Summary of ESP32 BURNINATOR IS A TINY LASER ENGRAVER
The ESP32 Burninator is a tiny laser engraver built by Mike Rankin using an ESP32, two linear stepper motors, and a DVD burning laser diode. He designed a custom ESP32 board to integrate components compactly. The linear steppers provide enough force to move the laser and support the paper bed, while a salvaged adjustable lens from common Arduino laser modules was adapted to focus the DVD diode.
Parts used in the ESP32 Burninator:
- ESP32 (custom-designed ESP32 board)
- Two linear stepper motors (from Aliexpress)
- DVD burning laser diode
- Adjustable lens from a visible laser diode module
- Paper bed (as the work surface)
As the name implies, a linear stepper is linear a variation of the rotary stepper motor design, radially cut and laid out flat. It is similar to the rotary version in operation and performance, and it typically runs as an open-loop system with the ability to provide high resolution at high speeds and accelerations.
As a way of experimenting with a few linear stepper motors from Aliexpress, Mike-Rankin recently decided to build a laser engraver which he called the ESP32 Burninator. The device, whose name was inspired by Mike’s long time fandom of the homestarrunnerdotcom videos, at its core comprises of an ESP32, two linear stepper motors, and a DVD burning laser diode.
Mike developed a custom board for the project, designing his own ESP32 board with the components arranged in a way that suits all the other elements of the project. While the stepper motors lacked the level of strength that could make them useful for cutting or drawing, they have just enough strength to serve as the arm that is used to move the DVD burning laser diode, and also serve as the base on top of which the paper to be engraved on was placed.
For focussing the laser, a tiny adjustable lens from the popular laser diodes used in several Arduino projects was savaged by pulling out the visible diode component and replacing it with the DVD diode.
Read more: ESP32 BURNINATOR IS A TINY LASER ENGRAVER
- What is the core controller used in the ESP32 Burninator?
The core controller is an ESP32 on a custom-designed ESP32 board. - What type of motors are used to move the laser?
Two linear stepper motors are used to move the laser and support the paper bed. - What laser source does the project use?
It uses a DVD burning laser diode as the engraving laser. - How is the laser focused in the build?
Focusing is achieved by using an adjustable lens salvaged from a common visible laser diode module, with the DVD diode substituted into it. - Are the linear stepper motors strong enough for cutting or drawing?
No, the stepper motors lack the strength for cutting or drawing but are sufficient to move the laser and hold the paper. - Was a standard ESP32 module used or a custom board?
A custom ESP32 board was developed and used in the project.
