscape, or custom G-code post-processor
Dimensions (Frame)	Actual build: 7.5m x 0.6m x 0.56m (custom variants supported)
Safety	Full enclosure, E-stop, and interlock-ready. Community guidance for safe laser use.

Note: All hardware and software choices will be fully documented, with videos and guides. Backers get early access/credit in the prototype build log.

The Journey: From Sketch to CNC Reality

1. The Idea

“I need a tool to cut custom e-bike frames and robotics tubes with sub-millimeter precision…”

2. Research & CAD Prototyping

Evaluating fiber vs. CO₂ lasers, affordable chucks, power supplies, open electronics.

3. Early Designs Shared

STL and DXF drawings released for collaborators. CAD repo started on GitHub.

4. Prototype Build (with community!)

Step-by-step photos, troubleshooting, backer votes on features, live streams.

5. Results & Impact

Low-cost CNC laser cutting reaches students, makerspaces, and garage inventors worldwide.

*Join this journey as a backer and receive progress updates, schematic previews, and a voice in the roadmap. Maker credits and acknowledgements will be published for all donors above $25!*

Makers Who Inspire Us

“Building my own CNC laser cutter for model planes was a game-changer. It unlocked precise, repeatable parts—and taught me more about mechanics, electronics, and coding than anything else.”

—Arno, CNC DIYer

“Fiber laser tube cutting used to be out of reach. Open-source projects like this are why the maker movement keeps growing!”

—JayJay, Open Hardware Blogger

“Open plans, affordable BOMs, and accessible coding—it’s how we build the next generation of creative tools.”

—Abdul, Maker & DIY Tutor

Do you have a story or want to contribute a testimonial? Email or tag @diyengineerorg—let’s celebrate global DIY!

Help Build the Prototype—Donate Today

Your donation will directly fund critical prototype parts (laser head, electronics, motion hardware) and early documentation. All backers get live build updates and their name listed in the open-source repository!

Every contribution matters. Even $5 helps buy fasteners, wire, or parts. $50+ donors can design a laser-cut part that will be cut live on stream and shipped to them!

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Back this project, be part of something bigger. Every dollar brings open-source laser hardware closer to thousands of creative minds. Thank you for supporting the maker movement!

FAQ: Your Questions, Answered

Who is this project for?

Anyone passionate about digital making, learning, or small-scale fabrication—from students and teachers to startup builders and garage engineers. If you can’t afford a $15k tube laser but dream of one, this is for you!

When will I see the first prototype?

The build will be documented start to finish. Donors and email subscribers get exclusive progress emails and voting rights on specs.

Where can I get the open-source plans?

Once the prototype reaches the first test cut, full design packages (CAD, code, BOM) will be published under a Creative Commons license for all to use and remix.

I want to contribute skills (design, code, CAD)—how can I help?

Email diyengineer.org@gmail.com or reach out on the Maker Forums—let’s code, test, and iterate as a community!

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