So I finally got my quote back for all the ULS parts this week. It came in quite a bit higher than I anticipated. While most of the items are tolerable, some aren’t. [all prices are Canadian, and don’t include the 13% tax I need to pay as well]
Optics: $460
This is where I expected to spend the most. So I’m okay with $460 for replacing everything in the optical path.
Timing Belts: $140
A bit pricey, but they are Kevlar re-enforced timing belts, so I’ll let it slide.
Idlers: $90
Okay, these are a bit rich, I’ll need to see if I can find an alternative source. But in the grand scheme of things, just a drop in the bucket, so if I must, I can live with it.
Bearings: $200
Ouch! Not much I can do here, unless I can find them cheaper from another supplier. or machine my own alternatives. There are some custom components involved, so perhaps justifiable.
Lens/Focus carriage: $400
Thank the gods I was able to salvage this! Chalk Fridays efforts up in the WIN column for a second time 🙂
Engraving table: $500
This was an unexpected price, given that the engraving table is rather uninteresting. I will have to see if I can salvage the old one, by removing the top aluminum sheet, and replacing it. [probably next Fridays efforts/post]
X Rail: $370
WTF!!! This is an insane price. The X Rail is simply an anodized, light weight aluminum extrusion that is 27 inches long. Unless I can find some serious savings elsewhere in this project, it’s pretty much a given I’m going to have to engineer my own alternative solution. Sadly this one part is also a major hinge-pin for the entire project.
All-in-all the grand total came to ~$2,150 plus taxes to replace the optical & mechanical parts. Let’s not forget there’s still the control panel, and motors at a minimum that need to be replaced as well. Now thankfully I have salvaged the lens/focus carriage, and I’m hoping to salvage the cutting table, so that will bring it down to ~$1,250 + taxes, still up there, but much more manageable, and in the ball-park of what I was expecting.
Unfortunately life has thrown a couple of financial curve balls at me the past few weeks, so I’m going to have to re-visit my budget, and probably spread the costs out over a greater period than initially anticipated. My initial time line was to have all these bits in place by January, but now it will need to be quite a bit later than that, unless a money tree sprouts up in my back yard.
I wonder if I can start a charity to save a sick and dying laser? 😉
Ouch my eye! 
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