P.S. I have some experience imaging on Computer to Plate machines using lasers. It’s more difficult than it sounds. Lasers create a lot of issues.
Sent from my iPhone > On Jun 22, 2025, at 14:48, Wayne S <[email protected]> wrote: > > I think you could get around any potential damage by running the tape > between 2 thin flat pieces of metal that had holes drilled vertically that > lined up with the laser. Would have to determine what power laser was > needed, if you needed more than one laser to get speed — maybe one for each > hole. Also would have to have a way to toggle the laser on and off. Would > have to get a laser that could be toggled, most are made to be run > continuously. Even pulsed are almost continuous. Maybe figure out a way to > block the light instead of turning it off. The logic would be easier with a > toggle. > > You made me think about this a lor😀 > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Jun 22, 2025, at 14:16, Wayne S <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Laser would catch the mylar on fire or melt it at least, i’m thinking. >> >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>>> On Jun 22, 2025, at 14:09, Anders Nelson via cctalk >>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> I would love to see someone create a galvo-laser system for punching >>> paper/mylar tape. On Aliexpress you can get a galvo set for (all prices >>> USD) ~$30, a 10W laser head for $40, and I expect making a stepper-motor >>> driven capstan wouldn't be too hard for someone with the time. Then add a >>> low-speed fan attached to a 3D printed tape guide with a slit for chad >>> suction/collection and fume exhaust. Not sure what kind of anvil/platform >>> you need for a laser beam - maybe just the uncoated side of a ceramic floor >>> tile sitting at an angle in the chad chute to absorb the laser energy, with >>> the platform having a void sized for the punching area. >>> >>> I imagine the whole thing could be pretty compact and wicked fast! >>> >>> -- >>> Anders Nelson >>> www.andersknelson.com >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 9:24 AM [email protected] steven--- via cctalk < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>>> On 06/21/2025 11:47 PM AEST Gavin Scott via cctalk < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> A paper-tape reader is easy enough, just something where you manually >>>>> pull the tape past an optical reader etc. >>>>> >>>>> I have a ~cheap diode laser cutter and on my someday get around to it >>>>> list is to write a paper tape "punch" program that will cut a one foot >>>>> strip of punched paper tape out of a larger piece of paper, with the >>>>> possibility of using a roll of paper and manually advance it a foot at >>>>> a time using the sprocket holes and some pins for alignment. >>>> >>>> I wrote a tool to make 5-level Baudot, 8-level ASCII, Whirlwind, chadless >>>> etc. paper tape using a home CNC vinyl/stencil cutter >>>> https://github.com/1944GPW/ptap2dxf >>>> >>>> I saw another similar utility on Hackaday that uses a laser, but it did >>>> not have as many format options. >>>> https://hackaday.com/2025/01/29/paper-tape-with-lasers/ >>>> >>>> Steve. >>>>
